---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always questionable to intervene…"
description: "\"“It's always questionable to intervene decisively in strange circumstances.”\" — Franz Kafka"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/franz-kafka-214_intervene_it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-de_790888.jpg"
---

#  It's always questionable to intervene decisively in…

![“It's always questionable to intervene decisively in strange circumstances.” quote by Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/franz-kafka-214_intervene_it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-de_790888.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/franz-kafka-214_intervene_it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-de_790888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/franz-kafka-214_intervene_it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-de_790888.jpg)

> ““It's always questionable to intervene decisively in strange circumstances.””

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

## About This Quote

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

Intervening decisively in unfamiliar situations is risky and uncertain, questioning the wisdom of bold actions without clear context.

**In simple terms:** Bold action in strange situations is risky.

Key Takeaway

Weigh risks before decisive intervention.

Themes

risk uncertainty ethics

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- crisis management
- political action
- personal dilemmas

Key Concepts

decision making moral dilemma

Questions to Reflect On

- What criteria justify decisive intervention?
- How can we prepare for unknown outcomes?

A Different Perspective

Decisive action may cause unintended harm.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Strange as my circumstances were, the terms of this debate are as old and commonplace as man; much the same inducements and alarms cast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/strange-as-my-circumstances-were-the-terms-of-this-debate-are-as-old/)

[Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/)

> [Could we know by what strange circumstances a man's genius became prepared for practical success, we should discover that the most serviceable items in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/could-we-know-by-what-strange-circumstances-a-man-s-genius-became/)

[Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/)

> [“Strange it is, how circumstances alter cases. Coming to the office that morning, Nattie had found it disagreeable and hard enough to buffet the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-cheever-thayer/strange-it-is-how-circumstances-alter-cases-coming-to-the-office-that/)

Ella Cheever Thayer

> [“You were saved not by work, but for work. Do it till all is done. By your Inventions, Innovations, Initiatives, Improvements, Involvements, Imaginations, Information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-were-saved-not-by-work-but-for-work-do-it-till-all-is-done-by/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [The United States should not have to intervene in every single problem around the world. The voters of this country are reacting in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/the-united-states-should-not-have-to-intervene-in-every-single/)

[Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/)

> [Family is a difficult matter. I must admit I do not know that the state can intervene successfully in a family. It's a fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/family-is-a-difficult-matter-i-must-admit-i-do-not-know-that-the/)

[Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/)

> [“I wonder if people who asked for God to intervene in our world, really know what they are asking. Will they want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-taber/i-wonder-if-people-who-asked-for-god-to-intervene-in-our-world-really-2/)

[Duke Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-taber/)

> [If you can intervene early in the lives of girls here and in other parts of the world, you can begin to change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/if-you-can-intervene-early-in-the-lives-of-girls-here-and-in-other/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

> [If we wish to influence our own life in a particular direction, which is constantly threatened by the danger of the emergence of alien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-schauberger/if-we-wish-to-influence-our-own-life-in-a-particular-direction-which/)

[Viktor Schauberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-schauberger/)

> [I wonder if people who asked for God to intervene in our world, really know what they are asking. Will they want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-wonder-if-people-who-asked-for-god-to-intervene-in-our-world-really/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [Men have to take more responsibility. Men have to intervene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/men-have-to-take-more-responsibility-men-have-to-intervene/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Americans might not want to intervene in the outside world, but the outside world will still want to intervene in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/americans-might-not-want-to-intervene-in-the-outside-world-but-the/)

[Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/)

> [If our hearts are sincere and we are honestly seeking God's will, even if we make a mistake, he will intervene and get us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adaeze-don/if-our-hearts-are-sincere-and-we-are-honestly-seeking-god-s-will-even/)

[Adaeze Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adaeze-don/)

> [It is the parents duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/it-is-the-parents-duty-to-intervene-when-they-see-wrong-choices-being/)

[M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/)

> [“What people see you do may not be remembered; what they hear you say may be forgotten; but how they feel your intervention in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/what-people-see-you-do-may-not-be-remembered-what-they-hear-you-say/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

## More by Franz Kafka

> [ “The tremendous world I have inside my head. But how \[to\] free myself and free it without being torn to pieces. And a thousand… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-tremendous-world-i-have-inside-my-head-but-how-to-free-myself-and/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [What I write is different from what I say, what I say is different from what I think, what I think is different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/what-i-write-is-different-from-what-i-say-what-i-say-is-different/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [“A fine setting for a fit of despair,” it occurred to him, “if I were only standing here by accident instead of design.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/a-fine-setting-for-a-fit-of-despair-it-occurred-to-him-if-i-were-only/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [“Ali svi se slažu u tome da se ne podižu lakomislene optužbe i da se sud, kad jedanput nekog optuži i kad je uvjeren…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/ali-svi-se-sla-u-u-tome-da-se-ne-podi-u-lakomislene-optu-be-i-da-se/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [My job is unbearable to me because it conflicts with my only desire and my only calling, which is literature. Since I am nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/my-job-is-unbearable-to-me-because-it-conflicts-with-my-only-desire/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [Faith, like a guillotine. As heavy, as light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/faith-like-a-guillotine-as-heavy-as-light/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [You need not even listen, just wait...the world will offer itself freely to you, unmasking itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/you-need-not-even-listen-just-wait-the-world-will-offer-itself-freely/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [“I will cross hundreds of seas and oceans without sinking to reach you, see your eyes and sink completely into their depths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-will-cross-hundreds-of-seas-and-oceans-without-sinking-to-reach-you/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [I have no memory for things I have learned, nor things I have read, nor things experienced or heard, neither for people nor events;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-have-no-memory-for-things-i-have-learned-nor-things-i-have-read-nor/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [“This sounds crazy, but it is so. Nor is it perhaps really love when I say that for me you are the most beloved;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/this-sounds-crazy-but-it-is-so-nor-is-it-perhaps-really-love-when-i/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [The more horses you yoke the quicker everything will go - not the rending of the block from its foundation, which is impossible, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-more-horses-you-yoke-the-quicker-everything-will-go-not-the/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [Martyrs do not underrate the body, they allow it to be elevated on the cross. In this they are at one with their antagonists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/martyrs-do-not-underrate-the-body-they-allow-it-to-be-elevated-on-the/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [The true way goes over a line that, rather than spanning heights, is hardly above the ground. It appears more decidedly to make one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-true-way-goes-over-a-line-that-rather-than-spanning-heights-is/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [Every new discovery is assumed at once into the sum total of knowledge, and with that ceases in a sense to be a discovery;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/every-new-discovery-is-assumed-at-once-into-the-sum-total-of/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

> [“Sou de pedra. Sou a minha própria pedra tumular, sem nenhum interstício para a dúvida ou para a fé, para o amor ou para…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/sou-de-pedra-sou-a-minha-pr-pria-pedra-tumular-sem-nenhum-interst-cio/)

[Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

[Explore all 741 Franz Kafka quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/)

## More Intervene quotes

> [“What people see you do may not be remembered; what they hear you say may be forgotten; but how they feel your intervention in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/what-people-see-you-do-may-not-be-remembered-what-they-hear-you-say/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [It is the parents duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/it-is-the-parents-duty-to-intervene-when-they-see-wrong-choices-being/)

[M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/)

> [If our hearts are sincere and we are honestly seeking God's will, even if we make a mistake, he will intervene and get us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adaeze-don/if-our-hearts-are-sincere-and-we-are-honestly-seeking-god-s-will-even/)

[Adaeze Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adaeze-don/)

> [Americans might not want to intervene in the outside world, but the outside world will still want to intervene in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/americans-might-not-want-to-intervene-in-the-outside-world-but-the/)

[Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/)

> [Men have to take more responsibility. Men have to intervene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/men-have-to-take-more-responsibility-men-have-to-intervene/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I wonder if people who asked for God to intervene in our world, really know what they are asking. Will they want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-wonder-if-people-who-asked-for-god-to-intervene-in-our-world-really/)

[C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/)

> [If we wish to influence our own life in a particular direction, which is constantly threatened by the danger of the emergence of alien…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-schauberger/if-we-wish-to-influence-our-own-life-in-a-particular-direction-which/)

[Viktor Schauberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-schauberger/)

> [If you can intervene early in the lives of girls here and in other parts of the world, you can begin to change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/if-you-can-intervene-early-in-the-lives-of-girls-here-and-in-other/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

> [“I wonder if people who asked for God to intervene in our world, really know what they are asking. Will they want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-taber/i-wonder-if-people-who-asked-for-god-to-intervene-in-our-world-really-2/)

[Duke Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-taber/)

> [Family is a difficult matter. I must admit I do not know that the state can intervene successfully in a family. It's a fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-arrow/family-is-a-difficult-matter-i-must-admit-i-do-not-know-that-the/)

[Kenneth Arrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-arrow/)

> [The United States should not have to intervene in every single problem around the world. The voters of this country are reacting in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/the-united-states-should-not-have-to-intervene-in-every-single/)

[Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/)

> [“You were saved not by work, but for work. Do it till all is done. By your Inventions, Innovations, Initiatives, Improvements, Involvements, Imaginations, Information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-were-saved-not-by-work-but-for-work-do-it-till-all-is-done-by/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“DRAMA: Be careful about being baited into the personal battles and confusion of others. If you want to help someone out emotionally, be certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-e-wagner/drama-be-careful-about-being-baited-into-the-personal-battles-and/)

[Kerry E. Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-e-wagner/)

> [I said to the German Ambassador that, as long as there was only a dispute between Austria and Serbia alone, I did not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-grey/i-said-to-the-german-ambassador-that-as-long-as-there-was-only-a/)

[Edward Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-grey/)

> [Pray for someone else's child, your pastor, the military, the police officers, the firemen, the teachers, the government. There's no end to the ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-johnson/pray-for-someone-else-s-child-your-pastor-the-military-the-police/)

[Monica Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-johnson/)

Browse all 81 Intervene quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“It's always questionable to intervene decisively in strange circumstances.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Franz Kafka"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-decisively-in-strange/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Intervene"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-decisively-in-strange/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/franz-kafka-214_intervene_it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-de_790888.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/franz-kafka-214_intervene_it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-de_790888.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/franz-kafka-214_intervene_it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-de_790888.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's always questionable to intervene decisively in strange circumstances.” — Franz Kafka",
                "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": "Franz Kafka",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“It's always questionable to intervene decisively...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-decisively-in-strange/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/it-s-always-questionable-to-intervene-decisively-in-strange/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
