--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hm,” said the Count, rubbing his lips and…" description: "\"“Hm,” said the Count, rubbing his lips and regarding Miles with cool approval. “Interesting. Well. For your fourth consoling thought, I would point out..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_dangerous-man_hm-said-the-count-rubbing-his-lips-and-r_1625600.jpg" --- # Hm,” said the Count, rubbing his lips and regarding Miles… ![“Hm,” said the Count, rubbing his lips and regarding Miles with cool approval. “Interesting. Well. For your fourth consoling thought, I would point out that in this venue”—a wave of his finger took in Vorbarr Sultana, and by extension Barrayar—“acquiring a reputation as a slick and dangerous man…” quote by Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_dangerous-man_hm-said-the-count-rubbing-his-lips-and-r_1625600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_dangerous-man_hm-said-the-count-rubbing-his-lips-and-r_1625600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a8/lois-mcmaster-bujold-716_dangerous-man_hm-said-the-count-rubbing-his-lips-and-r_1625600.jpg) > ““Hm,” said the Count, rubbing his lips and regarding Miles with cool approval. “Interesting. Well. For your fourth consoling thought, I would point out that in this venue”—a wave of his finger took in Vorbarr Sultana, and by extension Barrayar—“acquiring a reputation as a slick and dangerous man, who would kill without compunction to obtain and protect his own, is not all bad. In fact, you might even find it useful.”” [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Count suggests that a reputation for ruthlessness can be strategically advantageous, though morally ambiguous. **In simple terms:** A ruthless reputation can be useful. Key Takeaway Weigh moral cost against practical benefit. Themes power morality strategy reputation pragmatism Mood cautious analytical strategic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - military leadership - court intrigue - personal advancement - conflict negotiation Key Concepts political realism ethical relativism self‑preservation Questions to Reflect On - Is the benefit worth the ethical compromise? - How might others react to your reputation? A Different Perspective Such a reputation may breed distrust and long‑term consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval-interesting-331264/) [Barrayar Acquiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrayar-acquiring-331263/) [Dangerous man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-man/) [Lips Regarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips-regarding-331266/) [Took Vorbarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-vorbarr-331265/) ## Related quotes > [“For your fourth consoling thought, I would point out that in this venue," a wave of his finger took in Vorbarr Sultana, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/for-your-fourth-consoling-thought-i-would-point-out-that-in-this/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“If you're going to fall out of love with public approval, something interesting will happen: people will be deeply attracted to your work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/if-you-re-going-to-fall-out-of-love-with-public-approval-something/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“So dangerous it is for a man to come into the acquisition of great fortune before he matures in virtues and principles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bamikole/so-dangerous-it-is-for-a-man-to-come-into-the-acquisition-of-great/) [Paul Bamikole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bamikole/) > [“It was so like Smith's work, so much more like the top of a strongly spiked wall than a head of hair, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-was-so-like-smith-s-work-so-much-more-like-the-top-of-a-strongly/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In your hands or that of any other person, so much power would, no doubt, be dangerous. 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Dear God, how did this happen?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-always-thought-my-parents-could-fix-anything-now-it-s-my-turn-dear/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“I think it is not so much the growth of virtue, as simply the replacement of prior vices with an addiction to one’s god.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/i-think-it-is-not-so-much-the-growth-of-virtue-as-simply-the/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Mark’s ideas tended to the bland, and there was no point in asking Miles, whose embittered suggestions all ran to things like Vomit Vanilla…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/mark-s-ideas-tended-to-the-bland-and-there-was-no-point-in-asking/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/the-dead-cannot-cry-out-for-justice-it-is-a-duty-of-the-living-to-do/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“Gardens were meant to be seen, smelled, walked through, grubbed in. A hundred objective measurements didn't sum the worth of a garden; only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/gardens-were-meant-to-be-seen-smelled-walked-through-grubbed-in-a/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) [Explore all 392 Lois McMaster Bujold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) ## More Dangerous man quotes > [“You belong with me, Azami. Your family will be my family. 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