About this quote

Dominating a conversation requires a certain level of self-aware arrogance. We often pretend to follow polite rules of debate while actively trying to steamroll the other person. Do you actually listen to others, or are you just waiting for your turn to speak? Acknowledging your own hypocrisy with a bit of humor makes you hard to argue with. Own your conversational style, but do not expect people to like you for it.

When to use it

• During a heated project debrief, your coworker cuts you off right as you were trying to correct another teammate's mistake. You use this line to pause the chaos and regain control of the room.
• Your sibling tries to speak over your story at Sunday dinner, even though they have been talking for the last hour. You drop this remark to tease them and finish your point.
• A teammate tries to defend their play while you are explaining how they missed the pass. You say this to get them to quiet down and listen to the strategy.