Butterfly wings Quote by Jo Nesbø
““And a soft spot for the somewhat anguished officer with big ears that stuck out from the close-cropped cranium like two colourful butterfly wings. Even though Harry had caused Møller more trouble than was good for him. As a newly promoted PAS he had learned that the first commandment for a civil servant with career plans was to guard your back.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Snowman” (2007) excerpt
A newly promoted civil servant learns that protecting one's own career requires vigilance and loyalty to peers, especially in a treacherous environment.
In simple terms: Career advancement demands watching your back.
Key Takeaway
Stay aware of alliances and protect your interests.
Themes
politics
career
trust
loyalty
danger
Mood
tense
cautious
analytical
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- government work
- corporate ladder
- team projects
- high‑stakes negotiations
Key Concepts
bureaucracy
power dynamics
survival strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance loyalty with self‑preservation?
- What signs indicate a toxic work environment?
A Different Perspective
Blind loyalty can breed corruption and mistrust.
![“... on these expanded membranes [butterfly wings] Nature writes, as on a tablet, the story of the modifications of species, so truly do all changes of the organisation register themselves thereon. Moreover, the same colour-patterns of the wings generally show, with great regularity, the degrees of…” quote by Henry Walter Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/852/henry-walter-bates-39989_blood_on-these-expanded-membranes-butterfly-wi_834124.jpg)
