In the 80's, we used to say, "Be assertive, not aggressive." For a minute there, i thought assertive was the negative one. Or maybe times have changed.

I once told my mother, dont think because i didnt respond to your insult, that it didnt register. Boy that stopped her in her tracks. She thought she was getting away with carp all that time. But as my dad used to say, someone has to keep the peace or else there would be arguments all the time. But it did not make for a happy family.