--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You might come up with a solution to the…" description: "\"“You might come up with a solution to the problem that doesn't involve destruction.\" Drave scoffed. \"Doesn't involve destruction? That's like me asking..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/laini-taylor-258_first-time_you-might-come-up-with-a-solution-to-the_1780579.png" --- # You might come up with a solution to the problem that… ![“You might come up with a solution to the problem that doesn't involve destruction." Drave scoffed. "Doesn't involve destruction? That's like me asking you not to be a mealy-mouthed poltroon." Lazlo's eyebrows shot up. " Poltroon? " "Look it up," snapped Drave. Lazlo turned to Ruza. "Do you think…” quote by Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/laini-taylor-258_first-time_you-might-come-up-with-a-solution-to-the_1780579.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/laini-taylor-258_first-time_you-might-come-up-with-a-solution-to-the_1780579.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/laini-taylor-258_first-time_you-might-come-up-with-a-solution-to-the_1780579.png) > ““You might come up with a solution to the problem that doesn't involve destruction." Drave scoffed. "Doesn't involve destruction? That's like me asking you not to be a mealy-mouthed poltroon." Lazlo's eyebrows shot up. " Poltroon? " "Look it up," snapped Drave. Lazlo turned to Ruza. "Do you think I'm a poltroon?" he asked, the way a young girl might ask whether her dress was unflattering. "I don't know what that is." "I think it's a kind of mushroom," said Lazlo, who knew very well was poltroon meant. Really, he was surprised that Drave did. "You are absolutely a mushroom," said Ruza. "It means 'coward,'" said Drave. "Oh." Lazlo turned to Ruza. "Do you think I'm a coward?" Ruza considered the matter. "More of a mushroom," he decided. To Drave: "I think you were closer the first time." "I never said he was a mushroom." "Then I'm confused.”” [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## 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 challenges another to find a non‑violent solution, revealing that calling someone a coward (or “mushroom”) can be a misunderstanding of intent. **In simple terms:** Seek peaceful solutions without labeling others. Key Takeaway Choose dialogue over aggression. Themes communication conflict identity misunderstanding Mood thoughtful reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - teamwork - negotiation - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts courage semantics perception Questions to Reflect On - How can we address conflict without resorting to name‑calling? - What does “coward” mean in different cultures? A Different Perspective Labels can obscure true intentions and hinder cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coward-said-1306406/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Means Coward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-coward-1859130/) [Mushroom Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mushroom-said-1859129/) [Poltroon Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poltroon-asked-1859131/) [Poltroon Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poltroon-meant-1859132/) ## Related quotes > [“I was a coward. I said it aloud to myself: you are a coward. I didn’t care. It was better to be a live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/i-was-a-coward-i-said-it-aloud-to-myself-you-are-a-coward-i-didn-t/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [You are a coward,' she said, and with that one word wrote a denunciation, a biography, and a prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marra/you-are-a-coward-she-said-and-with-that-one-word-wrote-a-denunciation/) [Anthony Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marra/) > [But that isn't right. The King of Beasts shouldn't be a coward,'" said the Scarecrow. 'I know it,' returned the Lion, wiping a tear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/but-that-isn-t-right-the-king-of-beasts-shouldn-t-be-a-coward-said/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [“I am not brave enough to be a coward," she said. "I see the consequences too clearly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-am-not-brave-enough-to-be-a-coward-she-said-i-see-the-consequences/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Noel Coward said work is more fun than fun, but then he didn't work in the Bird's Eye factory packing frozen fish fingers nine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-o-grady/noel-coward-said-work-is-more-fun-than-fun-but-then-he-didn-t-work-in/) [Paul O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-o-grady/) > [“He was probably a coward,” she said. “He knew a great deal about cowards but nothing about the brave. The brave dies perhaps two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/he-was-probably-a-coward-she-said-he-knew-a-great-deal-about-cowards/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“They won’t get us,” I said. “Because you’re too brave. 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You couldn’t possibly understand.” He lifted a brow, still smiling. “Liar.” “Cutpurse.” “Runaway.” “Swindler! “Coward,” he said softly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-abe/you-re-naught-but-a-human-man-you-couldn-t-possibly-understand-he/) [Shana Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-abe/) > [“Treat every natural beauty you met as if you see them for the first and last time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/treat-every-natural-beauty-you-met-as-if-you-see-them-for-the-first/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I’m waiting for you,” he murmured, smiling a slow, familiar grin that seemed to hint at a secret between them. And for the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-m-waiting-for-you-he-murmured-smiling-a-slow-familiar-grin-that/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“I’m so stressed that a weird Olympic-style commentary starts up in my head. And here we have Zelah Green, the fourteen-year-old champion of rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-curtis/i-m-so-stressed-that-a-weird-olympic-style-commentary-starts-up-in-my/) [Vanessa Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-curtis/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) ## More by Laini Taylor > [“Word spread quickly: The visitor wished to address the scholars. 'What can he want?' they wondered, streaming into the Royal Theater. Attendance was voluntary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/word-spread-quickly-the-visitor-wished-to-address-the-scholars-what/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“The past and the future were just blinders we wore so that infinity wouldn’t drive us mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-past-and-the-future-were-just-blinders-we-wore-so-that-infinity/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“I love books. Not just for what they contain. 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This isn't some goddamn Narnia book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/you-are-not-just-going-to-vanish-like-this-karou-this-isn-t-some/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/have-you-ever-asked-yourself-do-monsters-make-war-or-does-war-make/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“She told Mik, "You have perfect violin-playing muscles." "And you, with your mighty puppeteer arms. We put the chimaera to shame." She stopped fanning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/she-told-mik-you-have-perfect-violin-playing-muscles-and-you-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [As far back as she could remember, a phantom life had mocked her with its impenetrable “something else,” but now it was the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/as-far-back-as-she-could-remember-a-phantom-life-had-mocked-her-with/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“By the time the plan's wheels touched down on a desolate stretch of desert runway, the sun had cleared a ridge of mountains and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/by-the-time-the-plan-s-wheels-touched-down-on-a-desolate-stretch-of/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“It was hard to imagine feeling that magical tingling sensation in the pit of her belly anytime soon. Best not to worry about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/it-was-hard-to-imagine-feeling-that-magical-tingling-sensation-in-the/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Staring at her face, she began to fancy her outer layer had begun to melt away while she wasn't paying attention, and something --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/staring-at-her-face-she-began-to-fancy-her-outer-layer-had-begun-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“He listened like a cactus drinks the rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/he-listened-like-a-cactus-drinks-the-rain/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Around Mik, my powers desert me. I lose basic motor function, like my brain focuses all neural activity on my lips and shifts into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/around-mik-my-powers-desert-me-i-lose-basic-motor-function-like-my/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Everything lined up. It has been easy, as if it were meant-" "Meant!" she said, amazed. She spun to face him, which, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/everything-lined-up-it-has-been-easy-as-if-it-were-meant-meant-she/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) [Explore all 715 Laini Taylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## More First time quotes > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. 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Lazlo turned to Ruza. \"Do you think I'm a poltroon?\" he asked, the way a young girl might ask whether her dress was unflattering. \"I don't know what that is.\" \"I think it's a kind of mushroom,\" said Lazlo, who knew very well was poltroon meant. Really, he was surprised that Drave did. \"You are absolutely a mushroom,\" said Ruza. \"It means 'coward,'\" said Drave. \"Oh.\" Lazlo turned to Ruza. \"Do you think I'm a coward?\" Ruza considered the matter. \"More of a mushroom,\" he decided. 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