--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bernard did not mind the rats in the…" description: "\"“Bernard did not mind the rats in the cellars and he did not mind the horses. He minded the people on the horses.”\" — Eva Ibbotson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/eva-ibbotson-2965_bernard_bernard-did-not-mind-the-rats-in-the-cel_2489137.png" --- # Bernard did not mind the rats in the cellars and he did… ![“Bernard did not mind the rats in the cellars and he did not mind the horses. He minded the people on the horses.” quote by Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/eva-ibbotson-2965_bernard_bernard-did-not-mind-the-rats-in-the-cel_2489137.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/eva-ibbotson-2965_bernard_bernard-did-not-mind-the-rats-in-the-cel_2489137.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/eva-ibbotson-2965_bernard_bernard-did-not-mind-the-rats-in-the-cel_2489137.png) > ““Bernard did not mind the rats in the cellars and he did not mind the horses. He minded the people on the horses.”” [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The protagonist tolerates animals but is wary of people in power, highlighting distrust of authority. **In simple terms:** People in power are more concerning than animals. Key Takeaway Question authority and protect yourself. Themes trust authority power dynamics Mood skeptical cautious Type narrative advice When to use this quote - workplace - government - family dynamics - social movements Key Concepts political science psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - When have you trusted a leader? - How do you discern harmful power? A Different Perspective Not all authority is harmful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bernard/) [Bernard Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bernard-did-947179/) [Horses Minded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horses-minded-947176/) [People Horses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-horses-947178/) [Rats Cellars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rats-cellars-947177/) ## Related quotes > [“I began to see the magic of Jocelyn's horse psychology school. You couldn't put on airs with a horse, as we so often do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/i-began-to-see-the-magic-of-jocelyn-s-horse-psychology-school-you/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [I'm used to riding horses. My father used to breed horses when I was a child. I grew up in Tipperary, in the country,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-condon/i-m-used-to-riding-horses-my-father-used-to-breed-horses-when-i-was-a-2/) [Kerry Condon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-condon/) > [I've often told people who ask if there is a God: Get around enough people with horses and see what happens. See how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/i-ve-often-told-people-who-ask-if-there-is-a-god-get-around-enough/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) > [People on horses look better than they are. People in cars look worse than they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/people-on-horses-look-better-than-they-are-people-in-cars-look-worse/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) > [Bernard and I intend doing a lot with our lives and that includes actively helping other people. But how can we tell you our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/bernard-and-i-intend-doing-a-lot-with-our-lives-and-that-includes/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [“Bernard said this last word like it was full of nails and might gut him to spit it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/bernard-said-this-last-word-like-it-was-full-of-nails-and-might-gut/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [Two months later at a party, Bernard pulled me into a closet and proposed. I said yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/two-months-later-at-a-party-bernard-pulled-me-into-a-closet-and/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [There is a long dishonourable tradition of western intellectuals who have been duped by Moscow. The list includes Bernard Shaw, the Webbs, H. G.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harding/there-is-a-long-dishonourable-tradition-of-western-intellectuals-who/) [Luke Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harding/) > [“He was a horrid-looking fellow. Fat as a pig he was, and his face was the colour of cottage cheese. His collar was unbuttoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-moore/he-was-a-horrid-looking-fellow-fat-as-a-pig-he-was-and-his-face-was/) [Brian Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-moore/) > [I have a St. Bernard named B.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-rourke/i-have-a-st-bernard-named-b/) [Heather O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-rourke/) > [I loved Bernard Cornwell's books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dreymon/i-loved-bernard-cornwell-s-books/) [Alexander Dreymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dreymon/) > [“Saint Bernard was blocking the way. I ran to the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-a-nolan/saint-bernard-was-blocking-the-way-i-ran-to-the/) [Lucy A. Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-a-nolan/) > [And of course, now that Bernard and I have found each other forever, we're determined to create our own little world in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/and-of-course-now-that-bernard-and-i-have-found-each-other-forever-we/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [Bernard is a great player, a player for the Brazilian national team, and I also followed his progress with Atletico Mineiro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/bernard-is-a-great-player-a-player-for-the-brazilian-national-team/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [One of my heroes is a composer named James Bernard, and oh my God... I can still listen to his music today and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carpenter/one-of-my-heroes-is-a-composer-named-james-bernard-and-oh-my-god-i/) [John Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carpenter/) ## More by Eva Ibbotson > [“They had reached Euston station. Miss Minton waved her umbrella at a porter, and Maia’s trunk and her suitcase were lifted onto a trolley.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/they-had-reached-euston-station-miss-minton-waved-her-umbrella-at-a/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Muriel sprinkled salt over her haddock mousse. ‘It is not easy to be specific, but both morally and hygienically there is . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/muriel-sprinkled-salt-over-her-haddock-mousse-it-is-not-easy-to-be/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“You’re taking this very well, my boy. Very well indeed. You’re taking it like a man. I confess I expected arguments, even tantrums.” “Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/you-re-taking-this-very-well-my-boy-very-well-indeed-you-re-taking-it/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [She stood looking carefully at the labeled portraits Ursala had put up: Little Crow, Chief of the Santees, Geronimo, last of the Apaches, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/she-stood-looking-carefully-at-the-labeled-portraits-ursala-had-put/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“For the first part of the journey Maia kept her eyes on the side of the road. Now that she was really leaving her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/for-the-first-part-of-the-journey-maia-kept-her-eyes-on-the-side-of/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“She realized that adventures, once they were over, were things that had to stay inside one--that no one else could quite understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/she-realized-that-adventures-once-they-were-over-were-things-that-had/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [What are you afraid of then? Not Being able to see, I think not seeing because your obsessed by something that blots out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/what-are-you-afraid-of-then-not-being-able-to-see-i-think-not-seeing/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [The sisters worked from dawn to dusk. One of them was an idiot; she started shaving her legs and marrying tax inspectors, so she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-sisters-worked-from-dawn-to-dusk-one-of-them-was-an-idiot-she/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“When we’re grown up I’ll come back for you, I promise. No one can stop us then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/when-we-re-grown-up-i-ll-come-back-for-you-i-promise-no-one-can-stop/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had-a-moment-alone-she-slipped/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [But she had to know words. She had to know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-she-had-to-know-words-she-had-to-know-everything/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/please-god-ruth-would-pray-don-t-let-me-be-competitive-let-me-realize/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“It was the Indian side of Finn that had taken over when he found her in the wood. That managed to carry her to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/it-was-the-indian-side-of-finn-that-had-taken-over-when-he-found-her/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Then, when he said her name, she opened her eyes. One hand went out to his sleeve. “Can we go now?” she whispered. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/then-when-he-said-her-name-she-opened-her-eyes-one-hand-went-out-to/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“The children turned and saw the spinach-green boat coming toward them. “Oh no! Not the Carters!” said Maia. She looked round desperately for somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-children-turned-and-saw-the-spinach-green-boat-coming-toward-them/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) [Explore all 144 Eva Ibbotson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## More Bernard quotes > [One of my heroes is a composer named James Bernard, and oh my God... I can still listen to his music today and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carpenter/one-of-my-heroes-is-a-composer-named-james-bernard-and-oh-my-god-i/) [John Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carpenter/) > [Bernard is a great player, a player for the Brazilian national team, and I also followed his progress with Atletico Mineiro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richarlison/bernard-is-a-great-player-a-player-for-the-brazilian-national-team/) [Richarlison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richarlison/) > [And of course, now that Bernard and I have found each other forever, we're determined to create our own little world in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/and-of-course-now-that-bernard-and-i-have-found-each-other-forever-we/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [“Saint Bernard was blocking the way. I ran to the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-a-nolan/saint-bernard-was-blocking-the-way-i-ran-to-the/) [Lucy A. Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-a-nolan/) > [I loved Bernard Cornwell's books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dreymon/i-loved-bernard-cornwell-s-books/) [Alexander Dreymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dreymon/) > [I have a St. Bernard named B.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-rourke/i-have-a-st-bernard-named-b/) [Heather O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-rourke/) > [“He was a horrid-looking fellow. Fat as a pig he was, and his face was the colour of cottage cheese. His collar was unbuttoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-moore/he-was-a-horrid-looking-fellow-fat-as-a-pig-he-was-and-his-face-was/) [Brian Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-moore/) > [There is a long dishonourable tradition of western intellectuals who have been duped by Moscow. The list includes Bernard Shaw, the Webbs, H. G.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harding/there-is-a-long-dishonourable-tradition-of-western-intellectuals-who/) [Luke Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harding/) > [Two months later at a party, Bernard pulled me into a closet and proposed. I said yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/two-months-later-at-a-party-bernard-pulled-me-into-a-closet-and/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [“Bernard said this last word like it was full of nails and might gut him to spit it out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/bernard-said-this-last-word-like-it-was-full-of-nails-and-might-gut/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [Bernard and I intend doing a lot with our lives and that includes actively helping other people. But how can we tell you our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/bernard-and-i-intend-doing-a-lot-with-our-lives-and-that-includes/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [“Bernard was duly grateful (it was an enormous comfort to have his friend again) and also duly resentful (it would be pleasure to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/bernard-was-duly-grateful-it-was-an-enormous-comfort-to-have-his/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Success went fizzily to Bernard's head, and in the process completely reconciled him (as any good intoxicant should do) to a world which, up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/success-went-fizzily-to-bernard-s-head-and-in-the-process-completely/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Bernard Shaw said that when you copy yourself, you know you've got style. And I feel that if you can write like you write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-robinson/bernard-shaw-said-that-when-you-copy-yourself-you-know-you-ve-got/) [Bruce Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-robinson/) > [Bernard Vonnegut, named for his paternal grandfather, was born August 29, 1914. He was a serious-looking little boy, even in informal photographs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-j-shields/bernard-vonnegut-named-for-his-paternal-grandfather-was-born-august/) [Charles J. Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-j-shields/) [Browse all 33 Bernard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bernard/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Bernard did not mind the rats in the cellars and he did not mind the horses. 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