--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a theory which I suspect is rather…" description: "\"I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/john-le-carre-651_cat_i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rathe_1722896.jpg" --- # I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley… ![“I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the centre of things.” quote by John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/john-le-carre-651_cat_i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rathe_1722896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/john-le-carre-651_cat_i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rathe_1722896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/john-le-carre-651_cat_i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rathe_1722896.jpg) > “I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the centre of things.” [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion is limited; spreading concern too thin prevents focusing on core priorities. **In simple terms:** Too much compassion dilutes focus. Key Takeaway Prioritize core concerns. Themes ethics focus compassion Mood thoughtful serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - charity work - personal relationships - policy making Key Concepts resource allocation emotional bandwidth Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance broad empathy with deep focus? - When is selective compassion justified? A Different Perspective Excessive focus on core can neglect marginalized needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Centre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centre/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Concern Stray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern-stray-946178/) [Immoral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immoral/) [Immoral Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immoral-smiley-1355208/) [Quantum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quantum/) [Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiley/) [Spy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spy/) [Suspect Immoral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspect-immoral-1355209/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) ## Related quotes > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/each-of-us-has-only-a-quantum-of-compassion-that-if-we-lavish-our/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [ George Smiley: \[quoting an old letter from Bill Haydon about Jim Prideaux\] He has that heavy quiet that commands. He's my other half. Between… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/george-smiley-quoting-an-old-letter-from-bill-haydon-about-jim/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Smiley was soaked to the skin and God as a punishment had removed all taxis from the face of London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/smiley-was-soaked-to-the-skin-and-god-as-a-punishment-had-removed-all/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Treason is very much a matter of habit, Smiley decided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/treason-is-very-much-a-matter-of-habit-smiley-decided/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [What do you think spies are: priests, saints and martyrs? They're a squalid procession of vain fools, traitors too, yes; pansies, sadists and drunkards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/what-do-you-think-spies-are-priests-saints-and-martyrs-they-re-a/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The Spy Who Came in from the Cold was the work of a wayward imagination brought to the end of its tether by political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-spy-who-came-in-from-the-cold-was-the-work-of-a-wayward/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The trouble is, when professional spies go out of their way to make a definitive statement about one of their own, the public tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-trouble-is-when-professional-spies-go-out-of-their-way-to-make-a/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [It's the oldest question of all, George. Who can spy on the spies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/it-s-the-oldest-question-of-all-george-who-can-spy-on-the-spies/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Most of us live in a condition of secrecy: secret desires, secret appetites, secret hatreds and relationship with the institutions which is extremely intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/most-of-us-live-in-a-condition-of-secrecy-secret-desires-secret/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [For decades to come the spy world will continue to be the collective couch where the subconscious of each nation is confessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/for-decades-to-come-the-spy-world-will-continue-to-be-the-collective/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [We have learned in recent years to translate almost all of political life in terms of conspiracy. And the spy novel, as never before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/we-have-learned-in-recent-years-to-translate-almost-all-of-political/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [It's part of a writer's profession, as it's part of a spy's profession, to prey on the community to which he's attached, to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/it-s-part-of-a-writer-s-profession-as-it-s-part-of-a-spy-s-profession/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I was the British spy who had come out of the woodwork and told it how it really was, and anything I said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-was-the-british-spy-who-had-come-out-of-the-woodwork-and-told-it/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [A spy, like a writer, lives outside the mainstream population. He steals his experience through bribes and reconstructs it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/a-spy-like-a-writer-lives-outside-the-mainstream-population-he-steals/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## More by John le Carre > [The creation of George Smiley, the retired spy recalled to hunt for just such a high-ranking mole in 'Tinker, Tailor,' was extremely personal. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-creation-of-george-smiley-the-retired-spy-recalled-to-hunt-for/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [All power corrupts but some must govern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/all-power-corrupts-but-some-must-govern/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [During the Cold War, we lived in coded times when it wasn't easy and there were shades of grey and ambiguity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/during-the-cold-war-we-lived-in-coded-times-when-it-wasn-t-easy-and/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“You're history, Donohue. You think countries run the fucking world! Go back to fucking Sunday school. It's 'God save our multinational' they're singing these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/you-re-history-donohue-you-think-countries-run-the-fucking-world-go/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [When you're my age and you see a story, you better go for it pretty quickly. I'd just like to get a few more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/when-you-re-my-age-and-you-see-a-story-you-better-go-for-it-pretty/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The trouble is, when professional spies go out of their way to make a definitive statement about one of their own, the public tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-trouble-is-when-professional-spies-go-out-of-their-way-to-make-a/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Ideologies have no heart of their own. They're the whores and angels of our striving selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/ideologies-have-no-heart-of-their-own-they-re-the-whores-and-angels/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [Home's where you go when you run out of homes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/home-s-where-you-go-when-you-run-out-of-homes/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“Pain observed is journalistic pain. It's diplomatic pain. It's television pain, over as soon as you switch off your beastly set.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/pain-observed-is-journalistic-pain-it-s-diplomatic-pain-it-s/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The greatest threat to mankind comes from the renunciation of individual scruple in favor of institutional denominators. . . . Real heroism lies, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-greatest-threat-to-mankind-comes-from-the-renunciation-of/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“and the wood smoke will roll out of the fireplace on to the carpet we paid too much for on that rainy afternoon in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/and-the-wood-smoke-will-roll-out-of-the-fireplace-on-to-the-carpet-we/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [“Middle children weep longer than their brothers and sisters. Over her mother’s shoulder, stilling her pains and her injured pride, Jackie Lacon watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/middle-children-weep-longer-than-their-brothers-and-sisters-over-her/) [John le Carré](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [For decades to come the spy world will continue to be the collective couch where the subconscious of each nation is confessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/for-decades-to-come-the-spy-world-will-continue-to-be-the-collective/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I happen to write by hand. I don't even type. John Le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-happen-to-write-by-hand-i-don-t-even-type-john-le-carre/) [John Le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [The more identities a man has, the more they express the person they conceal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-more-identities-a-man-has-the-more-they-express-the-person-they/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) [Explore all 409 John le Carre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) ## More Cat quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Man wishes woman to be peaceable, but in fact she is essentially warlike, like the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-wishes-woman-to-be-peaceable-but-in-fact-she-is-essentially/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There are videos I used to take at home, pretending to be a newscaster, interviewing the teapot or my house cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-are-videos-i-used-to-take-at-home-pretending-to-be-a-newscaster/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) [Browse all 2,996 Cat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the centre of things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John le Carre" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rather-immoral-smiley-went-on-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rather-immoral-smiley-went-on-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/john-le-carre-651_cat_i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rathe_1722896.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/john-le-carre-651_cat_i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rathe_1722896.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/john-le-carre-651_cat_i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rathe_1722896.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a…” — John le Carre", "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 le Carre", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a theory which I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rather-immoral-smiley-went-on-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/i-have-a-theory-which-i-suspect-is-rather-immoral-smiley-went-on-more/#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 } } ] } ```