--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I swing by the string, I shall hear…" description: "\"“If I swing by the string, I shall hear the bell ring, And then there's an end of poor Jenny”\" — Daniel Defoe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/daniel-defoe-1971_quote_if-i-swing-by-the-string-i-shall-hear-th_1727478.jpg" --- # If I swing by the string, I shall hear the bell ring, And… ![“If I swing by the string, I shall hear the bell ring, And then there's an end of poor Jenny” quote by Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/daniel-defoe-1971_quote_if-i-swing-by-the-string-i-shall-hear-th_1727478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/daniel-defoe-1971_quote_if-i-swing-by-the-string-i-shall-hear-th_1727478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/daniel-defoe-1971_quote_if-i-swing-by-the-string-i-shall-hear-th_1727478.jpg) > ““If I swing by the string, I shall hear the bell ring, And then there's an end of poor Jenny”” [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphorical warning that meddling with fate leads to inevitable consequences. **In simple terms:** Messing with destiny brings trouble. Key Takeaway Respect natural order. Themes fate consequences warning Mood cautionary poetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - risk assessment - storytelling Key Concepts determinism cause and effect Questions to Reflect On - What strings are you tempted to pull? - Do you believe fate is fixed? A Different Perspective May be overly fatalistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bell/) [Bell Ring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bell-ring-1397690/) [Hear Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-bell-1136024/) [Poor Jenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-jenny-1397691/) [Swing String](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swing-string-1397692/) ## Related quotes > [Every time you hear a bell ring, it means that some angel's just got his wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-goodrich/every-time-you-hear-a-bell-ring-it-means-that-some-angel-s-just-got/) [Frances Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-goodrich/) > [“Life is a bell، how you ring it's sound going to come back to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaran-ihsan-salih/life-is-a-bell-how-you-ring-it-s-sound-going-to-come-back-to-you/) [Kamaran Ihsan Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaran-ihsan-salih/) > [I miss the ring and look forward to hearing the opening bell ring again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleksandr-usyk/i-miss-the-ring-and-look-forward-to-hearing-the-opening-bell-ring/) [Oleksandr Usyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleksandr-usyk/) > [My favorite expression is: When you go up to the bell, ring it ? or don't go up to the bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/my-favorite-expression-is-when-you-go-up-to-the-bell-ring-it-or-don-t/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [You take that walk from the dressing room to the ring and that's when the real man comes out. Then you climb up those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/you-take-that-walk-from-the-dressing-room-to-the-ring-and-that-s-when/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [“A bell of mindfulness, whether it is an actual bell or some other sound, is a wonderful reminder to come back to ourselves, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/a-bell-of-mindfulness-whether-it-is-an-actual-bell-or-some-other/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“If you can hear the bell for the next round, then you are still in the fight! Get off your stool and start swinging...never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-guildea/if-you-can-hear-the-bell-for-the-next-round-then-you-are-still-in-the/) [Paul Guildea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-guildea/) > [“Like the silence that surrounds the tolling of the bell allows you to hear the bell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/like-the-silence-that-surrounds-the-tolling-of-the-bell-allows-you-to/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [The great miraculous bell of translucent ice is suspended in mid-air. It rings to announce endings and beginnings. And it rings because there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-great-miraculous-bell-of-translucent-ice-is-suspended-in-mid-air-2/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/at-one-time-most-of-my-friends-could-hear-the-bell-but-as-years/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [It's a reflex. Hear a bell, get food. See an undead, throw a knife. Same thing, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/it-s-a-reflex-hear-a-bell-get-food-see-an-undead-throw-a-knife-same/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“When it's over...ring the bell. It's over!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/when-it-s-over-ring-the-bell-it-s-over/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [It's nice to know there's a way to pay the bills other than third-and-8 and getting your bell rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/it-s-nice-to-know-there-s-a-way-to-pay-the-bills-other-than-third-and/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) ## More by Daniel Defoe > [“Strah od opasnosti je deset tisuća puta snažniji nego sama opasnost kad se pojavi pred očima.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/strah-od-opasnosti-je-deset-tisu-a-puta-sna-niji-nego-sama-opasnost/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“He told me it was for men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortune on the other, who when abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/he-told-me-it-was-for-men-of-desperate-fortunes-on-one-hand-or-of/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“From this moment I began to conclude in my mind that it was possible for me to be more happy in this forsaken, solitary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/from-this-moment-i-began-to-conclude-in-my-mind-that-it-was-possible/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Wit is the Fruitful Womb where Thoughts conceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-is-the-fruitful-womb-where-thoughts-conceive/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Wherever God erects a house of prayer the Devil always builds a chapel there; And 't will be found, upon examination, the latter has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wherever-god-erects-a-house-of-prayer-the-devil-always-builds-a/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Wit, like the Belly, if it be not fed, Will starve the Members, and distract the Head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/wit-like-the-belly-if-it-be-not-fed-will-starve-the-members-and/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“was to prepare more land, for I had now seed enough to sow above an acre of ground. Before I did this, I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/was-to-prepare-more-land-for-i-had-now-seed-enough-to-sow-above-an/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Justice is always Violence to the Party offending, for every Man is Innocent in his own Eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/justice-is-always-violence-to-the-party-offending-for-every-man-is/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“and in that one night's wickedness I drowned all my repentance,all my reflections upon my past conduct,and all my resolution for the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/and-in-that-one-night-s-wickedness-i-drowned-all-my-repentance-all-my/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“Thus fear of danger is ten thousand times more terrifying than danger itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/thus-fear-of-danger-is-ten-thousand-times-more-terrifying-than-danger/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [As for women that do not think their own safety worth their thought, that impatient of their present state, resolve as they call it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/as-for-women-that-do-not-think-their-own-safety-worth-their-thought/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“It is as reasonable to represent one kind of imprisonment by another as it is to represent anything that really exists by that which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/it-is-as-reasonable-to-represent-one-kind-of-imprisonment-by-another/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [So possible is it for us to roll ourselves up in wickedness, till we grow invulnerable by conscience; and that sentinel, once dozed, sleeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/so-possible-is-it-for-us-to-roll-ourselves-up-in-wickedness-till-we/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [Now, said I aloud, My dear Father's Words are come to pass: God's Justice has overtaken me, and I have none to help or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/now-said-i-aloud-my-dear-father-s-words-are-come-to-pass-god-s/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [“I stood still an hour or thereabouts without trespassing on our orders (for so long the caravan was in passing the gate), to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/i-stood-still-an-hour-or-thereabouts-without-trespassing-on-our/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) [Explore all 173 Daniel Defoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) ## More Bell quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [It's nice to know there's a way to pay the bills other than third-and-8 and getting your bell rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-collinsworth/it-s-nice-to-know-there-s-a-way-to-pay-the-bills-other-than-third-and/) [Cris Collinsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-collinsworth/) > [“When it's over...ring the bell. It's over!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/when-it-s-over-ring-the-bell-it-s-over/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [I'm not doing one lucky punch or spinning kick and catching somebody. I'm going to own you - not beat you - own you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-anderson/i-m-not-doing-one-lucky-punch-or-spinning-kick-and-catching-somebody/) [Corey Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-anderson/) > [“Like the clanging of the bell, the truth crashes in upon me. At last I understand. He took away my voice to save me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-berry/like-the-clanging-of-the-bell-the-truth-crashes-in-upon-me-at-last-i/) [Julie Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-berry/) > [“How Nathan doesn't know I fancy him is beyond me. I may as well walk around with a sandwich board, saying 'I heart Nathan',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/how-nathan-doesn-t-know-i-fancy-him-is-beyond-me-i-may-as-well-walk/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) > [“And send not to ask for whom the fucking bell tolls, because you're not going to like the answer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/and-send-not-to-ask-for-whom-the-fucking-bell-tolls-because-you-re/) [Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/) > [My cheat snack is bell peppers, cream cheese, and Takis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/my-cheat-snack-is-bell-peppers-cream-cheese-and-takis/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [I used to walk down the Justice Department on the fifth floor and see all those portraits of legendary attorneys general, Griffin Bell and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-used-to-walk-down-the-justice-department-on-the-fifth-floor-and-see/) [Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/) > [It's a matter of how the bullpen looks as to whether Bell goes in there or Crow goes in there. Bell won't be ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-graham/it-s-a-matter-of-how-the-bullpen-looks-as-to-whether-bell-goes-in/) [Wayne Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-graham/) > [“Then something rang a bell in his mind. What”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/then-something-rang-a-bell-in-his-mind-what/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. 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