--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A pair of train guards. A pair of grave…" description: "\"“A pair of train guards. A pair of grave diggers. When it came down to it, one of them called the shots. The other did what he was told. The question i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/markus-zusak-165_fitness_a-pair-of-train-guards-a-pair-of-grave-d_402790.png" --- # A pair of train guards. A pair of grave diggers. When it… ![“A pair of train guards. A pair of grave diggers. When it came down to it, one of them called the shots. The other did what he was told. The question is, what if the other is a lot more than one?” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/markus-zusak-165_fitness_a-pair-of-train-guards-a-pair-of-grave-d_402790.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/markus-zusak-165_fitness_a-pair-of-train-guards-a-pair-of-grave-d_402790.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c19/markus-zusak-165_fitness_a-pair-of-train-guards-a-pair-of-grave-d_402790.png) > ““A pair of train guards. A pair of grave diggers. When it came down to it, one of them called the shots. The other did what he was told. The question is, what if the other is a lot more than one?”” [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authority can be shared; the subordinate may hold hidden power beyond obedience. **In simple terms:** Power can be hidden in the obedient. Key Takeaway Question assumed hierarchies. Themes power dynamics authority obedience Mood thoughtful intrigued Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - leadership training - ethical governance - team management Key Concepts social hierarchy psychology of control Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of hidden power in subordinates? - How can organizations ensure transparent authority? A Different Perspective Power may be misused if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Grave Diggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grave-diggers-1113738/) [Guards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guards/) [Guards Pair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guards-pair-3607673/) [Pair Grave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pair-grave-246182/) [Train Guards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train-guards-246181/) ## Related quotes > [“\*\*\*AN OBSERVATION\*\*\* A pair of train guards. A pair of grave diggers. When it came down to it, one of them called the shots.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/an-observation-a-pair-of-train-guards-a-pair-of-grave-diggers-when-it/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Many times man lives and dies between his two eternities: that of race and that of Soul... A brief parting from those dear is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/many-times-man-lives-and-dies-between-his-two-eternities-that-of-race/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [“To be absolutely modern is to be the ally of one's grave diggers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/to-be-absolutely-modern-is-to-be-the-ally-of-one-s-grave-diggers/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [If you can't imagine it, think clumsy silence. Think bits and pieces of floating despair. And drowning in a train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/if-you-can-t-imagine-it-think-clumsy-silence-think-bits-and-pieces-of/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [This should be a written rule: Guards should always defer to centers. I don't care how good you are, those big guys make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clyde-drexler/this-should-be-a-written-rule-guards-should-always-defer-to-centers-i/) [Clyde Drexler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clyde-drexler/) > [Waitresses, soldiers, rickshaw drivers, old ladies selling vegetables - my father would schmooze anybody. He was Clintonesque before the word existed. And, of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-anderson/waitresses-soldiers-rickshaw-drivers-old-ladies-selling-vegetables-my/) [Scott Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-anderson/) > [I don't envy guards. They're quick little monkeys, those guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/i-don-t-envy-guards-they-re-quick-little-monkeys-those-guys/) [Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/) > [When you have guards that are versatile, it just makes it a lot easier in terms of who you put on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-harris/when-you-have-guards-that-are-versatile-it-just-makes-it-a-lot-easier/) [Joe Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-harris/) > [When we were in Sweden, there was a fan that hid in a bin. I think one of the security guards saw and tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayn-malik/when-we-were-in-sweden-there-was-a-fan-that-hid-in-a-bin-i-think-one/) [Zayn Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayn-malik/) > [When I played with the Knicks, I was just as important or just as smart as any other of the guards I played with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/when-i-played-with-the-knicks-i-was-just-as-important-or-just-as/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Who is to guard the guards themselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/who-is-to-guard-the-guards-themselves/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [The U.N. guards the vital principles entrenched in its charter, notably the sovereign equality of states and the inadmissibility of interference in their internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/the-u-n-guards-the-vital-principles-entrenched-in-its-charter-notably/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [Who will guard the guards ? If we're the guards of society, then who will watch us and make sure that we're not dangerous?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/who-will-guard-the-guards-if-we-re-the-guards-of-society-then-who/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [“The guards were pacing in front of the large tent. They were armed with swords, axes, and crossbows, which Ennion didn't think was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lewis-baillot/the-guards-were-pacing-in-front-of-the-large-tent-they-were-armed/) [Jack Lewis Baillot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lewis-baillot/) > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More by Markus Zusak > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“For two days I went about my business. 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Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? 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