Contract Quote by Agatha Christie
““What pleased the land-owner’s husband most was the insertion of a clause which stated that, if in any way our work of excavation was interfered with, or the contract was voided, he would have to pay £1000 down. He immediately went away and boasted of this to all his friends. ‘It is a matter of such importance,’ he said proudly, ‘that unless I give all the assistance in my power, and keep all the promises I have made on my wife’s behalf, I shall lose £1000.’ Everybody was enormously impressed. ‘£1000,’ they said. ‘It is possible he will lose £1000! have you heard that? They can extract from him £1000 if anything goes wrong!’ I””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Man Who Was Thursday, Richard Marsh, 1908
A man boasts about a contract clause that would cost him a large sum if his work is disrupted, highlighting fear of financial loss as a motivator.
In simple terms: Fear of losing money drives his bragging.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when fear is used to influence decisions.
Themes
risk
finance
pride
influence
contract
Mood
anxious
proud
skeptical
Type
cautionary
observational
When to use this quote
- business negotiations
- construction projects
- personal finance
- legal agreements
Key Concepts
loss aversion
social proof
contractual risk
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do if a contract threatened a large penalty?
- How does fear of loss affect your choices?
A Different Perspective
The clause may be a bluff; actual loss may be unlikely.
