--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: an untutored lout with a sledgehammer…" description: "\"“an untutored lout with a sledgehammer could kill you just as dead as an assassin with a stiletto.”\" — Mercedes Lackey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/mercedes-lackey-2374_assassin_an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-co_768511.png" --- # an untutored lout with a sledgehammer could kill you just… ![“an untutored lout with a sledgehammer could kill you just as dead as an assassin with a stiletto.” quote by Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/mercedes-lackey-2374_assassin_an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-co_768511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/mercedes-lackey-2374_assassin_an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-co_768511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/mercedes-lackey-2374_assassin_an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-co_768511.png) > ““an untutored lout with a sledgehammer could kill you just as dead as an assassin with a stiletto.”” [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even an untrained, clumsy person can be as lethal as a skilled assassin. **In simple terms:** Unskilled can still cause serious harm. Key Takeaway Never underestimate anyone’s potential for damage. Themes danger skill underestimation Mood cautious serious Type warning insight When to use this quote - workplace safety - self‑defense - conflict resolution - team dynamics Key Concepts strategy human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess risk beyond appearances? - What safeguards can you implement against unexpected harm? A Different Perspective Overconfidence in skill can blind you to hidden threats. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assassin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassin/) ## Related quotes > [Why slap them on the wrist with feather when you can belt them over the head with a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/why-slap-them-on-the-wrist-with-feather-when-you-can-belt-them-over/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [You are about as covert as a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/you-are-about-as-covert-as-a-sledgehammer/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“Sometimes someone just takes a sledgehammer to your heart and even if you still have feelings for them, you can't ever quite feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-senate/sometimes-someone-just-takes-a-sledgehammer-to-your-heart-and-even-if/) [Melissa Senate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-senate/) > [Haaland's left foot can be used as a sledgehammer, or he can use it to dink a delicate chip into the back of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/haaland-s-left-foot-can-be-used-as-a-sledgehammer-or-he-can-use-it-to/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) > [“You don't live in the past; you take a sledgehammer to it to see what stands so that you can build on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-drew/you-don-t-live-in-the-past-you-take-a-sledgehammer-to-it-to-see-what/) Samuel L. Drew > [One might as well try to perform brain surgery with a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/one-might-as-well-try-to-perform-brain-surgery-with-a-sledgehammer/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [To encounter 'Beowulf' is like taking a sledgehammer to a quarry face. You must bang in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/to-encounter-beowulf-is-like-taking-a-sledgehammer-to-a-quarry-face/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [It is the direct man who strikes sledgehammer blows, who penetrates the very marrow of a subject at every stroke and gets the meat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-s-marden/it-is-the-direct-man-who-strikes-sledgehammer-blows-who-penetrates/) [Orison S. Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-s-marden/) > [Hollywood's not knocking on our door. They're banging down the door with a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watkin-tudor-jones/hollywood-s-not-knocking-on-our-door-they-re-banging-down-the-door/) [Watkin Tudor Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watkin-tudor-jones/) > [Anything is possible with the right attitude and a sledgehammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anything-is-possible-with-the-right-attitude-and-a-sledgehammer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A kiss is the sledgehammer that breaks the ice in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/a-kiss-is-the-sledgehammer-that-breaks-the-ice-in-you/) Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann > [Unless you hit your television with a sledgehammer, you're not going to be able to be an individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/unless-you-hit-your-television-with-a-sledgehammer-you-re-not-going/) [Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/) > [I'm uncomfortable with the word satire. In the U.K., there's quite a bit of sledgehammer weight to that word, which is the antithesis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-m-uncomfortable-with-the-word-satire-in-the-u-k-there-s-quite-a-bit/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Yes Rosalie, we all know how proficient of an assassin you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/yes-rosalie-we-all-know-how-proficient-of-an-assassin-you-are/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) ## More by Mercedes Lackey > [“He’d parted reluctantly from Amily, thinking again with envy of Lena and Bear. One thing that they hadn’t been forced to deal with during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/he-d-parted-reluctantly-from-amily-thinking-again-with-envy-of-lena/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [If they projected the fact that they are dangerous any harder, there would be little puddles of "danger" on the floor around them. Look,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/if-they-projected-the-fact-that-they-are-dangerous-any-harder-there/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Then he heard a wild, high-pitched cackling that made the hair stand up on the back of his neck. It wasn't sane, that laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/then-he-heard-a-wild-high-pitched-cackling-that-made-the-hair-stand/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Time doesn't. All that Time does is make it more distant, put more space between you and what happened. It doesn't heal anything. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/time-doesn-t-all-that-time-does-is-make-it-more-distant-put-more/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Fanatics can justify practically any atrocity to themselves. The more untenable their position becomes, the harder they hold to it, and the worse the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/fanatics-can-justify-practically-any-atrocity-to-themselves-the-more/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Other people can have all the children they want. Some people ask for no-smoking sections. I ask for no children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/other-people-can-have-all-the-children-they-want-some-people-ask-for/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [It isn't wise to be rude to one's mother. She knows everything about your childhood that is potentially embarassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/it-isn-t-wise-to-be-rude-to-one-s-mother-she-knows-everything-about/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Tradition spoke of an elegant half-arch being only a fallen pile of stones without its counterpart to make it whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/tradition-spoke-of-an-elegant-half-arch-being-only-a-fallen-pile-of/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“I'm not out to disturb anybody's faith. I happen to be happy and comfortable with a belief system that has a dual deity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/i-m-not-out-to-disturb-anybody-s-faith-i-happen-to-be-happy-and/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Thought it has certainly taken you long enough to realize what should have truly been precious to you. Not your own self-importance, nor how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/thought-it-has-certainly-taken-you-long-enough-to-realize-what-should/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Healer Myrim made no attempt to conceal the fact that Orthallen's treachery had not surprised her. Nor did she conceal that his demise gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/healer-myrim-made-no-attempt-to-conceal-the-fact-that-orthallen-s/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“It is the way in which the Dark returns, Harrier. I will explain, if you like." "Oh, no," Harrier said. "I'd much rather not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/it-is-the-way-in-which-the-dark-returns-harrier-i-will-explain-if-you/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [I think canceling a game that is making a profit, along with destroying jobs and an online community, is entirely unethical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/i-think-canceling-a-game-that-is-making-a-profit-along-with/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [Doctor MacKenzie says "Sometimes I think the Victorians had the right idea. When you lost a family member back then you were suppose to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/doctor-mackenzie-says-sometimes-i-think-the-victorians-had-the-right/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) > [“Priests confine broad truths into narrow doctrines, because more rules mean that they have more power. Priests mistake their own prejudice for conscience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/priests-confine-broad-truths-into-narrow-doctrines-because-more-rules/) [Mercedes Lackey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) [Explore all 165 Mercedes Lackey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/) ## More Assassin quotes > [Yes Rosalie, we all know how proficient of an assassin you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/yes-rosalie-we-all-know-how-proficient-of-an-assassin-you-are/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Nixon's own protection from the assassin's bullet... nattering nabobs of negativism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spiro-t-agnew/nixon-s-own-protection-from-the-assassin-s-bullet-nattering-nabobs-of/) [Spiro T. Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spiro-t-agnew/) > [“So much simpler, to kill for gold. It did not matter what anyone thought about that. The only rules he abided were those of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-t-mckinstry/so-much-simpler-to-kill-for-gold-it-did-not-matter-what-anyone/) [F.T. McKinstry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-t-mckinstry/) > [“He was kind—unnaturally kind, for someone of his upbringing. He had a heart, she realized, and a conscience. He was different from the others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/he-was-kind-unnaturally-kind-for-someone-of-his-upbringing-he-had-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She looked at me. “You’re an assassin, aren’t you? When there are rumors the government has someone on the payroll, they’re talking about you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/she-looked-at-me-you-re-an-assassin-aren-t-you-when-there-are-rumors/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“I don’t think you’re an adventure,” he muttered. “Oh? The castle offers so much excitement that the presence of Adarlan’s Assassin is nothing unusual?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-don-t-think-you-re-an-adventure-he-muttered-oh-the-castle-offers-so/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“can I help it if I’m a better assassin than I am a housewife?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/can-i-help-it-if-i-m-a-better-assassin-than-i-am-a-housewife/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [“What is the truth?’ he asked. ‘We place faith in ourselves,’ replied Altaïr (...) ‘We see the world as it really is, and hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-bowden/what-is-the-truth-he-asked-we-place-faith-in-ourselves-replied-alta-r/) [Oliver Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-bowden/) > [“Radiation is the ultimate assassin. Silent, invisible, tasteless, formless, odourless. It eviscerates the human body, devising sadistically imaginative forms of suffering. And it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darragh-mckeon/radiation-is-the-ultimate-assassin-silent-invisible-tasteless/) Darragh McKeon > [“Their lives were precarious and they knew it. They were trying their best to fit themselves into a country which would never quite accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-runciman/their-lives-were-precarious-and-they-knew-it-they-were-trying-their/) [Steven Runciman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-runciman/) > [“I don’t know who that idiot is, running around in that cloak like he thinks he’s an assassin, but where did he get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wight/i-don-t-know-who-that-idiot-is-running-around-in-that-cloak-like-he/) [Will Wight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-wight/) > [“What about them, you adorable man?” “I am not adorable. I am a trained assassin.” “Yes, you’re very, very scary,” she assured him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaelen-foley/what-about-them-you-adorable-man-i-am-not-adorable-i-am-a-trained/) [Gaelen Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaelen-foley/) > [“She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. I am Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s Assassin. If these men knew who I was, they’d stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-tried-to-swallow-but-her-mouth-was-dry-i-am-celaena-sardothien/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I’m out of health potions. Retreat! Retreat! Give me some of your health potions!” I screamed. “I don’t have any potions. Run, bitch, run,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/i-m-out-of-health-potions-retreat-retreat-give-me-some-of-your-health/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) [Browse all 224 Assassin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assassin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“an untutored lout with a sledgehammer could kill you just as dead as an assassin with a stiletto.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mercedes Lackey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-could-kill-you-just-as-dead-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assassin" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-could-kill-you-just-as-dead-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/mercedes-lackey-2374_assassin_an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-co_768511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/mercedes-lackey-2374_assassin_an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-co_768511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/471/mercedes-lackey-2374_assassin_an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-co_768511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“an untutored lout with a sledgehammer could kill you just as dead as an assassin with a stiletto.” — Mercedes Lackey", "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": "Mercedes Lackey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-lackey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“an untutored lout with a sledgehammer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-could-kill-you-just-as-dead-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-lackey/an-untutored-lout-with-a-sledgehammer-could-kill-you-just-as-dead-as/#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 } } ] } ```