--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That was what they did with themselves…" description: "\"That was what they did with themselves, those two Gracelings, along with a small band of friends: They stirred up trouble on a serious scale—bribery, c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kristin-cashore-369_band_that-was-what-they-did-with-themselves-t_2240763.jpg" --- # That was what they did with themselves, those two… ![“That was what they did with themselves, those two Gracelings, along with a small band of friends: They stirred up trouble on a serious scale—bribery, coercion, sabotage, organized rebellion—all directed at stopping the worst behavior of the world’s most seriously corrupt kings.” quote by Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kristin-cashore-369_band_that-was-what-they-did-with-themselves-t_2240763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kristin-cashore-369_band_that-was-what-they-did-with-themselves-t_2240763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/kristin-cashore-369_band_that-was-what-they-did-with-themselves-t_2240763.jpg) > “That was what they did with themselves, those two Gracelings, along with a small band of friends: They stirred up trouble on a serious scale—bribery, coercion, sabotage, organized rebellion—all directed at stopping the worst behavior of the world’s most seriously corrupt kings.” [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The protagonists organize a rebellion using various illicit tactics to overthrow corrupt monarchs and end systemic oppression. **In simple terms:** They fight corrupt kings with covert actions. Key Takeaway Strategic resistance can topple tyranny. Themes rebellion justice corruption solidarity strategy Mood dramatic urgent hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - activist movements - whistleblowing - community organizing - union strikes - political campaigns Key Concepts political science ethics leadership Questions to Reflect On - What ethical lines are crossed in rebellion? - How can change be achieved peacefully? A Different Perspective Violent tactics may cause collateral damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Bribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribery/) [Coercion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coercion/) [Corruption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corruption/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Graceling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graceling/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Rebellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebellion/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Sabotage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sabotage/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [You know,” he said, “I wish you could see this cave.” “What’s it like?” He paused. “It’s...beautiful, really.” “Tell me.” And so Po described…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/you-know-he-said-i-wish-you-could-see-this-cave-what-s-it-like-he/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“But that's how memory works," Bitterblue said quietly. "Things disappear without your permission, then come back again without your permission." And sometimes they came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/but-that-s-how-memory-works-bitterblue-said-quietly-things-disappear/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [A man who fights you as he does is no better than an opportunist and no worse than a thug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/a-man-who-fights-you-as-he-does-is-no-better-than-an-opportunist-and/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“I can't know your feelings", he said ,"if you don't know them yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-can-t-know-your-feelings-he-said-if-you-don-t-know-them-yourself/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“why would he try to ruin something so beautiful? What is the world he was trying, and failing to create? What is the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/why-would-he-try-to-ruin-something-so-beautiful-what-is-the-world-he/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Uncle," she said. "Let me explain what will happen the instant one of your men makes a move toward me. Let's say, for instance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/uncle-she-said-let-me-explain-what-will-happen-the-instant-one-of/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“When she came back minutes later with a great, fat, skinned rabbit, Po had built a fire. The flames cast orange light on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-she-came-back-minutes-later-with-a-great-fat-skinned-rabbit-po/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [They seemed no closer to the tops of the peaks that rose before them. It was only by looking back, to the forest far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/they-seemed-no-closer-to-the-tops-of-the-peaks-that-rose-before-them/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“And then, with all her might, she focused her attention on the back of Po's head and screamed his name, inside her mind. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/and-then-with-all-her-might-she-focused-her-attention-on-the-back-of/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [She glanced up at him, and in that moment he pulled his wet shirt over his head. She forced her mind blank. Blank as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-glanced-up-at-him-and-in-that-moment-he-pulled-his-wet-shirt-over-2/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [He made her drunk, this man made her drunk; and every time his eyes flashed into hers she could not breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-made-her-drunk-this-man-made-her-drunk-and-every-time-his-eyes/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Living is too hard right now. Dying is easy. Let me die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-is-too-hard-right-now-dying-is-easy-let-me-die/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Then he laughed, and the sound was a comfort to her, and she fought against the and silver lights that shown in his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-chashore/then-he-laughed-and-the-sound-was-a-comfort-to-her-and-she-fought/) Kristin Chashore > [“What? What are you grinning about?" "Its meant to be attractive to my wife." "You have a wife?" "Great seas no! Honestly, Kasta. don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-cashore/what-what-are-you-grinning-about-its-meant-to-be-attractive-to-my/) [Kristen Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-cashore/) ## More by Kristin Cashore > [“Back onto their horses, and shortly thereafter word had come around from the command units that any soldier brawling over any matter relating to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/back-onto-their-horses-and-shortly-thereafter-word-had-come-around/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“The girls clipped and swept, and Katsa’s hair fell away. She thrilled at the unfamiliar chill of air on her neck. And wondered if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/the-girls-clipped-and-swept-and-katsa-s-hair-fell-away-she-thrilled/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Raffin appeared again, a floor above her, on the balconied passageway that ran past his workrooms. He leaned over the railing and called down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/raffin-appeared-again-a-floor-above-her-on-the-balconied-passageway/) [Kristin cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“When you’re a monster, she thought, you are thanked and praised for not behaving like a monster. She would like to restrain from cruelty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-you-re-a-monster-she-thought-you-are-thanked-and-praised-for-not/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“She glanced up at him, and in that moment he pulled his wet shirt over his head. She forced her mind blank. Blank as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-glanced-up-at-him-and-in-that-moment-he-pulled-his-wet-shirt-over/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“She had thought she'd already reached her capacity for pain and had no room inside her for more. But she remembered having told Archer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/she-had-thought-she-d-already-reached-her-capacity-for-pain-and-had/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He thinks it's dangerous for us to leave each other so much freedom and make these vague plans to travel together in the future,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-thinks-it-s-dangerous-for-us-to-leave-each-other-so-much-freedom/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Ideas were growing in all directions and dimensions; they were becoming a sculpture, or a castle. And then everyone left her, to return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/ideas-were-growing-in-all-directions-and-dimensions-they-were/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [But everyone has some kind of power to hurt people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/but-everyone-has-some-kind-of-power-to-hurt-people/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Papa?” she said, turning in circles now, spinning to look at each of the entrances. “Do you mean Papa? Where?” He came through an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/papa-she-said-turning-in-circles-now-spinning-to-look-at-each-of-the/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“He decided to mark this new era in his life with a change of his foolish, sentimental name. The people of this land had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/he-decided-to-mark-this-new-era-in-his-life-with-a-change-of-his/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I know you don't want this, Katsa. But I can't help myself. The moment you came barreling into my life I was lost. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-know-you-don-t-want-this-katsa-but-i-can-t-help-myself-the-moment/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Como no te has dado cuenta de que tus ojos me atrapan igual que te ocurre a ti con los míos”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/como-no-te-has-dado-cuenta-de-que-tus-ojos-me-atrapan-igual-que-te/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [I've been afraid of being Cansrel,' she said aloud to her reflection. 'But I'm not Cansrel.' At her elbow, Musa said blandly, 'Any one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/i-ve-been-afraid-of-being-cansrel-she-said-aloud-to-her-reflection/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Find something useful to do with your morning,' she thought to him as she neared her chambers. 'Do something heroic in front of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/find-something-useful-to-do-with-your-morning-she-thought-to-him-as/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) [Explore all 604 Kristin Cashore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. 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