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About this quote

What does it mean?
A dog feigns madness to justify biting someone for personal gain.
In plain terms
Someone creates a false excuse to hurt another person.
What can you take from it?
Bad actors often fabricate reasons for harm.

Where it applies

  • political satire
  • behavioral analysis

Putting it to work

  • identify false pretexts

Questions to consider

  • Why do people blame circumstances for choices?

Another view

It attributes human calculation to animals.

More from Oliver Goldsmith

  1. And in that town a dog was found, As many dogs there be, Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree.

    Permalink to quote #39
  2. The man recovered of the bite, The dog it was that died.

    Permalink to quote #41
  3. The naked every day he clad When he put on his clothes.

    Permalink to quote #38

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