---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We decided to go back to basics and put…"
description: "\"“We decided to go back to basics and put the frighteners on some snouts.\" \"Really?\" \"We adopted a proactive intelligence-gathering policy utilising app..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/ben-aaronovitch-3199_bureaucracy_we-decided-to-go-back-to-basics-and-put_1912919.jpg"
---

#  We decided to go back to basics and put the frighteners on…

![“We decided to go back to basics and put the frighteners on some snouts.&quot; &quot;Really?&quot; &quot;We adopted a proactive intelligence-gathering policy utilising appropriate stakeholders in the community and pre-established covert human intelligence sources. &quot;And nobody can put a frightener on a covert human…” quote by Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/ben-aaronovitch-3199_bureaucracy_we-decided-to-go-back-to-basics-and-put_1912919.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/ben-aaronovitch-3199_bureaucracy_we-decided-to-go-back-to-basics-and-put_1912919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/899/ben-aaronovitch-3199_bureaucracy_we-decided-to-go-back-to-basics-and-put_1912919.jpg)

> ““We decided to go back to basics and put the frighteners on some snouts." "Really?" "We adopted a proactive intelligence-gathering policy utilising appropriate stakeholders in the community and pre-established covert human intelligence sources. "And nobody can put a frightener on a covert human quite like Lesley can.””

[Ben Aaronovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-aaronovitch/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A character uses a magical device to control a covert operative, highlighting unconventional tactics in supernatural investigations.

**In simple terms:** Using odd tools to manage secret agents.

Key Takeaway

Embrace creative problem solving.

Themes

magic investigation unconventional tactics

Mood

playful strategic

Type

humorous inspirational

When to use this quote

- police work
- magical investigations
- team coordination
- ethical dilemmas

Key Concepts

covert operations magical artifacts community involvement

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance creativity with ethics?
- When is unconventional control justified?

A Different Perspective

Effectiveness may depend on consent and trust.

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