--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it must be borne in mind that, if…" description: "\"“But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in my fear of being read as a jest, I may inc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/lewis-carroll-324_charybdis_but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-the_51260.jpg" --- # But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla… ![“But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in my fear of being read as a jest, I may incur the darker destiny of not being read at all.” quote by Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/lewis-carroll-324_charybdis_but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-the_51260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/lewis-carroll-324_charybdis_but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-the_51260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/lewis-carroll-324_charybdis_but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-the_51260.jpg) > ““But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in my fear of being read as a jest, I may incur the darker destiny of not being read at all.”” [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker warns that avoiding ridicule can lead to self‑censorship, causing the work to be ignored entirely. **In simple terms:** Fear of mockery may silence important ideas. Key Takeaway Balancing boldness with audience perception. Themes censorship communication risk self‑expression perception Mood cautious reflective determined Type aphorism advice When to use this quote - public speaking - publishing - social media posts - academic writing Key Concepts tone audience authenticity Practical Applications - strategic messaging - risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How can one convey controversial ideas without being dismissed? - What strategies help maintain authenticity while managing audience expectations? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charybdis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charybdis/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [The older I get, for me it's about fear. If I read something and it scares the hell out of me, that's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaina-huffman/the-older-i-get-for-me-it-s-about-fear-if-i-read-something-and-it/) [Alaina Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaina-huffman/) > [“The book was a methodology for allowing his mind, as the text described, to rest undistractedly in the nothing-to-do, nothing-to-hold condition of the primordial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/the-book-was-a-methodology-for-allowing-his-mind-as-the-text/) [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) > [Once the government can demand of a publisher the names of the purchasers of his publication, the free press as we know it disappears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/once-the-government-can-demand-of-a-publisher-the-names-of-the/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [I fear that we read of war, like women gossip, to enjoy the bitter misery of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-peters/i-fear-that-we-read-of-war-like-women-gossip-to-enjoy-the-bitter/) [Ralph Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-peters/) > [In our work, we are always between Scylla and Charybdis; we may fail to abstract enough, and miss important physics, or we may abstract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-gell-mann/in-our-work-we-are-always-between-scylla-and-charybdis-we-may-fail-to/) [Murray Gell-Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-gell-mann/) > [For all his pain, he longed to see the author of it. Although he hated Margaret at times, when he thought of that gentle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/for-all-his-pain-he-longed-to-see-the-author-of-it-although-he-hated/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [This is what the Church is said to want, not party men, but sensible, temperate, sober, well-judging persons, to guide it through the channel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/this-is-what-the-church-is-said-to-want-not-party-men-but-sensible/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Making mathematics accessible to the educated layman, while keeping high scientific standards, has always been considered a treacherous navigation between the Scylla of professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/making-mathematics-accessible-to-the-educated-layman-while-keeping/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [The rich have become richer, and the poor have become poorer; and the vessel of the state is driven between the Scylla and Charybdis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-rich-have-become-richer-and-the-poor-have-become-poorer-and-the/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [He talks about the Scylla of Atheism and the Charybdis of Christianity - a state of mind which, by the way, is not conducive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/he-talks-about-the-scylla-of-atheism-and-the-charybdis-of/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [Anxiety and Ennui are the Scylla and Charybdis on which the bark of human happiness is most often wrecked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/anxiety-and-ennui-are-the-scylla-and-charybdis-on-which-the-bark-of/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [Man's world' and 'woman's place' have confronted each other since Scylla first faced Charybdis. ... if women have only a place, clearly the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/man-s-world-and-woman-s-place-have-confronted-each-other-since-scylla/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [He knows enough, the mariner, who knows Where lurk the shelves, and where the whirlpools boil, What signs portend the storm: to subtler minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/he-knows-enough-the-mariner-who-knows-where-lurk-the-shelves-and/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [“I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-m-afraid-i-can-t-explain-myself-sir-because-i-am-not-myself-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/) [Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/) ## More by Lewis Carroll > [You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-re-thinking-about-something-my-dear-and-that-makes-you-forget-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-m-afraid-i-can-t-explain-myself-sir-because-i-am-not-myself-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Either it brings tears to their eyes, or else -" "Or else what?" said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause. "Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/either-it-brings-tears-to-their-eyes-or-else-or-else-what-said-alice/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In the midst of the word he was trying to say In the midst of his laughter and glee, He had softly and suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-the-midst-of-the-word-he-was-trying-to-say-in-the-midst-of-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-sun-was-shining-on-the-sea-shining-with-all-his-might-he-did-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“In vain we roared;in vain we tried To rouse her into laughter: Her pensive glances wandered wide From orchestra to rafter - "TIER UPON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-vain-we-roared-in-vain-we-tried-to-rouse-her-into-laughter-her/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [For the snark was a boojum, you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/for-the-snark-was-a-boojum-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Thanks for your nice little note, though I am sorry to hear you find Through the Looking Glass so uninteresting. You see I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/thanks-for-your-nice-little-note-though-i-am-sorry-to-hear-you-find/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You shouldn't make jokes if it makes you so unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-shouldn-t-make-jokes-if-it-makes-you-so-unhappy/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [We haven't any and you're too young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-haven-t-any-and-you-re-too-young/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Everything is funny, if you can laugh at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/everything-is-funny-if-you-can-laugh-at-it/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I wish I hadn't cried so much!” said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out. I shall be punished for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-wish-i-hadn-t-cried-so-much-said-alice-as-she-swam-about-trying-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spread his claws, And welcome little fishes in With gently smiling jaws!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-cheerfully-he-seems-to-grin-how-neatly-spread-his-claws-and/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) [Explore all 644 Lewis Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## More Charybdis quotes > [He knows enough, the mariner, who knows Where lurk the shelves, and where the whirlpools boil, What signs portend the storm: to subtler minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/he-knows-enough-the-mariner-who-knows-where-lurk-the-shelves-and/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Man's world' and 'woman's place' have confronted each other since Scylla first faced Charybdis. ... if women have only a place, clearly the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/man-s-world-and-woman-s-place-have-confronted-each-other-since-scylla/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [Anxiety and Ennui are the Scylla and Charybdis on which the bark of human happiness is most often wrecked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/anxiety-and-ennui-are-the-scylla-and-charybdis-on-which-the-bark-of/) [William Edward Hartpole Lecky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-edward-hartpole-lecky/) > [He talks about the Scylla of Atheism and the Charybdis of Christianity - a state of mind which, by the way, is not conducive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-douglas/he-talks-about-the-scylla-of-atheism-and-the-charybdis-of/) [Norman Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-douglas/) > [The rich have become richer, and the poor have become poorer; and the vessel of the state is driven between the Scylla and Charybdis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/the-rich-have-become-richer-and-the-poor-have-become-poorer-and-the/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Making mathematics accessible to the educated layman, while keeping high scientific standards, has always been considered a treacherous navigation between the Scylla of professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gian-carlo-rota/making-mathematics-accessible-to-the-educated-layman-while-keeping/) [Gian-Carlo Rota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gian-carlo-rota/) > [This is what the Church is said to want, not party men, but sensible, temperate, sober, well-judging persons, to guide it through the channel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/this-is-what-the-church-is-said-to-want-not-party-men-but-sensible/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [For all his pain, he longed to see the author of it. Although he hated Margaret at times, when he thought of that gentle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/for-all-his-pain-he-longed-to-see-the-author-of-it-although-he-hated/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [In our work, we are always between Scylla and Charybdis; we may fail to abstract enough, and miss important physics, or we may abstract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-gell-mann/in-our-work-we-are-always-between-scylla-and-charybdis-we-may-fail-to/) [Murray Gell-Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-gell-mann/) [Browse all 10 Charybdis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charybdis/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in my fear of being read as a jest, I may incur the darker destiny of not being read at all.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lewis Carroll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-there-is-a-scylla-before-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charybdis" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-there-is-a-scylla-before-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/lewis-carroll-324_charybdis_but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-the_51260.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/lewis-carroll-324_charybdis_but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-the_51260.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94e/lewis-carroll-324_charybdis_but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-the_51260.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in…” — Lewis Carroll", "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": "Lewis Carroll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But it must be borne in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-there-is-a-scylla-before-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-there-is-a-scylla-before-me/#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 } } ] } ```