--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We had just commenced the third…" description: "\"“We had just commenced the third course—the bread and jam—when a gentleman in shirt-sleeves and a short pipe came along, and wanted to know if we knew ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/jerome-k-jerome-1155_trespassing_we-had-just-commenced-the-third-course-t_932492.png" --- # We had just commenced the third course—the bread and… ![“We had just commenced the third course—the bread and jam—when a gentleman in shirt-sleeves and a short pipe came along, and wanted to know if we knew that we were trespassing. We said we hadn’t given the matter sufficient consideration as yet to enable us to arrive at a definite conclusion on that…” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/jerome-k-jerome-1155_trespassing_we-had-just-commenced-the-third-course-t_932492.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/jerome-k-jerome-1155_trespassing_we-had-just-commenced-the-third-course-t_932492.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e1/jerome-k-jerome-1155_trespassing_we-had-just-commenced-the-third-course-t_932492.png) > ““We had just commenced the third course—the bread and jam—when a gentleman in shirt-sleeves and a short pipe came along, and wanted to know if we knew that we were trespassing. We said we hadn’t given the matter sufficient consideration as yet to enable us to arrive at a definite conclusion on that point, but that, if he assured us on his word as a gentleman that we were trespassing, we would, without further hesitation, believe it.”” [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A humorous scene where characters dodge a vague accusation by deferring judgment until a gentleman confirms it. **In simple terms:** They avoid deciding until someone else tells them. Key Takeaway Seek clarification before acting. Themes humor social etiquette miscommunication Mood lighthearted playful Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - travel - friendship - encounters - legal disputes Key Concepts absurdity deference authority decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle vague accusations? - When is it wise to wait for authority? A Different Perspective The humor relies on absurd bureaucracy, which may not translate to serious contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gentleman Trespassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman-trespassing-1530251/) [Knew Trespassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-trespassing-1530248/) [Trespassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trespassing/) [Trespassing Hesitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trespassing-hesitation-1530253/) [Trespassing Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trespassing-said-1530249/) ## Related quotes > [FABLEHAVEN: None who enter will leave unchanged. Trespassers will be turned to stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/fablehaven-none-who-enter-will-leave-unchanged-trespassers-will-be/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [This land is your land, this land is my land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-guthrie/this-land-is-your-land-this-land-is-my-land/) [Woody Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-guthrie/) > [I'm not stealing my neighbor's WiFi their WiFi is trespassing into my house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gothsynyster/i-m-not-stealing-my-neighbor-s-wifi-their-wifi-is-trespassing-into-my/) [Gothsynyster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gothsynyster/) > [The influences that really make and mar human happiness are beyond the reach of the law. The law can keep neighbors from trespassing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-rauschenbusch/the-influences-that-really-make-and-mar-human-happiness-are-beyond/) [Walter Rauschenbusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-rauschenbusch/) > [“Have you ever noticed how many fences there're getting to be? And the signs they got on them: no hunting, no hiking, no admission,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/have-you-ever-noticed-how-many-fences-there-re-getting-to-be-and-the/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [Texas governor Rick Perry has been in the race only three days, and he's already blowing away the competition like it is a trespassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/texas-governor-rick-perry-has-been-in-the-race-only-three-days-and-he/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“You got no right being in my head. That's..trespassing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-got-no-right-being-in-my-head-that-s-trespassing/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [Bell seated himself behind the desk, motioning for Nancy to stand opposite him. There was tense silence for a moment. Then Bell reached for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-keene/bell-seated-himself-behind-the-desk-motioning-for-nancy-to-stand/) [Carolyn Keene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-keene/) > [As I went walking I saw a sign there And on the sign it said "No Trespassing." But on the other side it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-guthrie/as-i-went-walking-i-saw-a-sign-there-and-on-the-sign-it-said-no/) [Woody Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-guthrie/) > [Highly creative people have a gift for connecting supposedly unrelated elements and ideas. They cross borders without regard for customs posts or No Trespassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/highly-creative-people-have-a-gift-for-connecting-supposedly/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [The sign says do not enter, no trespassing allowed. With visions of redemption I walk against the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/the-sign-says-do-not-enter-no-trespassing-allowed-with-visions-of/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Do we pour $40 billion into grandiose Louisiana engineering projects or do we instead put up no trespassing- signs in the areas below sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/do-we-pour-40-billion-into-grandiose-louisiana-engineering-projects/) [Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [“It still feels weird to spend money on Christmas trees. Back when Mom was alive, we’d go out “tree hunting.” That’s what she called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/it-still-feels-weird-to-spend-money-on-christmas-trees-back-when-mom/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [If we want TRULY EXTRAORDINARY VISION then you have to continually expand your horizons, take risks. If we don’t push our edge we’ll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dewitt-jones/if-we-want-truly-extraordinary-vision-then-you-have-to-continually/) [Dewitt Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dewitt-jones/) ## More by Jerome K. Jerome > [“George goes to sleep at a bank from ten to four each day, except Saturdays, when they wake him up and put him outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/george-goes-to-sleep-at-a-bank-from-ten-to-four-each-day-except/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“He would use a bit of string this time, and at the critical moment, when the old fool was leaning over the chair at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-would-use-a-bit-of-string-this-time-and-at-the-critical-moment/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Some people are under the impression that all that is required to make a good fisherman is the ability to tell lies easily and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/some-people-are-under-the-impression-that-all-that-is-required-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [It is easy enough to say that poverty is no crime. No; if it were men wouldn't be ashamed of it. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/it-is-easy-enough-to-say-that-poverty-is-no-crime-no-if-it-were-men/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Love is woman's business,and in "business" we all lay aside our natural weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/love-is-woman-s-business-and-in-business-we-all-lay-aside-our-natural/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [We are but the veriest, sorriest slaves of our stomach. Reach not after morality and righteousness, my friends; watch vigilantly your stomach, and diet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/we-are-but-the-veriest-sorriest-slaves-of-our-stomach-reach-not-after/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“There was no ground-floor — its ground-floor belonged to a house in the next court, and the front door opened direct upon a flight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/there-was-no-ground-floor-its-ground-floor-belonged-to-a-house-in-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“I can understand the ignorant masses loving to soak themselves in drink—oh, yes, it's very shocking that they should, of course—very shocking to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-understand-the-ignorant-masses-loving-to-soak-themselves-in/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [ They \[dogs\] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-but-listen-to-you-while-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“And we sit there, by its margin, while the moon, who loves it too, stoops down to kiss it with a sister’s kiss, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/and-we-sit-there-by-its-margin-while-the-moon-who-loves-it-too-stoops/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“The only feeling that a closer intimacy has created in him for his wife is that of indulgent contempt. As there is no equality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/the-only-feeling-that-a-closer-intimacy-has-created-in-him-for-his/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Evil thought is a dangerous pet. It is safer to play with it from behind the iron bars of circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/evil-thought-is-a-dangerous-pet-it-is-safer-to-play-with-it-from/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [If you are foolish enough to be contented, don't show it, but grumble with the rest; and if you can do with a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/if-you-are-foolish-enough-to-be-contented-don-t-show-it-but-grumble/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [Life will always remain a gamble, with prizes sometimes for the imprudent, and blanks so often to the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/life-will-always-remain-a-gamble-with-prizes-sometimes-for-the/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [“You can never rouse Harris. There is no poetry about Harris- no wild yearning for the unattainable. Harris never "weeps, he knows not why."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/you-can-never-rouse-harris-there-is-no-poetry-about-harris-no-wild/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) [Explore all 267 Jerome K. Jerome quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More Trespassing quotes > [FABLEHAVEN: None who enter will leave unchanged. Trespassers will be turned to stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/fablehaven-none-who-enter-will-leave-unchanged-trespassers-will-be/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [“It still feels weird to spend money on Christmas trees. Back when Mom was alive, we’d go out “tree hunting.” That’s what she called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/it-still-feels-weird-to-spend-money-on-christmas-trees-back-when-mom/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [When we speak about trespassing, we speak about artistic trespassing. You have to be prudent and have common sense and a sense of responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-herzog/when-we-speak-about-trespassing-we-speak-about-artistic-trespassing/) [Werner Herzog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-herzog/) > [Do we pour $40 billion into grandiose Louisiana engineering projects or do we instead put up no trespassing- signs in the areas below sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/do-we-pour-40-billion-into-grandiose-louisiana-engineering-projects/) [Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/) > [The sign says do not enter, no trespassing allowed. With visions of redemption I walk against the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/the-sign-says-do-not-enter-no-trespassing-allowed-with-visions-of/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Highly creative people have a gift for connecting supposedly unrelated elements and ideas. They cross borders without regard for customs posts or No Trespassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-moss/highly-creative-people-have-a-gift-for-connecting-supposedly/) [Robert Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-moss/) > [As I went walking I saw a sign there And on the sign it said "No Trespassing." But on the other side it didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-guthrie/as-i-went-walking-i-saw-a-sign-there-and-on-the-sign-it-said-no/) [Woody Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-guthrie/) > [Bell seated himself behind the desk, motioning for Nancy to stand opposite him. There was tense silence for a moment. Then Bell reached for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-keene/bell-seated-himself-behind-the-desk-motioning-for-nancy-to-stand/) [Carolyn Keene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-keene/) > [“You got no right being in my head. That's..trespassing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/you-got-no-right-being-in-my-head-that-s-trespassing/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [Texas governor Rick Perry has been in the race only three days, and he's already blowing away the competition like it is a trespassing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/texas-governor-rick-perry-has-been-in-the-race-only-three-days-and-he/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“Have you ever noticed how many fences there're getting to be? And the signs they got on them: no hunting, no hiking, no admission,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-trumbo/have-you-ever-noticed-how-many-fences-there-re-getting-to-be-and-the/) [Dalton Trumbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-trumbo/) > [The influences that really make and mar human happiness are beyond the reach of the law. The law can keep neighbors from trespassing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-rauschenbusch/the-influences-that-really-make-and-mar-human-happiness-are-beyond/) [Walter Rauschenbusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-rauschenbusch/) > [I'm not stealing my neighbor's WiFi their WiFi is trespassing into my house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gothsynyster/i-m-not-stealing-my-neighbor-s-wifi-their-wifi-is-trespassing-into-my/) [Gothsynyster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gothsynyster/) > [This land is your land, this land is my land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-guthrie/this-land-is-your-land-this-land-is-my-land/) [Woody Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-guthrie/) > [If we want TRULY EXTRAORDINARY VISION then you have to continually expand your horizons, take risks. If we don’t push our edge we’ll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dewitt-jones/if-we-want-truly-extraordinary-vision-then-you-have-to-continually/) [Dewitt Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dewitt-jones/) [Browse all 48 Trespassing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trespassing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We had just commenced the third course—the bread and jam—when a gentleman in shirt-sleeves and a short pipe came along, and wanted to know if we knew that we were trespassing. We said we hadn’t given the matter sufficient consideration as yet to enable us to arrive at a definite conclusion on that point, but that, if he assured us on his word as a gentleman that we were trespassing, we would, without further hesitation, believe it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerome K. 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