Lion Quote by Christopher Moore
““Being a shepherd seems easy. I went with Kaliel last week to tend his flock. The Law says that two must go with the flock to keep an abomination from happening. I can spot an abomination from fifty paces.” Maggie smiled. “And did you prevent any abominations?” “Oh yes, I kept all of the abominations at bay while Kaliel played with his favorite sheep behind the bushes.” “Biff,” Joshua said gravely, “that was the abomination you were supposed to prevent.” “It was?” “Yes.” “Whoops. Oh well, I think I would make an excellent mourner.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christopher Moore, 2002
A shepherd’s duty is to guard against hidden dangers, yet the narrator unintentionally becomes the threat he was meant to stop.
In simple terms: Guarding can turn into becoming what you guard against.
Key Takeaway
Beware of unintended consequences.
Themes
responsibility
misunderstanding
irony
Mood
wry
reflective
Type
literary
humorous
When to use this quote
- teamwork
- leadership
- ethical decision‑making
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
guardianship
self‑fulfilling prophecy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify you’re truly preventing harm?
- What blind spots might you have in your role?
A Different Perspective
The narrator’s claim of preventing abominations is contradicted, highlighting blind spots.
