--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John,be reasonable,\" Virginia said. \"I've…" description: "\"“John,be reasonable,\" Virginia said. \"I've known Billy a very long time, and we have had some great adventures together. He's as close as I have to a f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/michael-scott-1216_adventure_john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-kn_2297853.png" --- # John,be reasonable," Virginia said. "I've known Billy a… ![“John,be reasonable," Virginia said. "I've known Billy a very long time, and we have had some great adventures together. He's as close as I have to a friend.When he dies, which he will,sooner or later,because he can be so stupid," she added, glaring at the American immortal, "it should be with a…” quote by Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/michael-scott-1216_adventure_john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-kn_2297853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/michael-scott-1216_adventure_john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-kn_2297853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/michael-scott-1216_adventure_john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-kn_2297853.png) > ““John,be reasonable," Virginia said. "I've known Billy a very long time, and we have had some great adventures together. He's as close as I have to a friend.When he dies, which he will,sooner or later,because he can be so stupid," she added, glaring at the American immortal, "it should be with a degree of dignity,rather than being fed to this...this thing ." "Thanks," Billy wheezed. "You're welcome.And you owe me." "I'll remember." Virginia turned back to Dee. "I'll make a deal." "For what?" he demanded. "For Billy's life," she said evenly. "Do you forget who you're dealing with?" Dee snarled. "Do you ?" she asked softly.”” [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character bargains for a life, highlighting the tension between desperation and moral compromise. **In simple terms:** A deal is made to save a life, showing moral complexity. Key Takeaway Consider the cost of bargains. Themes friendship mortality ethics Mood tense dramatic Type dialogue drama When to use this quote - life-saving negotiations - ethical dilemmas - personal sacrifice Key Concepts bargaining dignity power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What are the long‑term consequences of such deals? - Is dignity more important than survival? A Different Perspective The deal may exploit vulnerability and create future obligations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Deal Demanded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal-demanded-5423645/) [Dee Snarled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dee-snarled-5423643/) [Demanded Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demanded-billy-5423642/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Reasonable Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reasonable-virginia-5423644/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) [Virginia Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginia-said-5029464/) ## Related quotes > [“Just as he did during the Slavery at Monticello tour, David did not mince words. "There’s a chapter in Notes on the State of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-smith/just-as-he-did-during-the-slavery-at-monticello-tour-david-did-not/) [Clint Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-smith/) > [We will defend ourselves, and we have full rights to do so. If the authorities try to destroy us, we have the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-udaltsov/we-will-defend-ourselves-and-we-have-full-rights-to-do-so-if-the/) [Sergei Udaltsov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-udaltsov/) > [You put together two people who have not been put together before. Sometimes it is like that first attempt to harness a hydrogen balloon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-people-who-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Sooner or later they are going to live in a New York City where gay marriage is not only legal, but it's common and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-weiner/sooner-or-later-they-are-going-to-live-in-a-new-york-city-where-gay/) [Anthony Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-weiner/) > [Once upon a time we were just plain people. But that was before we began having relationships with mechanical systems. Get involved with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/once-upon-a-time-we-were-just-plain-people-but-that-was-before-we/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [“What you don't ever catch a glimpse of on your wedding day - because how could you? - is that some days you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/what-you-don-t-ever-catch-a-glimpse-of-on-your-wedding-day-because/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Never tear your woman down or never let her cry because sooner or later she'll be saying goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-tear-your-woman-down-or-never-let-her-cry-because-sooner-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The instinct to survive is human nature itself, and every aspect of our personalities derives from it. Anything that conflicts with the survival instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-instinct-to-survive-is-human-nature-itself-and-every-aspect-of/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Sooner or later, however, we must realise there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive once and for all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hastings/sooner-or-later-however-we-must-realise-there-is-no-station-in-this/) [Robert Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hastings/) > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [“It hardly needs to be said: sooner or later secrets have a way of making themselves known.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/it-hardly-needs-to-be-said-sooner-or-later-secrets-have-a-way-of/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [As much as I want to stay on the team -- I love Chicago, I love the Bulls -- at the same time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/as-much-as-i-want-to-stay-on-the-team-i-love-chicago-i-love-the-bulls/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [The universe is simmering down, like a giant stew left to cook for four billion years. Sooner or later we won’t be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/the-universe-is-simmering-down-like-a-giant-stew-left-to-cook-for/) [Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/) > [Unchecked, the new tolerance will sooner or later put many people in chains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/unchecked-the-new-tolerance-will-sooner-or-later-put-many-people-in/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) ## More by Michael Scott > [Which would you be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/which-would-you-be/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [“Here it comes," Niten said. The whites of his eyes,his teeth and his tongue had turned blue. "Ready," Prometheus said. Nicholas Flamel touched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/here-it-comes-niten-said-the-whites-of-his-eyes-his-teeth-and-his/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [I love inside jokes. I hope to be a part of one some day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/i-love-inside-jokes-i-hope-to-be-a-part-of-one-some-day/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [Some writing courses will advise you to write what you know. I've always thought this is very odd advice ... because it means, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/some-writing-courses-will-advise-you-to-write-what-you-know-i-ve/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [“- John is a dangerous fanatic. - And you are not ? - asked Dagon. - I'm just dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/john-is-a-dangerous-fanatic-and-you-are-not-asked-dagon-i-m-just/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [Our covering ministry is Challenge for Christ ministries, and Travel the Road was solely our mission arm, designed to expose people to what missions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/our-covering-ministry-is-challenge-for-christ-ministries-and-travel/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [The problem with contemporary art is that no one bothers to do the research necessary to give people what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/the-problem-with-contemporary-art-is-that-no-one-bothers-to-do-the/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [I have always been interested in mythology and history. The more I read, the more I realized that there have always been people at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/i-have-always-been-interested-in-mythology-and-history-the-more-i/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [“The line between confidence and arrogance is very fine, and the line between arrogance and stupidity even finer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/the-line-between-confidence-and-arrogance-is-very-fine-and-the-line/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [Here, you can walk into a bookstore and pick up a Bible or Christian literature and learn. Over there, they are lucky if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/here-you-can-walk-into-a-bookstore-and-pick-up-a-bible-or-christian/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [“The small Japanese immortal sat cross-legged, his two swords resting flat on the ground before him. He folded his hands in his lap, closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/the-small-japanese-immortal-sat-cross-legged-his-two-swords-resting/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [TMI? Too Much Information. It”s just easier to say 'TMI'. I used to say 'don't go there', but that's lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/tmi-too-much-information-it-s-just-easier-to-say-tmi-i-used-to-say/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [“It was some time ago—in the twelfth century, as you humani measure time—a man from the land of the Scots. I do not remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/it-was-some-time-ago-in-the-twelfth-century-as-you-humani-measure/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [“If you tell people everything you take away their opportunity to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/if-you-tell-people-everything-you-take-away-their-opportunity-to-learn/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [it is only when no one remembers that you are truly lost. That is the true death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/it-is-only-when-no-one-remembers-that-you-are-truly-lost-that-is-the/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) [Explore all 267 Michael Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) ## More Adventure quotes > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I painted the words "GREAT ADVENTURE" in Beijing, Dallas, San Francisco, Copenhagen, and Japan. What it means to me is completely different to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-eine/i-painted-the-words-great-adventure-in-beijing-dallas-san-francisco/) [Ben Eine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-eine/) > [I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-replicate-what-the-body-s-going/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/) [Jessica Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yu/) > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) [Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [“Love can give you such happiness, then can break the very heart it filled, leaving a hole that can never be fixed or protected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mcleod/love-can-give-you-such-happiness-then-can-break-the-very-heart-it/) [Kevin McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mcleod/) > [“It always gave Wolf a peculiar thrill thus to tighten his grip upon his stick, thus to wrap himself more closely in his faded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/it-always-gave-wolf-a-peculiar-thrill-thus-to-tighten-his-grip-upon/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) > [“It all had to be squeezed and squeezed again, to provide a thrill, to provide enjoyment. What did people mean, with their simply determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence-2/it-all-had-to-be-squeezed-and-squeezed-again-to-provide-a-thrill-to/) [D.H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence-2/) > [I am not an adventurous person but I am gutsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-vaidya/i-am-not-an-adventurous-person-but-i-am-gutsy/) [Rahul Vaidya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-vaidya/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) [Browse all 7,690 Adventure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“John,be reasonable,\" Virginia said. \"I've known Billy a very long time, and we have had some great adventures together. He's as close as I have to a friend.When he dies, which he will,sooner or later,because he can be so stupid,\" she added, glaring at the American immortal, \"it should be with a degree of dignity,rather than being fed to this...this thing .\" \"Thanks,\" Billy wheezed. \"You're welcome.And you owe me.\" \"I'll remember.\" Virginia turned back to Dee. \"I'll make a deal.\" \"For what?\" he demanded. \"For Billy's life,\" she said evenly. \"Do you forget who you're dealing with?\" Dee snarled. \"Do you ?\" she asked softly.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Scott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-known-billy-a-very-long-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adventure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-known-billy-a-very-long-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/michael-scott-1216_adventure_john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-kn_2297853.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/michael-scott-1216_adventure_john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-kn_2297853.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e5f/michael-scott-1216_adventure_john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-kn_2297853.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“John,be reasonable,\" Virginia said. \"I've known Billy a very long time, and we have had some great…” — Michael Scott", "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", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“John,be reasonable,\" Virginia said. \"I've known...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-known-billy-a-very-long-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/john-be-reasonable-virginia-said-i-ve-known-billy-a-very-long-time/#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 } } ] } ```