When a shepherd goes to kill a wolf, and takes his dog to see the sport, he should take care to avoid mistakes. The dog has certain relationships to the wolf the shepherd may have forgotten.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- When confronting a problem, consider hidden relationships that may cause unintended consequences.
- In plain terms
- Think about unseen connections before acting.
- What can you take from it?
- Account for indirect effects in decision‑making.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What hidden ties could affect your plan?
Another view
The shepherd metaphor may not translate to all contexts.
More from Robert M. Pirsig
No one sees it yet, but they will soon enough. The Chairman of the Committee on Analysis of Ideas and Study of Methods has just been shot down in his own class…
Permalink to quote #64 Once it's stated that 'the dialectic comes before anything else,' this statement itself becomes a dialectical entity, subject to dialectical question.
Permalink to quote #66 All this is just an analogy.
Permalink to quote #63
Related quotes
Men, I am not ordering you to attack. I am ordering you to die. In the time that it takes us to die, other forces and commanders can come and take our place.
Mustafa Kemal AtaturkMustafa Kemal Ataturk quote #1 In 1967: I've never been out with a married woman, never. I respect others' properties.
Michael CaineMichael Caine quote #1 Non, j'aurai des maitresses.
George II of Great BritainGeorge II of Great Britain quote #1