--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give him a good ducking, anyhow. -But…" description: "\"“Give him a good ducking, anyhow. -But he'd crawl back. Duck him again; and keep ducking him. -Suppose he should take it into his head to duck you, tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d9/herman-melville-162_quote_give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d_961317.jpg" --- # Give him a good ducking, anyhow. -But he'd crawl back… ![“Give him a good ducking, anyhow. -But he'd crawl back. Duck him again; and keep ducking him. -Suppose he should take it into his head to duck you, though—yes, and drown you—what then?” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d9/herman-melville-162_quote_give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d_961317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d9/herman-melville-162_quote_give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d_961317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d9/herman-melville-162_quote_give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d_961317.jpg) > ““Give him a good ducking, anyhow. -But he'd crawl back. Duck him again; and keep ducking him. -Suppose he should take it into his head to duck you, though—yes, and drown you—what then?”” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A relentless opponent can be met with repeated evasive tactics, but persistence may lead to escalation. **In simple terms:** Keep dodging a persistent threat. Key Takeaway Use strategy, not brute force. Themes conflict strategy resilience Mood tense strategic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - personal disputes - business competition Key Concepts psychology game theory power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When is evasion effective versus when does it worsen the problem? - What are the costs of endless retaliation? A Different Perspective Repeated avoidance can intensify conflict instead of resolving it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Everybody said I was ducking opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/everybody-said-i-was-ducking-opponents/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [IPhones think that everyone is always ducking this, and ducking that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-novak/iphones-think-that-everyone-is-always-ducking-this-and-ducking-that/) [BJ Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-novak/) > [I'm fighting Miguel Cotto on May 5th because Miss Pac Man is ducking me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/i-m-fighting-miguel-cotto-on-may-5th-because-miss-pac-man-is-ducking/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [You're 30: You know stuff now. Your 20s were for 'ducking up,' as my auto-correct would say, and learning from those mistakes. (For instance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/you-re-30-you-know-stuff-now-your-20s-were-for-ducking-up-as-my-auto/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [Ducking my heart and I don't know if I'll recover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jcole/ducking-my-heart-and-i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-recover/) JCole > [This is the boxing game. There is no ducking and diving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dereck-chisora/this-is-the-boxing-game-there-is-no-ducking-and-diving/) [Dereck Chisora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dereck-chisora/) > [I'm not ducking anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-m-not-ducking-anyone/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [“ 'What is the point of ducking?' says the old soldier to the young soldier. 'Each shot has a man's name on it anyway!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-richler/what-is-the-point-of-ducking-says-the-old-soldier-to-the-young/) [Emma Richler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-richler/) > [“I’m saying people can be real creative when it comes to ducking responsibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ruff/i-m-saying-people-can-be-real-creative-when-it-comes-to-ducking/) [Matt Ruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ruff/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Ducking quotes > [Everybody said I was ducking opponents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/everybody-said-i-was-ducking-opponents/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [IPhones think that everyone is always ducking this, and ducking that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bj-novak/iphones-think-that-everyone-is-always-ducking-this-and-ducking-that/) [BJ Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bj-novak/) > [I'm fighting Miguel Cotto on May 5th because Miss Pac Man is ducking me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/i-m-fighting-miguel-cotto-on-may-5th-because-miss-pac-man-is-ducking/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [You're 30: You know stuff now. Your 20s were for 'ducking up,' as my auto-correct would say, and learning from those mistakes. (For instance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/you-re-30-you-know-stuff-now-your-20s-were-for-ducking-up-as-my-auto/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [Ducking my heart and I don't know if I'll recover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jcole/ducking-my-heart-and-i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-recover/) JCole > [This is the boxing game. There is no ducking and diving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dereck-chisora/this-is-the-boxing-game-there-is-no-ducking-and-diving/) [Dereck Chisora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dereck-chisora/) > [I'm not ducking anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/i-m-not-ducking-anyone/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [“ 'What is the point of ducking?' says the old soldier to the young soldier. 'Each shot has a man's name on it anyway!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-richler/what-is-the-point-of-ducking-says-the-old-soldier-to-the-young/) [Emma Richler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-richler/) > [“I’m saying people can be real creative when it comes to ducking responsibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ruff/i-m-saying-people-can-be-real-creative-when-it-comes-to-ducking/) [Matt Ruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ruff/) Browse all 10 Ducking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Give him a good ducking, anyhow. -But he'd crawl back. Duck him again; and keep ducking him. -Suppose he should take it into his head to duck you, though—yes, and drown you—what then?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herman Melville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d-crawl-back-duck-him-again-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ducking" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d-crawl-back-duck-him-again-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d9/herman-melville-162_quote_give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d_961317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d9/herman-melville-162_quote_give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d_961317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d9/herman-melville-162_quote_give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d_961317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Give him a good ducking, anyhow. -But he'd crawl back. Duck him again; and keep ducking him. -Suppose he…” — Herman Melville", "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": "Herman Melville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Give him a good ducking, anyhow....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d-crawl-back-duck-him-again-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/give-him-a-good-ducking-anyhow-but-he-d-crawl-back-duck-him-again-and/#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 } } ] } ```