--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate to be obvious,\" added the…" description: "\"I hate to be obvious,\" added the Scarecrow, \"but you'd have saved yourself a heap of trouble if you weren't too cheap to invest in a leash, Dorothy.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/gregory-maguire-547_hate_i-hate-to-be-obvious-added-the-scarecrow_1123262.png" --- # I hate to be obvious," added the Scarecrow, "but you'd… ![“I hate to be obvious," added the Scarecrow, "but you'd have saved yourself a heap of trouble if you weren't too cheap to invest in a leash, Dorothy.” quote by Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/gregory-maguire-547_hate_i-hate-to-be-obvious-added-the-scarecrow_1123262.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/gregory-maguire-547_hate_i-hate-to-be-obvious-added-the-scarecrow_1123262.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a3/gregory-maguire-547_hate_i-hate-to-be-obvious-added-the-scarecrow_1123262.png) > “I hate to be obvious," added the Scarecrow, "but you'd have saved yourself a heap of trouble if you weren't too cheap to invest in a leash, Dorothy.” [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character warns that neglecting simple safeguards can lead to greater problems later. **In simple terms:** Ignoring basics creates trouble. Key Takeaway Invest in simple protections early. Themes responsibility prevention wisdom Mood cautionary reflective Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - home safety - financial planning - health checkups Key Concepts literature folklore Questions to Reflect On - What simple steps could prevent larger issues? - Are you overlooking a cheap safeguard? A Different Perspective Over‑preparing can become costly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Added Scarecrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/added-scarecrow-3050212/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [Invest Leash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invest-leash-3050211/) [Leash Dorothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leash-dorothy-3050210/) [Obvious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obvious/) [Scarecrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scarecrow/) [Scarecrow Saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scarecrow-saved-3050213/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) ## Related quotes > [“The cave of Ozma has been discovered, and she is to come back and rule our Oz, and the idiotic Scarecrow can go stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/the-cave-of-ozma-has-been-discovered-and-she-is-to-come-back-and-rule/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [A capacity for inferiority in the growing adult is threatened by the temptation by squander that capacity ruthlessly, to revel in hallowness. The syndrom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/a-capacity-for-inferiority-in-the-growing-adult-is-threatened-by-the/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“When a scarecrow blows apart in a gale wind, the farmer just props up another one. It’s the job to be done that’s important,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/when-a-scarecrow-blows-apart-in-a-gale-wind-the-farmer-just-props-up/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I'll miss you most of all scarecrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-miss-you-most-of-all-scarecrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The audiences certainly have declined. 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This scarecrow of a suit, has, in course of time, become so complicated that no man alive knows what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/jarndyce-and-jarndyce-drones-on-this-scarecrow-of-a-suit-has-in/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [That proves you are unusual,' returned the Scarecrow; 'and I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/that-proves-you-are-unusual-returned-the-scarecrow-and-i-am-convinced/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [What fabrications they are, mothers. Scarecrows, wax dolls for us to stick pins into, crude diagrams. We deny them an existence of their own,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/what-fabrications-they-are-mothers-scarecrows-wax-dolls-for-us-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“I'm not really like a cop at all. I haven't got any actual authority. If someone does show up to do anything bad, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-comeau/i-m-not-really-like-a-cop-at-all-i-haven-t-got-any-actual-authority/) [Joey Comeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-comeau/) > [“you do not I will make an end of you, as I did of the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow." Dorothy followed her through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/you-do-not-i-will-make-an-end-of-you-as-i-did-of-the-tin-woodman-and/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Though it has no thought of keeping watch, it's not for naught that the scarecrow stands in the grain field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/though-it-has-no-thought-of-keeping-watch-it-s-not-for-naught-that/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [“I guess that was nice of Chiron, for the dogs' sake, but it kind of makes me wonder if he's got a Percy Jackson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-guess-that-was-nice-of-chiron-for-the-dogs-sake-but-it-kind-of/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Trump would either be the Scarecrow or the Joker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/trump-would-either-be-the-scarecrow-or-the-joker/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [I look at a picture like Scarecrow and think, 'Jesus, how could they have let us make that?' I mean, if you used technology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-look-at-a-picture-like-scarecrow-and-think-jesus-how-could-they/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) ## More by Gregory Maguire > [“By so giving up, of course, it renews itself- that is the secret”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/by-so-giving-up-of-course-it-renews-itself-that-is-the-secret/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Forgive us our trespasses," says Margarethe, "and get out of our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/forgive-us-our-trespasses-says-margarethe-and-get-out-of-our-way/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“There are two kinds of anger: hot and cold. 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She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I shall pray for your soul,' promised Nessarose. I shall wait for your shoes,' Elphie answered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-shall-pray-for-your-soul-promised-nessarose-i-shall-wait-for-your/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [My first job was scooping ice cream at Friendly's in Albany, New York. I hated the work, most of my colleagues, and the uniform,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/my-first-job-was-scooping-ice-cream-at-friendly-s-in-albany-new-york/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“At its most elemental, a spell is no more than a recipe for change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/at-its-most-elemental-a-spell-is-no-more-than-a-recipe-for-change/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [I write because I admire the act of rationalization, of seeking clarity in one's understanding of the complexities of life, and I'm bad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/i-write-because-i-admire-the-act-of-rationalization-of-seeking/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“Do good though, will you?" She blinked brightly at the green girl. "If not for your parents or your grandmother, then for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/do-good-though-will-you-she-blinked-brightly-at-the-green-girl-if-not/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You always had an eye for the fellow with a decent helping of sausage and hard-boiled eggs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-always-had-an-eye-for-the-fellow-with-a-decent-helping-of-sausage/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“You need my help? What for? Bread, cash, a fake identity to help you slip sideways through the cracks? Tell me what you need,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/you-need-my-help-what-for-bread-cash-a-fake-identity-to-help-you-slip/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) [Explore all 470 Gregory Maguire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) ## More Hate quotes > [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [I do a lot of vocal exercises and drink hot tea, which I hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darci-lynne-farmer/i-do-a-lot-of-vocal-exercises-and-drink-hot-tea-which-i-hate/) [Darci Lynne Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darci-lynne-farmer/) > [Hate nothing in another human being because your eyes is made looking at others but never at your own self except in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/hate-nothing-in-another-human-being-because-your-eyes-is-made-looking/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. 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