---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They’re supposed to help look for the…"
description: "\"“They’re supposed to help look for the king.” Merdigen shrugged. “Why the urgency to find the king? You have a queen, after all.” Merdigen’s priorities..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/kristen-britain-17061_fresh-air_they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-ki_623707.jpg"
---

#  They’re supposed to help look for the king.” Merdigen…

![“They’re supposed to help look for the king.” Merdigen shrugged. “Why the urgency to find the king? You have a queen, after all.” Merdigen’s priorities tended to be rather skewed at times. “I need some fresh air,” Alton said. “Sure, sure, leave me alone. Me and my beard.” Alton shook his head. Just…” quote by Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/kristen-britain-17061_fresh-air_they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-ki_623707.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/kristen-britain-17061_fresh-air_they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-ki_623707.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/kristen-britain-17061_fresh-air_they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-ki_623707.jpg)

> ““They’re supposed to help look for the king.” Merdigen shrugged. “Why the urgency to find the king? You have a queen, after all.” Merdigen’s priorities tended to be rather skewed at times. “I need some fresh air,” Alton said. “Sure, sure, leave me alone. Me and my beard.” Alton shook his head. Just before he stepped through the tower wall to the outside world, he heard Merdigen mutter, “I wish I could go out and have some fresh air.” The weather was fine, so Alton saddled up Night Hawk for a ride down to the main encampment at the breach. Hawk tossed his head and pranced, and Alton was assailed by guilt that he did not pay his horse nearly enough attention. • • • At the main encampment he examined the cracks around the breach, made measurements, and recorded his findings in his logbook. He took reports from the officers on duty there. They kept watch over the breach and””

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

## About This Quote

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

Priorities become skewed when immediate comforts distract from larger goals, leading to neglect of responsibilities.

**In simple terms:** Short‑term comforts can derail long‑term missions.

Key Takeaway

Stay focused on the main objective despite distractions.

Themes

focus priorities responsibility

Mood

determined thoughtful

Type

cautionary reflective

When to use this quote

- project management
- military planning
- personal productivity

Key Concepts

goal‑setting self‑discipline

Questions to Reflect On

- What distractions are pulling you away from your goals?
- How can you set boundaries to maintain focus?

A Different Perspective

Distractions may seem harmless but can cause critical oversights.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fresh air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fresh-air/) [Outside world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-world/)

## Related quotes

> [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/)

[Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/)

> [Not sleeping, listening to Paul Auster on Fresh Air. His function, tonight and ever, has been to remind me that I will die. Thanks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/not-sleeping-listening-to-paul-auster-on-fresh-air-his-function/)

[John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/)

> [Being alone is like breathing fresh air but, when you realise you are alone it's like a dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-suan-lal/being-alone-is-like-breathing-fresh-air-but-when-you-realise-you-are/)

K Suan Lal

> [“8. The Application of the Law of Causation to Morals. Although it may be needless to state here the law of causation at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-the-application-of-the-law-of-causation-to-morals-although-it-may/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“This is exactly what I need to do right now: to walk, walk, walk, breathe some fresh air, take a look at a city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/this-is-exactly-what-i-need-to-do-right-now-to-walk-walk-walk-breathe/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [What a curious picture it is to find man, homo sapiens, of divine origin, we are told, seriously considering going underground to escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/what-a-curious-picture-it-is-to-find-man-homo-sapiens-of-divine/)

[J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/)

> [Over the last 10 years, there have been so many incredible albums created in bedrooms by people who never would've gotten an album deal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/over-the-last-10-years-there-have-been-so-many-incredible-albums/)

[Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/)

> [“I like nature and I enjoy walking through the forest admiring its beauty and breathing not just the fresh air but, also the quietness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-j-genes/i-like-nature-and-i-enjoy-walking-through-the-forest-admiring-its/)

[Nico J. Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-j-genes/)

> [There are many troubles which you cannot cure by the Bible and the hymn-book, but which you can cure by a good perspiration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-are-many-troubles-which-you-cannot-cure-by-the-bible-and-the/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [The sun on my skin. The smell of the lake and fresh air. The warmth of the sun and cold rush of the water.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/the-sun-on-my-skin-the-smell-of-the-lake-and-fresh-air-the-warmth-of/)

[Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/)

> [Not only is bowhunting fun and a real challenge, but it's good for you. The exercise in the fresh air, the chance to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/not-only-is-bowhunting-fun-and-a-real-challenge-but-it-s-good-for-you/)

[Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/)

> [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [Her best friend was gone and nobody understood that no amount of makeup, fresh air or shopping was going to fill the hole in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/her-best-friend-was-gone-and-nobody-understood-that-no-amount-of/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [ Jowett, in his day, did probably more than any other single man to let some fresh air into the exhausted atmosphere of the \[Oxford\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/jowett-in-his-day-did-probably-more-than-any-other-single-man-to-let/)

[Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/)

> [I believe in the hands that work, in the brains that think, and in the hearts that love...I believe in sunshine, fresh air, friendship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/i-believe-in-the-hands-that-work-in-the-brains-that-think-and-in-the/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

## More by Kristen Britain

> [It's good to leave behind all that is comfortable and known every so often. It opens one's mind to the wide world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/it-s-good-to-leave-behind-all-that-is-comfortable-and-known-every-so/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“What had possessed her to kiss him?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/what-had-possessed-her-to-kiss-him/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“Theirs was a story of two people bound strongly to one another yet forbidden to be together. He was royalty, she was a commoner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/theirs-was-a-story-of-two-people-bound-strongly-to-one-another-yet/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“Do you love your country and your king?" Karigan paused. What a curious question. King Zachary was relatively new to the throne and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/do-you-love-your-country-and-your-king-karigan-paused-what-a-curious/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [Identify you as messenger...to other Riders." The words were gasped as if he were forcing air in and out of his lungs by sheer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/identify-you-as-messenger-to-other-riders-the-words-were-gasped-as-if/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“Abram spoke long into the night. His stories took shape slowly and deliberately”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/abram-spoke-long-into-the-night-his-stories-took-shape-slowly-and/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [Often, just as when they were children, it was four against one when some argument came up. At least they no longer sat on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/often-just-as-when-they-were-children-it-was-four-against-one-when/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [A hush of expectancy descended in the chamber as all waited to hear the request. What treasure could he want? Laren inventoried in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/a-hush-of-expectancy-descended-in-the-chamber-as-all-waited-to-hear/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [You're a stubborn, ill-trained horse." she said The horse snorted and walked towards the North Road of his own volition. "Hey!" Karigan pulled back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/you-re-a-stubborn-ill-trained-horse-she-said-the-horse-snorted-and/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“I'll do my best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/i-ll-do-my-best/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“I am learning there is much more to the world than can be plainly seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/i-am-learning-there-is-much-more-to-the-world-than-can-be-plainly-seen/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“The creature prodded The Horse’s belly with an antenna. When he didn’t respond, it emitted a clicking sound, perhaps of approval. From The Horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/the-creature-prodded-the-horse-s-belly-with-an-antenna-when-he-didn-t/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“her all the way to the crossroads, and I think it more than adequate.” Everyone gaped at her like she was mad. “Our goal,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/her-all-the-way-to-the-crossroads-and-i-think-it-more-than-adequate/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [“I rather fancy the story of Laurelyn the Moondreamer and how she built a castle of silver moonbeams, don’t you? Silver-mind it was called.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/i-rather-fancy-the-story-of-laurelyn-the-moondreamer-and-how-she/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

> [Reveal yourself, mage! Only a coward stays cloaked in invisibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/reveal-yourself-mage-only-a-coward-stays-cloaked-in-invisibility/)

[Kristen Britain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

[Explore all 35 Kristen Britain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/)

## More Fresh air quotes

> [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/)

[Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/)

> [ Jowett, in his day, did probably more than any other single man to let some fresh air into the exhausted atmosphere of the \[Oxford\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-jowett/jowett-in-his-day-did-probably-more-than-any-other-single-man-to-let/)

[Benjamin Jowett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-jowett/)

> [Her best friend was gone and nobody understood that no amount of makeup, fresh air or shopping was going to fill the hole in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/her-best-friend-was-gone-and-nobody-understood-that-no-amount-of/)

[Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/)

> [Things that are good are good, and if one is responding to that goodness one is in contact with a truth from which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/things-that-are-good-are-good-and-if-one-is-responding-to-that/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [Not only is bowhunting fun and a real challenge, but it's good for you. The exercise in the fresh air, the chance to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/not-only-is-bowhunting-fun-and-a-real-challenge-but-it-s-good-for-you/)

[Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/)

> [The sun on my skin. The smell of the lake and fresh air. The warmth of the sun and cold rush of the water.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/the-sun-on-my-skin-the-smell-of-the-lake-and-fresh-air-the-warmth-of/)

[Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/)

> [There are many troubles which you cannot cure by the Bible and the hymn-book, but which you can cure by a good perspiration and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-are-many-troubles-which-you-cannot-cure-by-the-bible-and-the/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [“I like nature and I enjoy walking through the forest admiring its beauty and breathing not just the fresh air but, also the quietness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-j-genes/i-like-nature-and-i-enjoy-walking-through-the-forest-admiring-its/)

[Nico J. Genes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-j-genes/)

> [Over the last 10 years, there have been so many incredible albums created in bedrooms by people who never would've gotten an album deal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/over-the-last-10-years-there-have-been-so-many-incredible-albums/)

[Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/)

> [What a curious picture it is to find man, homo sapiens, of divine origin, we are told, seriously considering going underground to escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/what-a-curious-picture-it-is-to-find-man-homo-sapiens-of-divine/)

[J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/)

> [“This is exactly what I need to do right now: to walk, walk, walk, breathe some fresh air, take a look at a city…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/this-is-exactly-what-i-need-to-do-right-now-to-walk-walk-walk-breathe/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [“8. The Application of the Law of Causation to Morals. Although it may be needless to state here the law of causation at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-the-application-of-the-law-of-causation-to-morals-although-it-may/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [Being alone is like breathing fresh air but, when you realise you are alone it's like a dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-suan-lal/being-alone-is-like-breathing-fresh-air-but-when-you-realise-you-are/)

K Suan Lal

> [Not sleeping, listening to Paul Auster on Fresh Air. His function, tonight and ever, has been to remind me that I will die. Thanks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cho/not-sleeping-listening-to-paul-auster-on-fresh-air-his-function/)

[John Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cho/)

> [I believe in the hands that work, in the brains that think, and in the hearts that love...I believe in sunshine, fresh air, friendship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/i-believe-in-the-hands-that-work-in-the-brains-that-think-and-in-the/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

[Browse all 438 Fresh air quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fresh-air/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“They’re supposed to help look for the king.” Merdigen shrugged. “Why the urgency to find the king? You have a queen, after all.” Merdigen’s priorities tended to be rather skewed at times. “I need some fresh air,” Alton said. “Sure, sure, leave me alone. Me and my beard.” Alton shook his head. Just before he stepped through the tower wall to the outside world, he heard Merdigen mutter, “I wish I could go out and have some fresh air.” The weather was fine, so Alton saddled up Night Hawk for a ride down to the main encampment at the breach. Hawk tossed his head and pranced, and Alton was assailed by guilt that he did not pay his horse nearly enough attention. • • • At the main encampment he examined the cracks around the breach, made measurements, and recorded his findings in his logbook. He took reports from the officers on duty there. They kept watch over the breach and”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kristen Britain"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-king-merdigen-shrugged-why-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fresh air"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-king-merdigen-shrugged-why-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/kristen-britain-17061_fresh-air_they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-ki_623707.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/kristen-britain-17061_fresh-air_they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-ki_623707.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/kristen-britain-17061_fresh-air_they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-ki_623707.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“They’re supposed to help look for the king.” Merdigen shrugged. “Why the urgency to find the king? You have…” — Kristen Britain",
                "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": "Kristen Britain",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-britain/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“They’re supposed to help look for...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-king-merdigen-shrugged-why-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-britain/they-re-supposed-to-help-look-for-the-king-merdigen-shrugged-why-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
