--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They were either all unconscious, or they…" description: "\"“They were either all unconscious, or they were smart enough to lie down and play dead.”\" — Michael-Scott Earle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-scott-earle-40989_dead_they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they_132250.jpg" --- # They were either all unconscious, or they were smart… ![“They were either all unconscious, or they were smart enough to lie down and play dead.” quote by Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-scott-earle-40989_dead_they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they_132250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-scott-earle-40989_dead_they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they_132250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-scott-earle-40989_dead_they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they_132250.jpg) > ““They were either all unconscious, or they were smart enough to lie down and play dead.”” [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People may feign helplessness or pretend to be dead to avoid conflict or responsibility. **In simple terms:** Feigning helplessness can be a defensive tactic. Key Takeaway Recognize when others are avoiding truth. Themes deception defense social dynamics Mood cautious analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - workplace conflict - personal relationships - negotiations Key Concepts psychology survival instinct Questions to Reflect On - Why might someone choose to appear powerless? - How does this affect trust? A Different Perspective It may be a coping mechanism, not just manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I lie around and play guitar, that's something I do for sure. 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Play dead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/mes-enfants-you-mustn-t-go-at-things-head-on-you-are-too-weak-take-it/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I don't consider myself a feminist, but boy, I won't lay down and play dead, ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomi-lahren/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-feminist-but-boy-i-won-t-lay-down-and-play/) [Tomi Lahren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomi-lahren/) > [History is a pack of lies we play on the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-a-pack-of-lies-we-play-on-the-dead/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [“Play dead often and long enough and people begin to think you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-tashjian/play-dead-often-and-long-enough-and-people-begin-to-think-you-are/) Janet Tashjian > [Even to play a dead body; that'd be an easy gig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-thayer/even-to-play-a-dead-body-that-d-be-an-easy-gig/) [Maria Thayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-thayer/) > [“When you're out of options, the best option is to do nothing. Play dead. The possum option.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/when-you-re-out-of-options-the-best-option-is-to-do-nothing-play-dead/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [History is nothing but a pack of tricks that we play upon the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-nothing-but-a-pack-of-tricks-that-we-play-upon-the-dead/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Oh, you wanna do a little bit of roleplay? Could you just play dead?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-whitehall/oh-you-wanna-do-a-little-bit-of-roleplay-could-you-just-play-dead/) [Jack Whitehall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-whitehall/) > [No man is boss in his own home, but he can make up for it, he thinks, by making a dog play dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/no-man-is-boss-in-his-own-home-but-he-can-make-up-for-it-he-thinks-by/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [I can put on my resume: 'Can play dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verica/i-can-put-on-my-resume-can-play-dead/) [Tom Verica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verica/) > [No man is the boss of his own house, but he can make up for it, he thinks, by making a dog play dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/no-man-is-the-boss-of-his-own-house-but-he-can-make-up-for-it-he/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [What do you think you should do if you're attacked by a bear? Play dead? No - that's a lie promoted by the bears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/what-do-you-think-you-should-do-if-you-re-attacked-by-a-bear-play/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [“If you want to be forgotten... Play Dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mkn/if-you-want-to-be-forgotten-play-dead/) Peter MKN ## More by Michael-Scott Earle > [“Wearing armor was always better than being naked”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/wearing-armor-was-always-better-than-being-naked/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“I don't want to grow old wondering about the hero I might have been. I don't want to live life as a spectator during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/i-don-t-want-to-grow-old-wondering-about-the-hero-i-might-have-been-i/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“Rifles coughed bullets, shotguns barked slugs, and pulse rifles screamed, but nothing managed to hit me as I spun around the room and searched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/rifles-coughed-bullets-shotguns-barked-slugs-and-pulse-rifles/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“Memories were there to guide me, but not to rule me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/memories-were-there-to-guide-me-but-not-to-rule-me/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“Get it in Australi”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/get-it-in-australi/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“. I wanted to be free, even if that meant that I died like a starving wolf instead of a well-fed dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/i-wanted-to-be-free-even-if-that-meant-that-i-died-like-a-starving/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“There was a stained glass window in the room with the image of a woman holding a spear. It was a beautiful piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/there-was-a-stained-glass-window-in-the-room-with-the-image-of-a/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“It only took those two shots for me to fall in love with the weapon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/it-only-took-those-two-shots-for-me-to-fall-in-love-with-the-weapon/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) > [“I know,” I replied. “I know you know. I’m saying it again because I want you to know that I know that you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/i-know-i-replied-i-know-you-know-i-m-saying-it-again-because-i-want/) [Michael-Scott Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) [Explore all 10 Michael-Scott Earle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) Browse all 3,376 Dead quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They were either all unconscious, or they were smart enough to lie down and play dead.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael-Scott Earle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they-were-smart-enough-to-lie/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they-were-smart-enough-to-lie/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-scott-earle-40989_dead_they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they_132250.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-scott-earle-40989_dead_they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they_132250.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a0/michael-scott-earle-40989_dead_they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they_132250.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They were either all unconscious, or they were smart enough to lie down and play dead.” — Michael-Scott Earle", "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": "Michael-Scott Earle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-earle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“They were either all unconscious, or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they-were-smart-enough-to-lie/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-earle/they-were-either-all-unconscious-or-they-were-smart-enough-to-lie/#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 } } ] } ```