It's said "Never kick a man when he's down." Still apply if the one being kicked doesn't know he's down?

Question

Answer some of my other questions for more history on this one. Thanks.

Answer 1

Kick away as long as the victim doesn't recognize the crime.

Woooo. Free Parking on that one.

Answer 2

The implication of "never kick a man when he's down" is that the object of the directive is the kicker. If the directive were meant for the victim, the directive would be "never let yourself get kicked when you're down". So, yes, it applies even if the victim of the kick does not realize s/he is down.

Answer 3

I think it means Don't be unnecessarily cruel. Some psychiatrists once took a catatonic, who hadn't spoken in years, and put him in a sauna. At 120 degrees, he was sweating, at 150 degrees, he started twitching, and at 180 degrees, he said "Get me the **** out of here!" They pronounced him cured. It's hard to argue with results. I can't say whether he remained cured, or whether he developed an abiding hatred of psychiatrists, though.

Answer 4

Absolutely. Just because he doesn't know it now, doesn't mean he won't, and when/if he finds out he is down and has been for awhile, he'll remember that you are one person who had his back.

Answer 5

I only know.. never hit man in the face when he wears glasses.

but does it apply when he wears contacts!??

Answer 6

not unless he fell in a forest and no one heard

Answer 7

Especially if he doesn"t know he's down

Answer 8

Even more so.