--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't have the time to slice a hundred…" description: "\"“I didn't have the time to slice a hundred shallow cuts into his lips and make him suck limes. I was too busy to make him swallow oiled musket balls. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/a-s-king-2293_important-things_i-didn-t-have-the-time-to-slice-a-hundre_410421.png" --- # I didn't have the time to slice a hundred shallow cuts… ![“I didn't have the time to slice a hundred shallow cuts into his lips and make him suck limes. I was too busy to make him swallow oiled musket balls. I had more important things to think about now and a lot to do. -Saffron in Dust of 100 Dogs” quote by A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/a-s-king-2293_important-things_i-didn-t-have-the-time-to-slice-a-hundre_410421.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/a-s-king-2293_important-things_i-didn-t-have-the-time-to-slice-a-hundre_410421.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a0/a-s-king-2293_important-things_i-didn-t-have-the-time-to-slice-a-hundre_410421.png) > ““I didn't have the time to slice a hundred shallow cuts into his lips and make him suck limes. I was too busy to make him swallow oiled musket balls. I had more important things to think about now and a lot to do. -Saffron in Dust of 100 Dogs”” [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator prioritizes larger tasks over petty revenge, using vivid metaphor. **In simple terms:** Focus on bigger goals, not petty revenge. Key Takeaway Prioritize meaningful work. Themes focus revenge priorities Mood determined critical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - business decisions - personal conflicts - creative projects Key Concepts strategic focus moral choice Questions to Reflect On - What minor grievances are you ignoring? - How do you balance justice and productivity? A Different Perspective Neglecting minor harms can cause hidden resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cuts Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuts-lips-3660604/) [Didn Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-time/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Limes Busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limes-busy-3660603/) [Suck Limes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suck-limes-3660602/) [Swallow Oiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swallow-oiled-3660605/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too busy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-busy/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't have time to be anyone's muse... I was too busy rebelling against my family and learning to be an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-carrington/i-didn-t-have-time-to-be-anyone-s-muse-i-was-too-busy-rebelling/) [Leonora Carrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-carrington/) > [I didn't have time to be anybody's muse; I was too busy rebelling against my parents and learning to be an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-carrington/i-didn-t-have-time-to-be-anybody-s-muse-i-was-too-busy-rebelling/) [Leonora Carrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-carrington/) > [I didn't have time. I was too busy breaking up Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's marriage. (on rumours he was responsible for Julia Roberts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/i-didn-t-have-time-i-was-too-busy-breaking-up-tom-cruise-and-nicole/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [When I quit all these things and said I didn't have any time, I meant I didn't have any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/when-i-quit-all-these-things-and-said-i-didn-t-have-any-time-i-meant/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) > [At one point I took on a new job, and I just didn't have time to do anything but work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/at-one-point-i-took-on-a-new-job-and-i-just-didn-t-have-time-to-do/) [Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/) > [I didn't have the time to literally write and draw the strip at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kane/i-didn-t-have-the-time-to-literally-write-and-draw-the-strip-at-the/) [Bob Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kane/) > [I didn't see the time, largely because there wasn't one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-walker/i-didn-t-see-the-time-largely-because-there-wasn-t-one/) [Murray Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-walker/) > [Real life was messier than fiction, and in it you didn't always have time to do or say the right things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bentley-little/real-life-was-messier-than-fiction-and-in-it-you-didn-t-always-have/) [Bentley Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bentley-little/) > [There have been times when you didn't have any time, and yet you took the time... There have been times when you had enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/there-have-been-times-when-you-didn-t-have-any-time-and-yet-you-took/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [I dropped out twice from a law degree because I didn't have time to do everything at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-toffolo/i-dropped-out-twice-from-a-law-degree-because-i-didn-t-have-time-to/) [Georgia Toffolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-toffolo/) > [“Bad guys, in their various forms, on their various levels, didn’t take time off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/bad-guys-in-their-various-forms-on-their-various-levels-didn-t-take/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [I was always active - I went from baseball to football. I didn't have time to work out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/i-was-always-active-i-went-from-baseball-to-football-i-didn-t-have/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [I was on the campaign trail, covering Donald Trump for two years - and it's really hard to do anything for yourself with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/i-was-on-the-campaign-trail-covering-donald-trump-for-two-years-and/) [Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/) > [“I didn't have time for tears anymore. I had questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/i-didn-t-have-time-for-tears-anymore-i-had-questions/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [I caught a cold and didn't have time to work on my autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-doucet/i-caught-a-cold-and-didn-t-have-time-to-work-on-my-autobiography/) [Julie Doucet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-doucet/) ## More by A.S. King > [“I only hope that for right now, you remember that there is no place for hate in a happy life. I don’t care who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-only-hope-that-for-right-now-you-remember-that-there-is-no-place/) [A.s. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“I don't even use the stupid shampoo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-don-t-even-use-the-stupid-shampoo/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“Maybe if I hadn’t been so hell-bent on not becoming my parents, I could have saved Charlie. Maybe I would have been his girlfriend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/maybe-if-i-hadn-t-been-so-hell-bent-on-not-becoming-my-parents-i/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [But that's a side effect of alcohol, isn't it? Stopping to think about other people is not on the bar menu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/but-that-s-a-side-effect-of-alcohol-isn-t-it-stopping-to-think-about/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“Most people don't think past themselves. I know that. But I want Vera to see other people. To respect other people. To realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/most-people-don-t-think-past-themselves-i-know-that-but-i-want-vera/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > ["You two would make a cute couple," she says as she passes by with a full dough tray in her arms. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/you-two-would-make-a-cute-couple-she-says-as-she-passes-by-with-a/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“You'll never lose me, Vera. I'm the Great Hunter now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/you-ll-never-lose-me-vera-i-m-the-great-hunter-now/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“I love vocab. It's like spelunking in a cave you've been in your whole life and discovering a thousand new tunnels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-love-vocab-it-s-like-spelunking-in-a-cave-you-ve-been-in-your-whole/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“But they keep saving me because they know I stand for something. They're just not sure what yet. -The Pagoda”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/but-they-keep-saving-me-because-they-know-i-stand-for-something-they/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [I was also built from delusional optimism and folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-was-also-built-from-delusional-optimism-and-folly/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [How can we say nobody's perfect if there is no perfect to compare to? Perfection implies that there really is a right and wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/how-can-we-say-nobody-s-perfect-if-there-is-no-perfect-to-compare-to/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“My toaster could have a soul,and the walnut grove to the east of my house could be just a bunch of trees or could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/my-toaster-could-have-a-soul-and-the-walnut-grove-to-the-east-of-my/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“I bring my hand to my face and pull away tiny pieces of the jagged scab. My face reflects in the rounded airplane window,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-bring-my-hand-to-my-face-and-pull-away-tiny-pieces-of-the-jagged/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“As I drive home, I picture other signs- one for everyone who has a secret. Bill Corso's would say, I CAN'T READ, BUT I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/as-i-drive-home-i-picture-other-signs-one-for-everyone-who-has-a/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“I miss him so much, but it's confusing, because I missed him long before he was dead, and that's the bitch of it all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-miss-him-so-much-but-it-s-confusing-because-i-missed-him-long/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) [Explore all 173 A.S. King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) ## More Important things quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [In a world without Chevron, very little would change except perhaps the most important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gorsuch/in-a-world-without-chevron-very-little-would-change-except-perhaps/) [Neil Gorsuch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gorsuch/) > [You know, right now, the most important thing in my life is to make sure you understand that, first of all, I thank God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-ray-vaughan/you-know-right-now-the-most-important-thing-in-my-life-is-to-make/) [Stevie Ray Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-ray-vaughan/) > [Statistics are like miniskirts: They give you good ideas but hide the important things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ebbe-skovdahl/statistics-are-like-miniskirts-they-give-you-good-ideas-but-hide-the/) [Ebbe Skovdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ebbe-skovdahl/) > [The most important thing about being a father is being able to forgive yourself. If you don't forgive yourself, you're not going to forgive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evander-holyfield/the-most-important-thing-about-being-a-father-is-being-able-to/) [Evander Holyfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evander-holyfield/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I will work day and night to avoid failure, but if I can't, I'll pick myself up the next day. The most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-will-work-day-and-night-to-avoid-failure-but-if-i-can-t-i-ll-pick/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Political struggle is the most important thing any of us can do as a citizen in a democracy; and that means the old joining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/political-struggle-is-the-most-important-thing-any-of-us-can-do-as-a/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [ It is so hard and long before a student comes to a realization that these \[first\] few large simple spots in right relations are… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-webster-hawthorne/it-is-so-hard-and-long-before-a-student-comes-to-a-realization-that/) [Charles Webster Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-webster-hawthorne/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. 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