--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps I could teach a horse to do…" description: "\"“Perhaps I could teach a horse to do tricks?” Cinderella said. “Like a dog.” “That may work better.” “Or I could make terrible baskets for a living.” “..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/k-m-shea-2907_cinderella_perhaps-i-could-teach-a-horse-to-do-tric_2496196.jpg" --- # Perhaps I could teach a horse to do tricks?” Cinderella… ![“Perhaps I could teach a horse to do tricks?” Cinderella said. “Like a dog.” “That may work better.” “Or I could make terrible baskets for a living.” “You” quote by K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/k-m-shea-2907_cinderella_perhaps-i-could-teach-a-horse-to-do-tric_2496196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/k-m-shea-2907_cinderella_perhaps-i-could-teach-a-horse-to-do-tric_2496196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee0/k-m-shea-2907_cinderella_perhaps-i-could-teach-a-horse-to-do-tric_2496196.jpg) > ““Perhaps I could teach a horse to do tricks?” Cinderella said. “Like a dog.” “That may work better.” “Or I could make terrible baskets for a living.” “You”” [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character jokes about teaching a horse tricks, comparing to a dog, and mentions making baskets, highlighting absurd ideas. **In simple terms:** A whimsical comparison of unlikely tasks. Key Takeaway Embrace creativity, even in absurdity. Themes humor creativity absurdity Mood playful lighthearted Type anecdotal humorous When to use this quote - storytelling - creative brainstorming - writing exercises Key Concepts imagination analogy playfulness Questions to Reflect On - What absurd idea could spark a real solution? - How does humor help explore possibilities? A Different Perspective The humor may mask deeper insecurity about competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cinderella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinderella/) [Cinderella Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinderella-said-344408/) [Horse Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse-tricks-1015105/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Teach Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-horse-1015106/) [Tricks Cinderella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tricks-cinderella-1015104/) ## Related quotes > [“What do you think of the ball?” her companion asked. “It is lovely,” Cinderella said. “What do you enjoy most? The dancing?” “The food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/what-do-you-think-of-the-ball-her-companion-asked-it-is-lovely/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Good afternoon, Friedrich. Do you ever work? I’m starting to suspect you don’t,” Cinderella said. Friedrich nonchalantly adjusted his eye patch. “I thought we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/good-afternoon-friedrich-do-you-ever-work-i-m-starting-to-suspect-you/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“He waxed poetic over her gentle manners and soft voice. With all the sweet and kind descriptions he used, I half wonder if this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/he-waxed-poetic-over-her-gentle-manners-and-soft-voice-with-all-the/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“I know what I should do.” “Oh?” “Yes. I should run away to Loire. I could…join a traveling show or something.” “I imagine folks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/i-know-what-i-should-do-oh-yes-i-should-run-away-to-loire-i-could/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“He wriggled his fingers in a come-closer gesture. Cinderella minced over to him. “What,” she started, “do you want—put me down!” He’d picked her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/he-wriggled-his-fingers-in-a-come-closer-gesture-cinderella-minced/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Where are you going?” “Back to the market.” “You’re just going to leave me?” “Now that I feel better, I have things to do.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/where-are-you-going-back-to-the-market-you-re-just-going-to-leave-me/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“What was this past summer to you?” Cinderella said, stalking back and forth like an angry mountain cat. “A joke? A way to amuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/what-was-this-past-summer-to-you-cinderella-said-stalking-back-and/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“You look like Cinderella," said Val in awe. "Yeah, if she'd been into bondage and had Christian Dior for a godmother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-o-malley/you-look-like-cinderella-said-val-in-awe-yeah-if-she-d-been-into/) [Daniel O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-o-malley/) > [Cinderella said to snow white, how does love get so off course? All I wanted was a white knight with a good heart, soft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/cinderella-said-to-snow-white-how-does-love-get-so-off-course-all-i/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [“Blessings be said over your Colonel. I will never call him a rake or rogue again,” Vitore said looking to the sky with clasped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/blessings-be-said-over-your-colonel-i-will-never-call-him-a-rake-or/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“If you tell them, I will pay a social visit to your mother.” “That’s playing dirty,” Merrich said. “Perhaps, but you keep your patty-paws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/if-you-tell-them-i-will-pay-a-social-visit-to-your-mother-that-s/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“You must be. Why else would you break into a library? Unless…do you hawk the books?” “What? No! First of all, what kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/you-must-be-why-else-would-you-break-into-a-library-unless-do-you/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“You must teach a horse that you are the master, but you must always show yourself to be a very kind master.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nye/you-must-teach-a-horse-that-you-are-the-master-but-you-must-always/) [Thomas Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nye/) > [“To horses, everyday is a new day to survive. It's a natural instinct. They don't think of the past or the future, only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheikha-hissa-hamdan-al-maktoum/to-horses-everyday-is-a-new-day-to-survive-it-s-a-natural-instinct/) [Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheikha-hissa-hamdan-al-maktoum/) > [“Or the king could die. Or the horse could die. Or he could teach the horse how to talk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/or-the-king-could-die-or-the-horse-could-die-or-he-could-teach-the/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) ## More by K.M. Shea > [“Friedrich tugged on the collar of his military jacket and shook his head. Duchess Lacreux was a cunning woman—not at all what he expected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/friedrich-tugged-on-the-collar-of-his-military-jacket-and-shook-his/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“What do you think of the ball?” her companion asked. “It is lovely,” Cinderella said. “What do you enjoy most? The dancing?” “The food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/what-do-you-think-of-the-ball-her-companion-asked-it-is-lovely/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Bless the army for increased patrols, and bless me for memorizing their routes for library trips.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/bless-the-army-for-increased-patrols-and-bless-me-for-memorizing/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“For the longest time, Cinderella had doubted Friedrich was ever serious about her. Now, as she saw the way his fingers twitched with nervousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/for-the-longest-time-cinderella-had-doubted-friedrich-was-ever/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Of course I would fall for Captain Emotionally Constipated. I could train a rock to hold more affection for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/of-course-i-would-fall-for-captain-emotionally-constipated-i-could/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Although…it does raise an important question.” “Yes?” “We have both admitted we love each other.” “Yes?” “And we’re engaged.” “Yes?” “May I finally kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/although-it-does-raise-an-important-question-yes-we-have-both/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Cinderella smiled through the tears in her eyes. “Cristoph Friedrich, before I answer, there are some things that must be stated,” she said. “Yesterday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/cinderella-smiled-through-the-tears-in-her-eyes-cristoph-friedrich/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“When will you desist playing tour guide?” he asked. “I should think never. It is the greatest aspiration of my life to give historic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/when-will-you-desist-playing-tour-guide-he-asked-i-should-think-never/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“It’s been months since Friedrich was attacked. Isn’t the danger over by now?” “Not as long as the Colonel courts you, Mademoiselle.” Cinderella sighed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/it-s-been-months-since-friedrich-was-attacked-isn-t-the-danger-over/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Isaia wasn’t Briar’s true love. She might love him, but it was the young innocent affection bred out of familiarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/isaia-wasn-t-briar-s-true-love-she-might-love-him-but-it-was-the/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Startled, Cinderella fixed her eyes on his mask. It was to her shame, but he was right. It wasn’t the thought of her marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/startled-cinderella-fixed-her-eyes-on-his-mask-it-was-to-her-shame/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“And all the sweet talking of your mother?” “I want you two to get along. You need to get along,” Friedrich said. Cinderella peered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/and-all-the-sweet-talking-of-your-mother-i-want-you-two-to-get-along/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“He lowered his head towards Cinderella. When he was a hand away, Cinderella covered her mouth with her hands. “Do not even dream of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/he-lowered-his-head-towards-cinderella-when-he-was-a-hand-away/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Now do you see why I wanted to be sure you loved me before I told you? Although you still haven’t said you do…”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/now-do-you-see-why-i-wanted-to-be-sure-you-loved-me-before-i-told-you/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [“Friedrich frowned. “I hoped you two would get along, but I cannot say I wanted you to bond this well.” Cinderella blinked. “Why not?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/friedrich-frowned-i-hoped-you-two-would-get-along-but-i-cannot-say-i/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) [Explore all 145 K.M. Shea quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) ## More Cinderella quotes > [“And for God's sake, don't let her watch Cinderella. What kind of example is that? A mindless twit who can't even remember where she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/and-for-god-s-sake-don-t-let-her-watch-cinderella-what-kind-of/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [“What do you think of the ball?” her companion asked. “It is lovely,” Cinderella said. “What do you enjoy most? The dancing?” “The food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/what-do-you-think-of-the-ball-her-companion-asked-it-is-lovely/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [I don't want to be like Romeo & juliet, Prince Charming and Cinderella, or even Ken and Barbie..I want to make a story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-want-to-be-like-romeo-juliet-prince-charming-and-cinderella/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“For the longest time, Cinderella had doubted Friedrich was ever serious about her. Now, as she saw the way his fingers twitched with nervousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/for-the-longest-time-cinderella-had-doubted-friedrich-was-ever/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [Whether we think of Disney's blonde beauty and her pumpkin carriage or Marissa Meyer's recent recasting of 'Cinderella' as a cyborg in the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/whether-we-think-of-disney-s-blonde-beauty-and-her-pumpkin-carriage/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [“There was no way that these guys were going to let a bleeding, barefoot woman simply wander off alone into the streets. Two of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/there-was-no-way-that-these-guys-were-going-to-let-a-bleeding/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [“Although…it does raise an important question.” “Yes?” “We have both admitted we love each other.” “Yes?” “And we’re engaged.” “Yes?” “May I finally kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/although-it-does-raise-an-important-question-yes-we-have-both/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [Never look back. If Cinderella had gone back to pick up her glass slipper, she would have never become a princess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-look-back-if-cinderella-had-gone-back-to-pick-up-her-glass/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Cinderella story is wired for weirdness, and you can see it in this movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-tatar/the-cinderella-story-is-wired-for-weirdness-and-you-can-see-it-in/) [Maria Tatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-tatar/) > [The next day the two sisters went to the ball, and so did Cinderella, but dressed more magnificently than before. The King's son was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-perrault/the-next-day-the-two-sisters-went-to-the-ball-and-so-did-cinderella/) [Charles Perrault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-perrault/) > [“Cinderella smiled through the tears in her eyes. “Cristoph Friedrich, before I answer, there are some things that must be stated,” she said. “Yesterday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/cinderella-smiled-through-the-tears-in-her-eyes-cristoph-friedrich/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [I noted about Cate Blanchett was her very positive lack of concern for how she turns out in Cinderella. She is happy to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-branagh/i-noted-about-cate-blanchett-was-her-very-positive-lack-of-concern/) [Kenneth Branagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-branagh/) > [“Mrs. Pott's beady black eyes narrowed,"Do you know how many glass slippers I have to stitch when I get home? There's a Mad Hatter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-avett/mrs-pott-s-beady-black-eyes-narrowed-do-you-know-how-many-glass/) [Sophie Avett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-avett/) > [Cinderella and the prince lived, they say, happily ever after, like two dolls in a museum case never bothered by diapers or dust, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/cinderella-and-the-prince-lived-they-say-happily-ever-after-like-two/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [Cinderella is a little edgy and a little rough around the edges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dania-ramirez/cinderella-is-a-little-edgy-and-a-little-rough-around-the-edges/) [Dania Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dania-ramirez/) [Browse all 445 Cinderella quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinderella/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Perhaps I could teach a horse to do tricks?” Cinderella said. “Like a dog.” “That may work better.” “Or I could make terrible baskets for a living.” “You”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "K.M. 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