When a petitioner attempted to stab the King he told her with the greatest calmness, 'This is a fruit knife madam, it couldn't cut a cabbage.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- When threatened, the king calmly downplays the danger, calling a knife a 'fruit knife' that can't cut a cabbage.
- In plain terms
- He trivializes the weapon as harmless.
- What can you take from it?
- Stay calm and put threats in perspective.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is humor appropriate in danger?
- Can calmness be misread as indifference?
Another view
Minimizing a real threat can be reckless.
More from George III of the United Kingdom
'I wish nothing but good. Everyone who does not agree is a traitor or a scoundrel.'
Permalink to quote #6 'I glory in the name of Briton!'
Permalink to quote #5 'Was there ever such thing as great Shakespeare? Only one must not say so! But what think you - what - was there not sad stuff?'
Permalink to quote #4
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