--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A rat is neither good nor evil. It just…" description: "\"“A rat is neither good nor evil. It just does what a rat is suppose to do. From Phantom”\" — Jo Nesbo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/jo-nesbo-8743_phantom_a-rat-is-neither-good-nor-evil-it-just-d_2527740.jpg" --- # A rat is neither good nor evil. It just does what a rat is… ![“A rat is neither good nor evil. It just does what a rat is suppose to do. From Phantom” quote by Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/jo-nesbo-8743_phantom_a-rat-is-neither-good-nor-evil-it-just-d_2527740.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/jo-nesbo-8743_phantom_a-rat-is-neither-good-nor-evil-it-just-d_2527740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d3/jo-nesbo-8743_phantom_a-rat-is-neither-good-nor-evil-it-just-d_2527740.jpg) > ““A rat is neither good nor evil. It just does what a rat is suppose to do. From Phantom”” [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rat acts according to its nature, without moral judgment. **In simple terms:** Rats just act as rats do. Key Takeaway Accept behavior without moralizing. Themes nature morality behavior Mood neutral observational Type philosophical descriptive When to use this quote - wildlife observation - ethical debates - character analysis Key Concepts determinism animal behavior Questions to Reflect On - How does attributing morality to animals affect our treatment of them? - Can we separate instinct from moral agency? A Different Perspective Moral judgments can oversimplify complex beings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Phantom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantom/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [A rat is neither good nor evil. It does what a rat has to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-rat-is-neither-good-nor-evil-it-does-what-a-rat-has-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If a rat is a good model for your emotional life, you're in big trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/if-a-rat-is-a-good-model-for-your-emotional-life-you-re-in-big-trouble/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Why is not a rat as good as a rabbit? Why should men eat shrimps and neglect cockroaches?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/why-is-not-a-rat-as-good-as-a-rabbit-why-should-men-eat-shrimps-and/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Yet, for my part, I was never unusually squeamish; I could sometimes eat a fried rat with a good relish, if it were necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/yet-for-my-part-i-was-never-unusually-squeamish-i-could-sometimes-eat/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Phantom' was for me an interesting technique of telling the story. You have one voice that it is in the present telling what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/phantom-was-for-me-an-interesting-technique-of-telling-the-story-you/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [Material existence is entirely founded on a phantom realm of mind, whose nature and geography are unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/material-existence-is-entirely-founded-on-a-phantom-realm-of-mind/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Nothing is greater than to break the chains from the bodies of men, nothing nobler than to destroy the phantom of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/nothing-is-greater-than-to-break-the-chains-from-the-bodies-of-men/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“I am a chimney which has been smoked. Out of breath and out of warmth. My air carries murky whispers and inky phantoms. Loneliness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqra-iqbal/i-am-a-chimney-which-has-been-smoked-out-of-breath-and-out-of-warmth/) [Iqra Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqra-iqbal/) > [“Have they known scorn like you Five cellars down?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/have-they-known-scorn-like-you-five-cellars-down/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [Truth is a necessary phantom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/truth-is-a-necessary-phantom/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [I bought the Phantom just to say its black. I bought the Phantom just to take a nap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/i-bought-the-phantom-just-to-say-its-black-i-bought-the-phantom-just/) [Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/) > [Apart from films and television I have explored behind-the-camera work, and worked as a script consultant at Phantom films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-basu-prasad/apart-from-films-and-television-i-have-explored-behind-the-camera/) [Shweta Basu Prasad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-basu-prasad/) > [“If Erik existed and lived life in despair, We wish him to know we are here and we care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/if-erik-existed-and-lived-life-in-despair-we-wish-him-to-know-we-are/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [“Whatever they may think and say about their "egoism", the great majority nonetheless do nothing for their ego their whole life long: what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/whatever-they-may-think-and-say-about-their-egoism-the-great-majority/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I thought about 'Johnny Quest' and how I loved that cartoon and what a cool name he has. I tried to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-thought-about-johnny-quest-and-how-i-loved-that-cartoon-and-what-a/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) ## More by Jo Nesbo > [My father grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., with my grandparents. In Norwegian my name is pronounced 'Yoo' but my father used to call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/my-father-grew-up-in-brooklyn-n-y-with-my-grandparents-in-norwegian/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [What we humans think we know is nothing compared to what we need to believe to numb the fear and pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/what-we-humans-think-we-know-is-nothing-compared-to-what-we-need-to/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [At nineteen I was pretty sure I was going to be a professional soccer player. At that time I played for one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/at-nineteen-i-was-pretty-sure-i-was-going-to-be-a-professional-soccer/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [The nature of Scandinavians is that they don't talk so much, there will be these dark secrets, and most things are under-communicated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/the-nature-of-scandinavians-is-that-they-don-t-talk-so-much-there/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [I wasn't that into crime novels at all, but a friend introduced me to the work of Jim Thompson - I loved all his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/i-wasn-t-that-into-crime-novels-at-all-but-a-friend-introduced-me-to/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [I think I was righteous. I saw myself as the good guy in my own movie. I didn't get into many fights when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/i-think-i-was-righteous-i-saw-myself-as-the-good-guy-in-my-own-movie/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [When I propose a candidate for a job I don't do it because the person in question is the best but because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/when-i-propose-a-candidate-for-a-job-i-don-t-do-it-because-the-person/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [Many Scandinavian writers who had made their name in literary fiction felt they wanted to have a go at the crime novel to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/many-scandinavian-writers-who-had-made-their-name-in-literary-fiction/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [“And the rest of the story?" he asked, trying to force a smile. "Is that like everything else in POT, on a need-to-know basis?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/and-the-rest-of-the-story-he-asked-trying-to-force-a-smile-is-that/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [“Ceri loves Sci-Fi - " Game of Thrones " also - Harry Hole , Lisbeeth Salander, Funky Scando Fiction, Supports Swans, Nirvana,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/ceri-loves-sci-fi-game-of-thrones-also-harry-hole-lisbeeth-salander/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [I was a really bad taxi driver. I only collided twice but it was one time too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/i-was-a-really-bad-taxi-driver-i-only-collided-twice-but-it-was-one/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [As I say, we Norwegians love our woolens, and you can buy some beautiful knitwear in Oslo. They might cost you a bit -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/as-i-say-we-norwegians-love-our-woolens-and-you-can-buy-some/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [Everyone has a need to do penance. It's a basic need, like washing. It's about harmony, an absolutely essential inner balance. It's the balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/everyone-has-a-need-to-do-penance-it-s-a-basic-need-like-washing-it-s/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [The only pressure I feel is to write good books. And to not replicate the previous book. Whether you have a thousand readers or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/the-only-pressure-i-feel-is-to-write-good-books-and-to-not-replicate/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [You get spoiled as a novelist because you get to be the director and the editor, and you play all the parts, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/you-get-spoiled-as-a-novelist-because-you-get-to-be-the-director-and/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) [Explore all 73 Jo Nesbo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) ## More Phantom quotes > [I thought about 'Johnny Quest' and how I loved that cartoon and what a cool name he has. I tried to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-hartman/i-thought-about-johnny-quest-and-how-i-loved-that-cartoon-and-what-a/) [Butch Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-hartman/) > [“Whatever they may think and say about their "egoism", the great majority nonetheless do nothing for their ego their whole life long: what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/whatever-they-may-think-and-say-about-their-egoism-the-great-majority/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“If Erik existed and lived life in despair, We wish him to know we are here and we care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/if-erik-existed-and-lived-life-in-despair-we-wish-him-to-know-we-are/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [Apart from films and television I have explored behind-the-camera work, and worked as a script consultant at Phantom films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shweta-basu-prasad/apart-from-films-and-television-i-have-explored-behind-the-camera/) [Shweta Basu Prasad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shweta-basu-prasad/) > [I bought the Phantom just to say its black. I bought the Phantom just to take a nap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/i-bought-the-phantom-just-to-say-its-black-i-bought-the-phantom-just/) [Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/) > [Truth is a necessary phantom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/truth-is-a-necessary-phantom/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Have they known scorn like you Five cellars down?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-bucchianeri/have-they-known-scorn-like-you-five-cellars-down/) [E.A. Bucchianeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-bucchianeri/) > [“I am a chimney which has been smoked. Out of breath and out of warmth. My air carries murky whispers and inky phantoms. Loneliness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqra-iqbal/i-am-a-chimney-which-has-been-smoked-out-of-breath-and-out-of-warmth/) [Iqra Iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqra-iqbal/) > [Nothing is greater than to break the chains from the bodies of men, nothing nobler than to destroy the phantom of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/nothing-is-greater-than-to-break-the-chains-from-the-bodies-of-men/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Material existence is entirely founded on a phantom realm of mind, whose nature and geography are unexplored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/material-existence-is-entirely-founded-on-a-phantom-realm-of-mind/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Sing once again with me, our strange duet. My power over you grows stronger yet. And though you turn from me to glance behind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-phantom-of-the-opera/sing-once-again-with-me-our-strange-duet-my-power-over-you-grows/) The Phantom Of The Opera > [Nothing will ever be as big as 'The Phantom of the Opera' for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/nothing-will-ever-be-as-big-as-the-phantom-of-the-opera-for-me/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [“Phantom Your heart must be a ghost. I can feel it mounting; a dark wave - upon the night of my soul”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segovia-amil/phantom-your-heart-must-be-a-ghost-i-can-feel-it-mounting-a-dark-wave/) Segovia Amil > [The roughest make-up I ever wore was for 'Phantom of the Opera' because the phantom's face was all disfigured, and he's trying to pass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/the-roughest-make-up-i-ever-wore-was-for-phantom-of-the-opera-because/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [Every year I go to Broadway to see a musical - I like the music. I saw 'Mamma Mia;' I saw 'Les Miserables;' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/every-year-i-go-to-broadway-to-see-a-musical-i-like-the-music-i-saw/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) [Browse all 152 Phantom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phantom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A rat is neither good nor evil. It just does what a rat is suppose to do. 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