--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Did you ever feel, Hugh, that it might be…" description: "\"“Did you ever feel, Hugh, that it might be better to let even ill alone,\" wondered Cadfael ruefully, \"rather than let loose worse?”\" — Ellis Peters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/ellis-peters-8392_meddling_did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be_1379494.jpg" --- # Did you ever feel, Hugh, that it might be better to let… ![“Did you ever feel, Hugh, that it might be better to let even ill alone," wondered Cadfael ruefully, "rather than let loose worse?” quote by Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/ellis-peters-8392_meddling_did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be_1379494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/ellis-peters-8392_meddling_did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be_1379494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/ellis-peters-8392_meddling_did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be_1379494.jpg) > ““Did you ever feel, Hugh, that it might be better to let even ill alone," wondered Cadfael ruefully, "rather than let loose worse?”” [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The character wonders if protecting the vulnerable is wiser than confronting greater evils directly. **In simple terms:** Protect the weak, avoid creating worse harm. Key Takeaway Choose caution over escalation. Themes ethics protection conflict moral dilemma caution consequences Mood thoughtful concerned Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - social work - community leadership - family decisions - policy making Key Concepts utilitarianism moral philosophy risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to protect than to confront? - What are the hidden costs of avoiding conflict? A Different Perspective Protecting the vulnerable may ignore larger systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) ## Related quotes > [The Gulf States are extraordinarily suspicious of Iran for good reason. They view Iran as meddling in their affairs. They have seen Iran level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-gulf-states-are-extraordinarily-suspicious-of-iran-for-good/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Our problems are both acute and chronic, yet all we hear from those in positions of leadership are the same tired proposals for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-problems-are-both-acute-and-chronic-yet-all-we-hear-from-those-in/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A noiseless course, not meddling with the affairs of others, unattractive of notice, is a mark that society is going on in happiness. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-noiseless-course-not-meddling-with-the-affairs-of-others/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [All countries in my part of the world, we want democracy to prevail. I told the people, 'If you want American policies to stop,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/all-countries-in-my-part-of-the-world-we-want-democracy-to-prevail-i/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [“Meddling is what we do. It’s what defines us. Meddling gave us fire and tools and civilisation and the keys to the universe. Fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/meddling-is-what-we-do-it-s-what-defines-us-meddling-gave-us-fire-and/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [The people, when they say 'Death to America!' - do you know what they are really saying? What they mean to say relates to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/the-people-when-they-say-death-to-america-do-you-know-what-they-are/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [If Americans want prosperity, we need a grand reawakening to the incontrovertible fact that its source is entrepreneurs unfettered by meddling politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-parker/if-americans-want-prosperity-we-need-a-grand-reawakening-to-the/) [Star Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-parker/) > [A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-man-is-likely-to-mind-his-own-business-when-it-is-worth-minding/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/o-lord-and-master-of-my-life-take-from-me-the-spirit-of-sloth/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [... a less than perfect meddling in the spiritual world can breed monsters for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/a-less-than-perfect-meddling-in-the-spiritual-world-can-breed/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [I think my constant fiddling and meddling with the status quo may have been one of my biggest contributions to the later success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-think-my-constant-fiddling-and-meddling-with-the-status-quo-may/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Meddling with another man's folly is always thankless work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/meddling-with-another-man-s-folly-is-always-thankless-work/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Mrs. Jennings was a widow, with an ample jointure. She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/mrs-jennings-was-a-widow-with-an-ample-jointure-she-had-only-two/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Never stand in the way of letting God use people’s actions, in order to solve a greater issue in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/never-stand-in-the-way-of-letting-god-use-people-s-actions-in-order/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [ Crack-brained meddling by the authorities \[can\] aggravate an existing crisis. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/crack-brained-meddling-by-the-authorities-can-aggravate-an-existing/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) ## More by Ellis Peters > [The mountains of today are the molehills of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/the-mountains-of-today-are-the-molehills-of-tomorrow/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Once, I remember, Father Abbot said that our purpose is justice, and with God lies the privilege of mercy. But even God, when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/once-i-remember-father-abbot-said-that-our-purpose-is-justice-and/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“... What is done matters, but what is yet to do matters far more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/what-is-done-matters-but-what-is-yet-to-do-matters-far-more/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [Nothing is more pleasing and engaging than the sense of having conferred benefits. Not even the gratification of receiving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/nothing-is-more-pleasing-and-engaging-than-the-sense-of-having/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“... there are as holy persons outside orders as ever there are in, and not to trifle with truth, as good men out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/there-are-as-holy-persons-outside-orders-as-ever-there-are-in-and-not/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Innocence is an infinitely fragile thing and thought can sometimes injure, even destroy it. - Pg. 254”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/innocence-is-an-infinitely-fragile-thing-and-thought-can-sometimes/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“When I want to hear my echo,” said Brother Cadfael, “I will at least speak first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/when-i-want-to-hear-my-echo-said-brother-cadfael-i-will-at-least/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [You cannot demand truth, and then select half and throw the inconvenient remainder away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/you-cannot-demand-truth-and-then-select-half-and-throw-the/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [What are wits for unless a man uses them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/what-are-wits-for-unless-a-man-uses-them/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [Despair is deadly sin, but worse, it is mortal folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/despair-is-deadly-sin-but-worse-it-is-mortal-folly/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [I do believe I begin to grasp the nature of miracles! For would it be a miracle, if there was any reason for it?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/i-do-believe-i-begin-to-grasp-the-nature-of-miracles-for-would-it-be/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [Truth is a hard master, and costly to serve, but it simplifies all problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/truth-is-a-hard-master-and-costly-to-serve-but-it-simplifies-all/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Nothing learned is ever quite wasted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/nothing-learned-is-ever-quite-wasted/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Questions are as supple as willow wands, it's easy to brush by them and slip them aside, and no one the worse for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/questions-are-as-supple-as-willow-wands-it-s-easy-to-brush-by-them/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [Here I begin to know that blessedness is what can be snatched out the passing day and put away to think of afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/here-i-begin-to-know-that-blessedness-is-what-can-be-snatched-out-the/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) [Explore all 81 Ellis Peters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) ## More Meddling quotes > [The Gulf States are extraordinarily suspicious of Iran for good reason. They view Iran as meddling in their affairs. They have seen Iran level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-gulf-states-are-extraordinarily-suspicious-of-iran-for-good/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Never stand in the way of letting God use people’s actions, in order to solve a greater issue in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/never-stand-in-the-way-of-letting-god-use-people-s-actions-in-order/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Mrs. Jennings was a widow, with an ample jointure. She had only two daughters, both of whom she had lived to see respectably married,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/mrs-jennings-was-a-widow-with-an-ample-jointure-she-had-only-two/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Meddling with another man's folly is always thankless work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/meddling-with-another-man-s-folly-is-always-thankless-work/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [I think my constant fiddling and meddling with the status quo may have been one of my biggest contributions to the later success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-think-my-constant-fiddling-and-meddling-with-the-status-quo-may/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [... a less than perfect meddling in the spiritual world can breed monsters for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/a-less-than-perfect-meddling-in-the-spiritual-world-can-breed/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ephrem-the-syrian/o-lord-and-master-of-my-life-take-from-me-the-spirit-of-sloth/) [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ephrem-the-syrian/) > [A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-man-is-likely-to-mind-his-own-business-when-it-is-worth-minding/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [If Americans want prosperity, we need a grand reawakening to the incontrovertible fact that its source is entrepreneurs unfettered by meddling politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/star-parker/if-americans-want-prosperity-we-need-a-grand-reawakening-to-the/) [Star Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/star-parker/) > [The people, when they say 'Death to America!' - do you know what they are really saying? What they mean to say relates to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/the-people-when-they-say-death-to-america-do-you-know-what-they-are/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [“Meddling is what we do. It’s what defines us. Meddling gave us fire and tools and civilisation and the keys to the universe. Fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/meddling-is-what-we-do-it-s-what-defines-us-meddling-gave-us-fire-and/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [All countries in my part of the world, we want democracy to prevail. I told the people, 'If you want American policies to stop,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/all-countries-in-my-part-of-the-world-we-want-democracy-to-prevail-i/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [A noiseless course, not meddling with the affairs of others, unattractive of notice, is a mark that society is going on in happiness. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-noiseless-course-not-meddling-with-the-affairs-of-others/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Our problems are both acute and chronic, yet all we hear from those in positions of leadership are the same tired proposals for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-problems-are-both-acute-and-chronic-yet-all-we-hear-from-those-in/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ Crack-brained meddling by the authorities \[can\] aggravate an existing crisis. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/crack-brained-meddling-by-the-authorities-can-aggravate-an-existing/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) Browse all 100 Meddling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Did you ever feel, Hugh, that it might be better to let even ill alone,\" wondered Cadfael ruefully, \"rather than let loose worse?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellis Peters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be-better-to-let-even-ill-alone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Meddling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be-better-to-let-even-ill-alone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/ellis-peters-8392_meddling_did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be_1379494.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/ellis-peters-8392_meddling_did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be_1379494.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/ellis-peters-8392_meddling_did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be_1379494.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Did you ever feel, Hugh, that it might be better to let even ill alone,\" wondered Cadfael ruefully, \"rather…” — Ellis Peters", "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": "Ellis Peters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Did you ever feel, Hugh, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be-better-to-let-even-ill-alone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/did-you-ever-feel-hugh-that-it-might-be-better-to-let-even-ill-alone/#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 } } ] } ```