---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to…"
description: "\"Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble, we could simply ride them both down\" — John Flanagan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-flanagan-904_causes_idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to_577484.png"
---

#  Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble…

![“Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble, we could simply ride them both down” quote by John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-flanagan-904_causes_idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to_577484.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-flanagan-904_causes_idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to_577484.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-flanagan-904_causes_idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to_577484.png)

> “Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble, we could simply ride them both down”

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A speaker dismisses troublemakers, suggesting they could be easily eliminated if they cause problems.

**In simple terms:** Eliminate troublemakers swiftly.

Key Takeaway

Address conflict directly and decisively.

Themes

conflict authority decisiveness

Mood

assertive serious

Type

ethical strategic

When to use this quote

- law enforcement
- military operations
- personal safety

Key Concepts

troublemakers action control danger

Questions to Reflect On

- When is force justified?
- What non‑violent alternatives exist?

A Different Perspective

Violence may create further issues and moral dilemmas.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/)

## Related quotes

> [What about you three, where are you going?" Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [You're right, Halt,' she said, and he nodded acklowledgement of her backing down. 'Nice to hear someone else saying that for a change,' Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-re-right-halt-she-said-and-he-nodded-acklowledgement-of-her/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Gundar seemed to come to a decision. "Well, as my old mam used to say, if it looks like a duck and quacks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/gundar-seemed-to-come-to-a-decision-well-as-my-old-mam-used-to-say-if/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [They have terrified my poor wife and threatened my very person!" Halt eyed the man impassivley until the outburst was finished. Worse than that,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/they-have-terrified-my-poor-wife-and-threatened-my-very-person-halt/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [You're an Apprentice! You're not ready to think!" Gilan and Halt. The Ruins of Gorlan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-re-an-apprentice-you-re-not-ready-to-think-gilan-and-halt-the/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Halt Halt," said Gilan stepping out into the open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/halt-halt-said-gilan-stepping-out-into-the-open/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [You spoil your horse, Halt said. Will glanced at him. You spoil yours. Halt considered the thought, then nodded. That's true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-spoil-your-horse-halt-said-will-glanced-at-him-you-spoil-yours/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Best way then is to be waiting for them to bring Halt and the others out of that prison,” he said, almost to himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/best-way-then-is-to-be-waiting-for-them-to-bring-halt-and-the-others/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Maybe we should have gone with him," he said, a few minutes after his friend was lost to sight. "Three of us would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/maybe-we-should-have-gone-with-him-he-said-a-few-minutes-after-his/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Well, we can ride together for a while longer. The highway south is farther along this way. I'll be glad of some cheerful company."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-we-can-ride-together-for-a-while-longer-the-highway-south-is/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Well I'm not dancing," Will said through gritted teeth. "I don't know how." Oh yes you are," Alyss told him. "Let's hope you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-i-m-not-dancing-will-said-through-gritted-teeth-i-don-t-know-how/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [We're going to see Ragnak," Halt told him. "He's going to have to promise to free every slave who fights for Hallasholm." Will shook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/we-re-going-to-see-ragnak-halt-told-him-he-s-going-to-have-to-promise/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [But then, in his lifetime, Halt had often ignored what was technically legal. Technicalities didn't appeal to him. All too often, they simply got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/but-then-in-his-lifetime-halt-had-often-ignored-what-was-technically/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

## More by John Flanagan

> [What about you three, where are you going?" Even before Halt answered, Will knew what he was going to say. But that didn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/what-about-you-three-where-are-you-going-even-before-halt-answered/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“There's a tavern by the docks. He's there most evenings." "Then I'll talk to him tonight," Halt said. "You can try. But he's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/there-s-a-tavern-by-the-docks-he-s-there-most-evenings-then-i-ll-talk/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [The sun was trembling on the brink of the world, the shadows at their longest, and they still had several kilometers to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/the-sun-was-trembling-on-the-brink-of-the-world-the-shadows-at-their/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [We're going to see Ragnak," Halt told him. "He's going to have to promise to free every slave who fights for Hallasholm." Will shook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/we-re-going-to-see-ragnak-halt-told-him-he-s-going-to-have-to-promise/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“We must wait," she said. "They are involved in important buisness." Her tone was serious, almost reverntial. The two of them stopped, some five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/we-must-wait-she-said-they-are-involved-in-important-buisness-her/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“Damn! I hate farewells!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/damn-i-hate-farewells/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“They sailed into Raguza and Hal said, as bold as brass, “We’ve come to challenge Zavac and we plan to kick his—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/they-sailed-into-raguza-and-hal-said-as-bold-as-brass-we-ve-come-to/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked. His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/are-there-bears-in-these-mountains-he-asked-his-companion-nodded-of/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Well I'm not dancing," Will said through gritted teeth. "I don't know how." Oh yes you are," Alyss told him. "Let's hope you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-i-m-not-dancing-will-said-through-gritted-teeth-i-don-t-know-how/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [The battle, if you could call it that, lasted no more than a few seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/the-battle-if-you-could-call-it-that-lasted-no-more-than-a-few-seconds/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Well, we can ride together for a while longer. The highway south is farther along this way. I'll be glad of some cheerful company."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/well-we-can-ride-together-for-a-while-longer-the-highway-south-is/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“Does it matter?" Halt asked. Horace shrugged. "Not really, I suppose. I just wondered why you'd gone to the kitchen and why you took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/does-it-matter-halt-asked-horace-shrugged-not-really-i-suppose-i-just/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Maybe we should have gone with him," he said, a few minutes after his friend was lost to sight. "Three of us would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/maybe-we-should-have-gone-with-him-he-said-a-few-minutes-after-his/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [Best way then is to be waiting for them to bring Halt and the others out of that prison,” he said, almost to himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/best-way-then-is-to-be-waiting-for-them-to-bring-halt-and-the-others/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

[Explore all 327 John Flanagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

## More Causes quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/)

[Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/)

> [Many patients imagine that they have tried everything. True, they have used many remedies, but they have never had the cause of their infirmity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-palmer/many-patients-imagine-that-they-have-tried-everything-true-they-have/)

[Daniel D. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-palmer/)

> [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/)

[Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/)

> [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/)

[Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/)

> [I don't wear rubbers cause you can't catch it twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-norton/i-don-t-wear-rubbers-cause-you-can-t-catch-it-twice/)

[Jim Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-norton/)

> [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/)

[Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/)

> [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/)

[Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/)

> [I love a lot of things, a whole lot of things / Like / My cousin comes to visit and you know he's from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloise-greenfield/i-love-a-lot-of-things-a-whole-lot-of-things-like-my-cousin-comes-to/)

Eloise Greenfield

> [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [The miracle drugs (neuroleptics) cause the worst plague of brain damage in medical history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-breggin/the-miracle-drugs-neuroleptics-cause-the-worst-plague-of-brain-damage/)

[Peter Breggin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-breggin/)

Browse all 9,070 Causes quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble, we could simply ride them both down",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Flanagan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to-cause-trouble-we-could-simply/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Causes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to-cause-trouble-we-could-simply/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-flanagan-904_causes_idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to_577484.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-flanagan-904_causes_idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to_577484.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abd/john-flanagan-904_causes_idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to_577484.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were here to cause trouble, we could simply ride them both down” — John Flanagan",
                "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": "John Flanagan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Idiots, Halt muttered. If we were...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to-cause-trouble-we-could-simply/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/idiots-halt-muttered-if-we-were-here-to-cause-trouble-we-could-simply/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
