"I don't even like firing people. I don't think I've ever said, 'You're fired' to anybody"
About this Quote
The second sentence does the real work. “I don’t think I’ve ever said, ‘You’re fired’ to anybody” is a small masterclass in celebrity-era plausible deniability. The emphasis isn’t that people weren’t removed; it’s that the theatrical cruelty of the phrase wasn’t performed. She rejects the reality-TV trope (and the Trumpian catchphrase) while keeping the managerial outcome intact. In other words: she may end your job, but she won’t give you the sound bite.
The subtext is about optics in a culture that romanticizes the “tough boss” and punishes women for embodying it. A male mogul can be blunt and get called decisive; a woman in the same posture gets labeled icy, difficult, a monster. Stewart sidesteps that trap by insisting on a more “civilized” version of command, aligning her authority with professionalism rather than ego.
Context matters, too: Stewart is an entertainer whose credibility hinges on being both aspirational and relatable. This quote protects the fantasy that the empire runs on standards, not spite, and it quietly asks the audience to admire her discipline without making her pay the likability tax.
Quote Details
| Topic | Management |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Stewart, Martha. (2026, January 16). I don't even like firing people. I don't think I've ever said, 'You're fired' to anybody. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-even-like-firing-people-i-dont-think-ive-110145/
Chicago Style
Stewart, Martha. "I don't even like firing people. I don't think I've ever said, 'You're fired' to anybody." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-even-like-firing-people-i-dont-think-ive-110145/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I don't even like firing people. I don't think I've ever said, 'You're fired' to anybody." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-dont-even-like-firing-people-i-dont-think-ive-110145/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.




