--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And he thought for a moment how stupid…" description: "\"“And he thought for a moment how stupid our society had become, that its nanny-like concern for risk should prevent one man helping another to take a d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/alexander-mccall-smith-372_friendship_and-he-thought-for-a-moment-how-stupid-o_1722773.png" --- # And he thought for a moment how stupid our society had… ![“And he thought for a moment how stupid our society had become, that its nanny-like concern for risk should prevent one man helping another to take a dead friend up the steps” quote by Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/alexander-mccall-smith-372_friendship_and-he-thought-for-a-moment-how-stupid-o_1722773.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/alexander-mccall-smith-372_friendship_and-he-thought-for-a-moment-how-stupid-o_1722773.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdf/alexander-mccall-smith-372_friendship_and-he-thought-for-a-moment-how-stupid-o_1722773.png) > ““And he thought for a moment how stupid our society had become, that its nanny-like concern for risk should prevent one man helping another to take a dead friend up the steps”” [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society’s over‑protectiveness hinders genuine help and solidarity. **In simple terms:** Over‑protectiveness blocks help. Key Takeaway Balance safety with compassion. Themes society risk solidarity Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - emergency response - friendship - public policy Key Concepts risk aversion community support Questions to Reflect On - When does caution become harmful? - How can we help without risking? A Different Perspective Excessive caution can also prevent harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-friend/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm helping the living by letting them know the spirits are here talking to us. 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No one will send messages to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/i-guess-i-could-call-this-energy-freedom-no-one-will-be-around-to/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [In a stupid society, a clever man can come into the power; but in a clever society no stupid can come into the power!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-a-stupid-society-a-clever-man-can-come-into-the-power-but-in-a/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [If you don’t include your women graduates in your breeding pool and leave them on the shelf, you would end up a more stupid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/if-you-don-t-include-your-women-graduates-in-your-breeding-pool-and/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [That's a small portion of my career, taking a moment to do something stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doja-cat/that-s-a-small-portion-of-my-career-taking-a-moment-to-do-something/) [Doja Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doja-cat/) > [In the very darkness of a stupid society, even a little candle deserves a great honour!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/in-the-very-darkness-of-a-stupid-society-even-a-little-candle/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I was just wondering, of these two horses, why did you choose that one as your good friend? Is he superior to this one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/i-was-just-wondering-of-these-two-horses-why-did-you-choose-that-one/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“It is seriously creepy when you receive a friend request from a dead friend in social media asking you to accept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/it-is-seriously-creepy-when-you-receive-a-friend-request-from-a-dead/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [“The spittin’ image of--What was your dead friend’s name?” “It is not to be spoken. He is dead, no? 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That doctors should consider themselves businessmen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/old-fashioned-gentle-scottish-physician-unmoved-by-the-considerations/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“She had not made a lot of money, but she had not made a loss, and she had been happy and entertained. 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"If there's bad behaviour, the quickest way of stopping it is to give more love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/and-if-there-s-bad-behaviour-mma-potokwane-went-on-if-there-s-bad/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“We never realise how transparent we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/we-never-realise-how-transparent-we-are/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Has he not got a wife back wherever he comes from? Is there no wife to say, ‘You must not go off and visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/has-he-not-got-a-wife-back-wherever-he-comes-from-is-there-no-wife-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“He looked at her in the darkness, at this woman who was everything to him-mother, Africa, wisdom, understanding, good things to eat, pumpkins, chicken,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/he-looked-at-her-in-the-darkness-at-this-woman-who-was-everything-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“It is because you are generous in spirit; and may I be like that; may I become like you—which unrealistic wish, to become the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/it-is-because-you-are-generous-in-spirit-and-may-i-be-like-that-may-i/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [“Mr. J.L.B. 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