"There are more ways of skinning a cat than rubbing its fur the wrong way"
About this Quote
The line works because it smuggles a workplace lesson into a folksy one-liner. "Rubbing its fur the wrong way" is not just irritating someone; it's the kind of needless friction that turns a simple task into a power struggle. Brown's twist implies that many people pride themselves on "directness" when they're really just choosing the least effective method. The smartest route is often not the cleverest technique but the least stupid form of contact.
Contextually, Brown is likely playing with the language of persuasion: politics, boards, institutions, even family dynamics. The subtext is almost managerial: stop making enemies out of your materials. It's also a warning about performative contrarianism, the habit of pushing against grain just to feel decisive. By chaining two idioms, Brown turns a grim, old saying into a critique of self-sabotage. The wit lands because it flatters the listener's agency while quietly indicting their temperament.
Quote Details
| Topic | Witty One-Liners |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Brown, J. Carter. (2026, January 16). There are more ways of skinning a cat than rubbing its fur the wrong way. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-are-more-ways-of-skinning-a-cat-than-82941/
Chicago Style
Brown, J. Carter. "There are more ways of skinning a cat than rubbing its fur the wrong way." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-are-more-ways-of-skinning-a-cat-than-82941/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"There are more ways of skinning a cat than rubbing its fur the wrong way." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-are-more-ways-of-skinning-a-cat-than-82941/. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.





