--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’ve already instructed the others to…" description: "\"“I’ve already instructed the others to keep their mouths shut.” “Even Hyacinth?” Penelope asked doubtfully. “Especially Hyacinth.” “Did you bribe her?”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/julia-quinn-282_quote_i-ve-already-instructed-the-others-to-ke_330984.jpg" --- # I’ve already instructed the others to keep their mouths… ![“I’ve already instructed the others to keep their mouths shut.” “Even Hyacinth?” Penelope asked doubtfully. “Especially Hyacinth.” “Did you bribe her?” Violet asked. “Because it won’t work unless you bribe her.” “Good Lord,” Colin muttered. “One would think I’d joined this family yesterday. Of…” quote by Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/julia-quinn-282_quote_i-ve-already-instructed-the-others-to-ke_330984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/julia-quinn-282_quote_i-ve-already-instructed-the-others-to-ke_330984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24d/julia-quinn-282_quote_i-ve-already-instructed-the-others-to-ke_330984.jpg) > ““I’ve already instructed the others to keep their mouths shut.” “Even Hyacinth?” Penelope asked doubtfully. “Especially Hyacinth.” “Did you bribe her?” Violet asked. “Because it won’t work unless you bribe her.” “Good Lord,” Colin muttered. “One would think I’d joined this family yesterday. Of course I bribed her.” He turned to Penelope. “No offense to recent additions.” “Oh, none taken.”” [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters discuss bribery and trust, revealing moral ambiguity and power dynamics. **In simple terms:** Characters wrestle with bribery and trust. Key Takeaway Consider ethical implications of influence. Themes ethics trust power morality Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical dramatic When to use this quote - business negotiations - political lobbying - personal relationships - legal contexts Key Concepts corruption social hierarchy personal ambition Questions to Reflect On - When is influence crossing into corruption? - How do power imbalances shape ethical choices? A Different Perspective Bribery can erode trust and lead to unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bribe Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribe-violet-3097029/) [Colin Muttered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colin-muttered-3097028/) [Muttered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muttered/) [Penelope Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penelope-asked-3097027/) [Violet Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violet-asked-712563/) ## Related quotes > [“No will will believe it at first,' Cressida continued. 'You were right about that. But then they'll start to think, and slowly but surely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/no-will-will-believe-it-at-first-cressida-continued-you-were-right/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Is there something you wish to tell me?” Violet asked gently. Hyacinth shook her head. How did one share something such as this with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/is-there-something-you-wish-to-tell-me-violet-asked-gently-hyacinth/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“We need to get going too,” Moose informed them, standing and taking Penelope’s hand in his. “We do?” Penelope asked. “Yup. We need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/we-need-to-get-going-too-moose-informed-them-standing-and-taking/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [I don’t know. D’you think? He’s pretty wide in the chest.” The girl looked at me, and I was frozen. So I said, “Yeah.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-d-you-think-he-s-pretty-wide-in-the-chest-the-girl/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You know she made me a list, don’t you?” “What do you mean?” “A list. Chelsea made me a list of questions to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/you-know-she-made-me-a-list-don-t-you-what-do-you-mean-a-list-chelsea/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Has he called you at all?” Violet asked, even though she already knew the answer. Chelsea would have exploded with joy if he had.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/has-he-called-you-at-all-violet-asked-even-though-she-already-knew/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“What happened?” Violet asked Jay, when Mike went to join the girls in the kitchen, giving them a moment alone in front of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/what-happened-violet-asked-jay-when-mike-went-to-join-the-girls-in/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Is that how it is now, we're back to just friends?" Violet asked, rasing her eyebrows at him challengingly. "I'll remember to keep that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/is-that-how-it-is-now-we-re-back-to-just-friends-violet-asked-rasing/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“He gave the briefest of glances at Lissie, barely acknowledging her presence as he gently eased Violet onto the seat. For good measure, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/he-gave-the-briefest-of-glances-at-lissie-barely-acknowledging-her/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Of course. The team on your carriage was beautiful. They are yours, aren't they?" He ignored her and walked ahead until his foot connected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/of-course-the-team-on-your-carriage-was-beautiful-they-are-yours-aren/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Phillip muttered something under his breath. "What did you say?" she asked. "Nothing." "You said something." He gave her an impatient look. "If I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/phillip-muttered-something-under-his-breath-what-did-you-say-she/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“He gave me a kiss and said good night.” “He didn’t! The bastard.” “Yeah,” I muttered to the tabletop. “He said he’d had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/he-gave-me-a-kiss-and-said-good-night-he-didn-t-the-bastard-yeah-i/) [J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/) > [“You've always been a know-it-all. Well, you're about to find out how much you don't know." "Believe me," I muttered, "I'm the first one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-ve-always-been-a-know-it-all-well-you-re-about-to-find-out-how/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“Clay, if anyone followed anyone, it was me tagging along after you. I didn’t dare order you around.” “Load of shit,” he muttered, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/clay-if-anyone-followed-anyone-it-was-me-tagging-along-after-you-i/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) ## More by Julia Quinn > [“what a sad pair we are," she said. "Surely we can manage a conversation on a topic other than our respective terrible evenings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-a-sad-pair-we-are-she-said-surely-we-can-manage-a-conversation/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [It was the one dream he'd never permitted himself to consider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-the-one-dream-he-d-never-permitted-himself-to-consider/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [But Hyacinth Bridgerton, who at ten should have known the least about kisses of anyone, just blinked thoughtfully, and said, " I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/but-hyacinth-bridgerton-who-at-ten-should-have-known-the-least-about/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [You are always looking at people like this.” And then she made a face, one he couldn’t possibly begin to describe. “If I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/you-are-always-looking-at-people-like-this-and-then-she-made-a-face/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Charlotte had tried to read his work. It seemed only polite, after all, given that they were neighbors. But after a while, she'd simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/charlotte-had-tried-to-read-his-work-it-seemed-only-polite-after-all/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Yes?" "When you said you weren't angry..." "Yes?" "Were you?" "I was rather annoyed," he admitted. "But not angry?" She sounded as if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/yes-when-you-said-you-weren-t-angry-yes-were-you-i-was-rather-annoyed/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Daniel held himself very still, waiting for the wave of jealousy that never came. He was furious with the man who’d taken advantage of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daniel-held-himself-very-still-waiting-for-the-wave-of-jealousy-that/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“ "What do you say, Miss Lyndon? Shall we have a go at it?" " 'Shall we have a go at it?' " Ellie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/what-do-you-say-miss-lyndon-shall-we-have-a-go-at-it-shall-we-have-a/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Just curious,she mouthed. "What? I didn't catch that." Jjuussttccuurriioouuss.She drew it out this time, hoping he'd be able to read her lips. "If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/just-curious-she-mouthed-what-i-didn-t-catch-that/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“It was nearly impossible to keep anything a secret, especially from her sisters, the youngest of whom—Hyacinth—could probably have won the war against Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/it-was-nearly-impossible-to-keep-anything-a-secret-especially-from/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Something important is always about to happen... And if not, you'd do well to act as if it were. You'll enjoy life better that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/something-important-is-always-about-to-happen-and-if-not-you-d-do/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Sophie picked her way through the forest, stepping over tree roots, and pushing aside low-lying branches, letting them snap back behind her with reckless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/sophie-picked-her-way-through-the-forest-stepping-over-tree-roots-and/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [People will think you're courting me.' 'Nonsense, everyone knows I don't court respectable women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/people-will-think-you-re-courting-me-nonsense-everyone-knows-i-don-t/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“If you cannot recognize the problem, there is no way that I could explain it to you." He laughed, damn the man. "My goodness,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/if-you-cannot-recognize-the-problem-there-is-no-way-that-i-could/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) [Explore all 726 Julia Quinn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) ## More Muttered quotes > [“Clay, if anyone followed anyone, it was me tagging along after you. I didn’t dare order you around.” “Load of shit,” he muttered, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/clay-if-anyone-followed-anyone-it-was-me-tagging-along-after-you-i/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“You've always been a know-it-all. Well, you're about to find out how much you don't know." "Believe me," I muttered, "I'm the first one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-ve-always-been-a-know-it-all-well-you-re-about-to-find-out-how/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“He gave me a kiss and said good night.” “He didn’t! The bastard.” “Yeah,” I muttered to the tabletop. “He said he’d had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-l-merrow/he-gave-me-a-kiss-and-said-good-night-he-didn-t-the-bastard-yeah-i/) [J.L. Merrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-l-merrow/) > [“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/) > [“They sound worse than the Goa'uld,” Juanita muttered,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-lionsdrake/they-sound-worse-than-the-goa-uld-juanita-muttered/) [Ruby Lionsdrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-lionsdrake/) > [“I speed sometimes,” I muttered to myself as I rounded the car. “I even speed through yellows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/i-speed-sometimes-i-muttered-to-myself-as-i-rounded-the-car-i-even/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [“Bryan gaped, as though that was more than he'd been expecting. "Oh. Okay. Well, um, there's a silent film festival downtown next week. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/bryan-gaped-as-though-that-was-more-than-he-d-been-expecting-oh-okay/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“We’re good to move.” “Cool.” Kolya’s smile was every bit as tight-lipped as Riley’s, but it was real. “Tell us when you need help.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-fally/we-re-good-to-move-cool-kolya-s-smile-was-every-bit-as-tight-lipped/) [J. Fally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-fally/) > [“He wanted her. Now. He wanted her all night. Every night for a week. A month. Maybe even a year. He sank down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-michaels/he-wanted-her-now-he-wanted-her-all-night-every-night-for-a-week-a/) [Jess Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-michaels/) > [“muttered. “Your husband”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-garwood/muttered-your-husband/) [Julie Garwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-garwood/) > [“I muttered, "In the Rita skeych, you were a little hard to understand. Can you just enunciate a little more?" Stallone was unfazed. "Youcannunnastanme?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-muttered-in-the-rita-skeych-you-were-a-little-hard-to-understand/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [ Yeah, my bad," Leo muttered. "I should've crashed on one of the other islands. Oh, wait-there aren't any!" She \[Calypso\] snarled and kept walking… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/yeah-my-bad-leo-muttered-i-should-ve-crashed-on-one-of-the-other/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“I gasped. "Imposs—" "Don't say it," muttered Mal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-gasped-imposs-don-t-say-it-muttered-mal/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I sniffed, wiping my eyes. “Look at that,” I muttered. “The bastard made me cry.” Jenks’ wings made a cool spot on my neck.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-harrison/i-sniffed-wiping-my-eyes-look-at-that-i-muttered-the-bastard-made-me/) [Kim Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-harrison/) [Browse all 222 Muttered quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muttered/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’ve already instructed the others to keep their mouths shut.” “Even Hyacinth?” Penelope asked doubtfully. “Especially Hyacinth.” “Did you bribe her?” Violet asked. “Because it won’t work unless you bribe her.” “Good Lord,” Colin muttered. “One would think I’d joined this family yesterday. 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