--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep…" description: "\"Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep cousin Mary occupied until after the board meeting was over. A piece of cheese might catch a mouse, but an afte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_afternoon_elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep_1109428.jpg" --- # Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep cousin Mary… ![“Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep cousin Mary occupied until after the board meeting was over. A piece of cheese might catch a mouse, but an afternoon alone with a muscular masseur would ensnare her cousin far more effectively. And afterwards, while Mary lay sated and sleeping upon a massage…” quote by Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_afternoon_elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep_1109428.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_afternoon_elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep_1109428.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_afternoon_elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep_1109428.jpg) > “Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep cousin Mary occupied until after the board meeting was over. A piece of cheese might catch a mouse, but an afternoon alone with a muscular masseur would ensnare her cousin far more effectively. And afterwards, while Mary lay sated and sleeping upon a massage table, wiser heads could determine the company's future. There were times, Elizabeth thought, when success in business demanded utter ruthlessness.” [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elizabeth believes ruthless tactics, even sexual manipulation, are needed for business success. **In simple terms:** Business may require harsh, unethical actions. Key Takeaway Consider ethics over results. Themes power ethics business manipulation ruthlessness Mood tension ambitious Type cautionary dramatic When to use this quote - Corporate negotiations - high‑stakes deals - personal relationships - career advancement Key Concepts Moral compromise exploitation strategic deception Questions to Reflect On - Is success worth compromising integrity? - What are long‑term costs of ruthless behavior? A Different Perspective Such tactics can damage trust and lead to legal/ethical fallout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-success/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Massage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/massage/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Ruthlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthlessness/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Success In Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-in-business-2/) ## Related quotes > [“Lady Thornton, how very good of you to find the time to pay us a social call! Would it be too pushing of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/lady-thornton-how-very-good-of-you-to-find-the-time-to-pay-us-a/) [Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/) > [No man is a success in business unless he loves his work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/no-man-is-a-success-in-business-unless-he-loves-his-work/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [It is the close observation of little things which is the secret of success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-the-close-observation-of-little-things-which-is-the-secret-of-2/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [The path of success in business is invariably the path of common-sense. Nothwithstanding all that is said about "lucky hits," the best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/the-path-of-success-in-business-is-invariably-the-path-of-common/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/success-in-business-requires-training-and-discipline-and-hard-work/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [I saw that a humble man, with the blessing of the Lord, might live on a little; and that where the heart is set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-woolman/i-saw-that-a-humble-man-with-the-blessing-of-the-lord-might-live-on-a/) [John Woolman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-woolman/) > [The secret of success in business is creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/the-secret-of-success-in-business-is-creativity/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [I find it fascinating that sport has such a strong connection to success in business. Arguably, C-suite women are some of the most successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-brooke/i-find-it-fascinating-that-sport-has-such-a-strong-connection-to/) [Beth Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-brooke/) > [It is the close observation of little things which is the secret of success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/it-is-the-close-observation-of-little-things-which-is-the-secret-of/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Stop Talking, Start Communicating: Counterintuitive Secrets to Success in Business and in Life’.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-talking-start-communicating-counterintuitive-secrets-to-success/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Success in business hinges on mastering the art of financial stewardship; guiding your business with a steady hand and wise financial decisions, balance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-lucas-d-shallua/success-in-business-hinges-on-mastering-the-art-of-financial/) [Dr. Lucas D. Shallua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-lucas-d-shallua/) > [Networking has been cited as the number one unwritten rule of success in business. Who you know really impacts what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallie-krawcheck/networking-has-been-cited-as-the-number-one-unwritten-rule-of-success/) [Sallie Krawcheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallie-krawcheck/) > [The secret to success in business, and in life, is to serve others. Put others frst in all you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varsha-sharma/the-secret-to-success-in-business-and-in-life-is-to-serve-others-put/) [Varsha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varsha-sharma/) > [Success in business hinges mostly on the ability to get the important things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/success-in-business-hinges-mostly-on-the-ability-to-get-the-important/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Since 2015, I've listened closely to Trump supporters' feelings and motivations. I've drawn insights from every one of my panelists on the appeal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisyn-camerota/since-2015-i-ve-listened-closely-to-trump-supporters-feelings-and/) [Alisyn Camerota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisyn-camerota/) ## More by Barbara Taylor Bradford > [“once that each of us is the author of our own lives? That we are responsible for what we are? For the deeds, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/once-that-each-of-us-is-the-author-of-our-own-lives-that-we-are/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Mary never made it to the board meeting. Cunning Elizabeth simply arranged for her cousin's tennis instructor to "delay" her for an hour or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/mary-never-made-it-to-the-board-meeting-cunning-elizabeth-simply/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [I will never stop writing. People often ask when I will retire, but I say it's none of their business. Writing defines who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/i-will-never-stop-writing-people-often-ask-when-i-will-retire-but-i/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Sleeping with a man half your age can be exhausting, but if it's too much for him you can always find a younger man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/sleeping-with-a-man-half-your-age-can-be-exhausting-but-if-it-s-too/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“He's half my ex-husband's age, but twice as energetic when we have sex. And twice as grateful afterwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/he-s-half-my-ex-husband-s-age-but-twice-as-energetic-when-we-have-sex/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“The clock in the church tower”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/the-clock-in-the-church-tower/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“tries, and tries very hard, but she doesn’t know what it’s like to be the sole survivor, the only one left of one’s contemporaries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/tries-and-tries-very-hard-but-she-doesn-t-know-what-it-s-like-to-be/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [She put her hand in his, and he clasped it firmly, knowing he had been waiting for her all his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/she-put-her-hand-in-his-and-he-clasped-it-firmly-knowing-he-had-been/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [What is done can never be undone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/what-is-done-can-never-be-undone/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [A person with taste is merely one who can recognize the greatest beauty in the simplest things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/a-person-with-taste-is-merely-one-who-can-recognize-the-greatest/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [Life always gets harder towards the summit - the cold increases, responsibility increases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/life-always-gets-harder-towards-the-summit-the-cold-increases/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“You can be with a man for twenty years and never really know who he truly is. Then again, you can meet a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/you-can-be-with-a-man-for-twenty-years-and-never-really-know-who-he/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [In my opinion, moderation is a vastly overrated virtue, particularly when applied to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/in-my-opinion-moderation-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtue-particularly/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [If anyone asks me whether I like being a popular writer, I ask them whether they think I'd rather be an unpopular writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a-popular-writer-i-ask-them/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Yes, damn it, I love you! But the bedroom is not the boardroom, Robert. In the boardroom only one person can be in charge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/yes-damn-it-i-love-you-but-the-bedroom-is-not-the-boardroom-robert-in/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) [Explore all 51 Barbara Taylor Bradford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) ## More Afternoon quotes > [I didn't grow up thinking of movies as film, or art, but as movies, something to do on a Saturday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/i-didn-t-grow-up-thinking-of-movies-as-film-or-art-but-as-movies/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Honestly, I'm living my fantasy. It's being with my family, preferably on a snowy afternoon with a fire going, cuddled up in blankets, playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-vieira/honestly-i-m-living-my-fantasy-it-s-being-with-my-family-preferably/) [Meredith Vieira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-vieira/) > [It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Sunday afternoon is for papers and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-haslam/sunday-afternoon-is-for-papers-and-writing/) [Nicholas Haslam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-haslam/) > [I think that if most guys in America could somehow get their fave-rave poster girl in bed and have total license to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/i-think-that-if-most-guys-in-america-could-somehow-get-their-fave/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [“If you come at four in the afternoon, I'll begin to be happy by three.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-come-at-four-in-the-afternoon-i-ll-begin-to-be-happy-by-three/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [At five in the afternoon. It was exactly five in the afternoon. A boy brought the white sheet at five in the afternoon. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-five-in-the-afternoon-it-was-exactly-five-in-the-afternoon-a-boy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-spollen/i-discovered-windows-one-afternoon-and-after-that-nothing-was-ever/) [Anne Spollen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-spollen/) > [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [What'll we do with ourselves this afternoon? And the day after that, and the next thirty years?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-ll-we-do-with-ourselves-this-afternoon-and-the-day-after-that/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Imagine you are walking down a leafy path…The sun is receding, and you are walking alone, caressed by the breezy light of the late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/imagine-you-are-walking-down-a-leafy-path-the-sun-is-receding-and-you/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice. He's there all afternoon but when the game is over, you don't even remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-johnson/a-good-umpire-is-the-umpire-you-don-t-even-notice-he-s-there-all/) Ban Johnson > [Sometimes in the afternoon sky the moon would pass white as a cloud, furtive, lusterless, like an actress who does not have to perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/sometimes-in-the-afternoon-sky-the-moon-would-pass-white-as-a-cloud/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) Browse all 1,085 Afternoon quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep cousin Mary occupied until after the board meeting was over. A piece of cheese might catch a mouse, but an afternoon alone with a muscular masseur would ensnare her cousin far more effectively. And afterwards, while Mary lay sated and sleeping upon a massage table, wiser heads could determine the company's future. There were times, Elizabeth thought, when success in business demanded utter ruthlessness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Taylor Bradford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep-cousin-mary-occupied-until/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afternoon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep-cousin-mary-occupied-until/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_afternoon_elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep_1109428.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_afternoon_elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep_1109428.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd1/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_afternoon_elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep_1109428.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep cousin Mary occupied until after the board meeting was over. A piece…” — Barbara Taylor Bradford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barbara Taylor Bradford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Elizabeth was counting on Marco to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep-cousin-mary-occupied-until/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep-cousin-mary-occupied-until/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```