--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And once when we were walking on Bredon…" description: "\"“And once when we were walking on Bredon Hill, we met a bedraggled and exhausted fox. 'Oh, poor thing,' Jack said. 'What shall we do when the hunt come..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/george-sayer-58117_hunt_and-once-when-we-were-walking-on-bredon_2938492.jpg" --- # And once when we were walking on Bredon Hill, we met a… ![“And once when we were walking on Bredon Hill, we met a bedraggled and exhausted fox. 'Oh, poor thing,' Jack said. 'What shall we do when the hunt comes up? I can already hear them. Oh, I know — I have an idea.' He cupped his hands and shouted to the first riders, "Hallo, yoicks, gone that way,"…” quote by George Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/george-sayer-58117_hunt_and-once-when-we-were-walking-on-bredon_2938492.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/george-sayer-58117_hunt_and-once-when-we-were-walking-on-bredon_2938492.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c75/george-sayer-58117_hunt_and-once-when-we-were-walking-on-bredon_2938492.jpg) > ““And once when we were walking on Bredon Hill, we met a bedraggled and exhausted fox. 'Oh, poor thing,' Jack said. 'What shall we do when the hunt comes up? I can already hear them. Oh, I know — I have an idea.' He cupped his hands and shouted to the first riders, "Hallo, yoicks, gone that way," and pointed in the direction opposite to the one the fox had taken. The whole hunt followed his directions. There followed a long discussion about when lying was morally justifiable, but he boasted delightedly later to my wife that he had saved the life of a poor fox and showed no trace of guilt.”” [George Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sayer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cunning distraction saves a fox, prompting debate on moral justification of lying. **In simple terms:** Deception used to protect; moral ambiguity. Key Takeaway Consider when deceit may be ethically defensible. Themes morality deception compassion strategy Mood thoughtful intriguing Type philosophical narrative When to use this quote - hunting scenarios - ethical dilemmas - storytelling Key Concepts Ethics animal welfare Questions to Reflect On - When is lying acceptable? - How do consequences weigh against intent? A Different Perspective Justifying lies can erode trust and set dangerous precedents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunt/) [Hunt Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunt-comes-4368942/) [Hunt Followed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunt-followed-4368941/) [Jack Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jack-said-362106/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Shall Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-hunt-1374194/) ## Related quotes > [“You are a mask.You are nothing more!There is nothing behind your mask,not a face,nothing!I shall fly in the fullness of the night.Under the moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lasky/you-are-a-mask-you-are-nothing-more-there-is-nothing-behind-your-mask/) [Kathryn Lasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lasky/) > [ “And it is I, Raksha \[The Demon\], who answers. The man’s cub is mine, Lungri–mine to me! He shall not be killed. He shall… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/and-it-is-i-raksha-the-demon-who-answers-the-man-s-cub-is-mine-lungri/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [“My men think you are dead now, and won’t waste balls on you,” Jack said. “In fact I have let you live, but for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/my-men-think-you-are-dead-now-and-won-t-waste-balls-on-you-jack-said/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Think there’s any more of them down there?’ asked Owen cautiously. He hung back, making sure his gun was still cocked. ‘I doubt it,’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-baxendale/think-there-s-any-more-of-them-down-there-asked-owen-cautiously-he/) [Trevor Baxendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-baxendale/) > [“See, I like to think the point of life is to be happy,” Jack said with a shrug. “Also maybe not almost dying every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-riley/see-i-like-to-think-the-point-of-life-is-to-be-happy-jack-said-with-a/) [James Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-riley/) > [“Marissa felt physically sick. Had Jack been married? “The rest of the crew was joking around with him about it, and I don’t remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gillis/marissa-felt-physically-sick-had-jack-been-married-the-rest-of-the/) [Lisa Gillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gillis/) > [“I asked Phil Prentiss what he would do if they never got a baby and he said they’d die with a lot of excess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-carr/i-asked-phil-prentiss-what-he-would-do-if-they-never-got-a-baby-and/) [Robyn Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-carr/) > [“we debated the usage rules of “dude,” “true dat,” and my favorite, “for serious.” “I kind of wish they’d shut up,” Jack said. “Dude,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/we-debated-the-usage-rules-of-dude-true-dat-and-my-favorite-for/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [“Here I am, suspending all logic and reason to walk away from life as I know it to set off on a Totally Epic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michael/here-i-am-suspending-all-logic-and-reason-to-walk-away-from-life-as-i/) [Jay Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michael/) > [“Gail Ledbetter: "It wasn’t so much what he (Jack) said but how he said it that made the difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-macpherson/gail-ledbetter-it-wasn-t-so-much-what-he-jack-said-but-how-he-said-it/) [Daniel MacPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-macpherson/) > [“I rolled my eyes. To Jack I said, "Don't mind him, he's just mad no one likes him." Jonas clenched his jaw.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-f-breene/i-rolled-my-eyes-to-jack-i-said-don-t-mind-him-he-s-just-mad-no-one/) [K.F. Breene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-f-breene/) > [“Jaxon tried to hold his amusement back, but soon gave up and burst into guffaws. Even I lost my scowl and had to smile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/jaxon-tried-to-hold-his-amusement-back-but-soon-gave-up-and-burst/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“Jack said that maybe the more my life’s filled up with live people, the less I’ll think about the ones that’s dead. She made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninie-hammon/jack-said-that-maybe-the-more-my-life-s-filled-up-with-live-people/) [Ninie Hammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninie-hammon/) > [I kind of wish they’d shut up,” Jack said. “Dude, true dat,” Lend answered. Jack nodded solemnly. “For serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/i-kind-of-wish-they-d-shut-up-jack-said-dude-true-dat-lend-answered/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [“-If you were a girl,Jack said to Dell, I'd marry you. -No. You'd just have sex with me then never call me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/if-you-were-a-girl-jack-said-to-dell-i-d-marry-you-no-you-d-just-have/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) ## More by George Sayer > [“She wants to live simply and thinks luxuries little more than social display.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sayer/she-wants-to-live-simply-and-thinks-luxuries-little-more-than-social/) [George Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sayer/) > [“During one walk, Jack engaged in the first metaphysical argument that he can remember. It concerned the nature of the future: Is it like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sayer/during-one-walk-jack-engaged-in-the-first-metaphysical-argument-that/) [George Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sayer/) > [“He valued these experiences of joy more than anything else he had known, and he desired, as all who have experienced them desire, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sayer/he-valued-these-experiences-of-joy-more-than-anything-else-he-had/) [George Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sayer/) > [“To the end of his life he enjoyed traveling by train, the slower the better, and, if possible, in the front carriage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sayer/to-the-end-of-his-life-he-enjoyed-traveling-by-train-the-slower-the/) [George Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sayer/) > [“a radiant and infectious, almost childlike gaiety which was always bubbling over into delighted and delightful laughter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sayer/a-radiant-and-infectious-almost-childlike-gaiety-which-was-always/) [George Sayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sayer/) [Explore all 6 George Sayer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sayer/) ## More Hunt quotes > [My kids all do love to hunt and fish. When they get together, I think that's what they get together more for than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/my-kids-all-do-love-to-hunt-and-fish-when-they-get-together-i-think/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Helen Hunt is terrific, and I got to do a couple of guest spots with Helen and Paul Reiser on 'Mad About You.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/helen-hunt-is-terrific-and-i-got-to-do-a-couple-of-guest-spots-with/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [It’s been such an honor to be your Owen Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mckidd/it-s-been-such-an-honor-to-be-your-owen-hunt/) [Kevin McKidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mckidd/) > [“We do not hunt them because we want to save humanity. We hunt them because we like killing them. More than a calling, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menton3/we-do-not-hunt-them-because-we-want-to-save-humanity-we-hunt-them/) [Menton3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menton3/) > [“Be careful in the hunt, ye mates.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/be-careful-in-the-hunt-ye-mates/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Dont huNt Wat u cant kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-guru/dont-hunt-wat-u-cant-kill/) [Dj Guru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-guru/) > [What I often do when I'm writing, if I can't find that story, I go out and I hunt for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/what-i-often-do-when-i-m-writing-if-i-can-t-find-that-story-i-go-out/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [If a group of humans began to run regularly, perhaps allowing them to hunt or scavenge more effectively, anatomical changes would follow, especially among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/if-a-group-of-humans-began-to-run-regularly-perhaps-allowing-them-to/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [Back home, I hunt wolves quite a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-vander-esch/back-home-i-hunt-wolves-quite-a-bit/) [Leighton Vander Esch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-vander-esch/) > [They look so expectant, and then they look so depressed... that was the other great lesson that The Royal Hunt of the Sun taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/they-look-so-expectant-and-then-they-look-so-depressed-that-was-the/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [Being a die-hard Knicks fan, I remember hunting down these orange-and-blue Nikes that they only released in England. And I used to hunt for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/being-a-die-hard-knicks-fan-i-remember-hunting-down-these-orange-and/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [“Annabelle’s eyes stung as she stared at him, while need and inexhaustible tenderness gathered like an ache in her body. “I realized something,” she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/annabelle-s-eyes-stung-as-she-stared-at-him-while-need-and/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [I've had a bunch of accidents. If you hunt, you're gonna have some accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boo-weekley/i-ve-had-a-bunch-of-accidents-if-you-hunt-you-re-gonna-have-some/) [Boo Weekley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boo-weekley/) > [I was a huge fan of 'Treasure Hunt' and 'Challenge Anneka.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-willis/i-was-a-huge-fan-of-treasure-hunt-and-challenge-anneka/) [Emma Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-willis/) [Browse all 208 Hunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And once when we were walking on Bredon Hill, we met a bedraggled and exhausted fox. 'Oh, poor thing,' Jack said. 'What shall we do when the hunt comes up? I can already hear them. Oh, I know — I have an idea.' He cupped his hands and shouted to the first riders, \"Hallo, yoicks, gone that way,\" and pointed in the direction opposite to the one the fox had taken. 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