---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virginia,\" Billy said urgently. \"Don't do…"
description: "\"Virginia,\" Billy said urgently. \"Don't do this.\" \"Shut up,Billy.\" \"Think of the people in San Francisco.\" \"I don't know any of the people in San Franci..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/michael-scott-1216_bars_virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-th_2409202.jpg"
---

#  Virginia," Billy said urgently. "Don't do this." "Shut…

![“Virginia,&quot; Billy said urgently. &quot;Don't do this.&quot; &quot;Shut up,Billy.&quot; &quot;Think of the people in San Francisco.&quot; &quot;I don't know any of the people in San Francisco,&quot; Virginia answered, then paused. &quot;Well,actually I do,and I don't like them. But I do like you,Billy, and I'm not going to allow you to end up…” quote by Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/michael-scott-1216_bars_virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-th_2409202.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/michael-scott-1216_bars_virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-th_2409202.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/michael-scott-1216_bars_virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-th_2409202.jpg)

> “Virginia," Billy said urgently. "Don't do this." "Shut up,Billy." "Think of the people in San Francisco." "I don't know any of the people in San Francisco," Virginia answered, then paused. "Well,actually I do,and I don't like them. But I do like you,Billy, and I'm not going to allow you to end up as lunch for some raggedy lion-monster-thingy." "A sphinx," Machiavelli corrected her. He was standing at the bars again. "Mistress Dare," the Italian said carefully. "I absolutely applaud you for what you want to do for your friend. But I urge you to think of the bigger picture.”

[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 warns a friend against a dangerous plan, urging broader perspective and responsibility.

**In simple terms:** Warn against reckless actions and consider larger impact.

Key Takeaway

Think before acting, consider consequences.

Themes

responsibility friendship danger perspective

Mood

tense urgent concerned

Type

dialogue dramatic advice

When to use this quote

- personal conflict
- life‑or‑death decision
- interpersonal persuasion

Key Concepts

ethical decision-making risk assessment altruism

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you do if a friend threatened self‑harm?
- How can you balance personal loyalty with broader safety?

A Different Perspective

The warning may be ignored if emotions dominate.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bigger picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger-picture/) [Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italian/) [Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lions/) [Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machiavelli/) [Mistress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistress/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [San francisco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/san-francisco/) [Sphinx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sphinx/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virginia/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/)

## Related quotes

> [“My tone must have seemed hostile, even though I wasn’t angry or offended; there was just a touch of sarcasm. He tried to respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/my-tone-must-have-seemed-hostile-even-though-i-wasn-t-angry-or/)

[Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/)

> [“He tugged my zipper down like he was unveiling a gift, spreading my pants open. “Yeah. There it is. You have a nice fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-b-gregg/he-tugged-my-zipper-down-like-he-was-unveiling-a-gift-spreading-my/)

L.B. Gregg

> [Have you any idea how to wake a hibernating Elder?” Machiavelli shook his head. “Mars, what about you? Any advice?” “Yes. Don’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/have-you-any-idea-how-to-wake-a-hibernating-elder-machiavelli-shook/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“BILLY: Did you ever watch Star Trek? MACHIAVELLI: Do I look like I watch Star Trek? BILLY: It's hard to tell who's a Trekkie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/billy-did-you-ever-watch-star-trek-machiavelli-do-i-look-like-i-watch/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“Don’t be creative. Don’t be stupid.” “That’s what Machiavelli said. You guys really have a lot of faith in me, don’t you?” “Neither one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/don-t-be-creative-don-t-be-stupid-that-s-what-machiavelli-said-you/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“Do I look like I watch Star Trek? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/do-i-look-like-i-watch-star-trek/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“Was this how you were going to awaken the creatures?" Machiavelli,clutching the bars of his cell,smiled but said nothing. Virginia stood in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/was-this-how-you-were-going-to-awaken-the-creatures-machiavelli/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“Who was it who said, 'The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present'?" The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/who-was-it-who-said-the-promise-given-was-a-necessity-of-the-past-the/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“I need something dramatic.I thought we would start with something theatrical, something that will make an impact on the city,something to focus their attention."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/i-need-something-dramatic-i-thought-we-would-start-with-something/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“The promise given was necessity of the past: the word borken is a necessity of the present" -Niccolo Machiavelli”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/the-promise-given-was-necessity-of-the-past-the-word-borken-is-a/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [“Niccolo Machiavelli folded his arms across his chest and looked at the alchemyst. “I always knew we would meet again,” he said in French.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/niccolo-machiavelli-folded-his-arms-across-his-chest-and-looked-at/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [Sometimes I think I am going mad. I live for days in the mystery and tears of things so that the commonest object, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-n-p-barbellion/sometimes-i-think-i-am-going-mad-i-live-for-days-in-the-mystery-and/)

[W.N.P. Barbellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-n-p-barbellion/)

> [For I am I: ergo, the truth of myself; my own sphinx, conflict, chaos, vortex—asymmetric to all rhythms, oblique to all paths. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare/for-i-am-i-ergo-the-truth-of-myself-my-own-sphinx-conflict-chaos/)

[Austin Osman Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare/)

> [I never saw a pyramid, but I've seen photographs; I know what a pyramid or a sphinx looks like. There are pictures that do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/i-never-saw-a-pyramid-but-i-ve-seen-photographs-i-know-what-a-pyramid/)

[Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/)

> [It's like the riddle of the Sphinx... why are there so many great unmarried women, and no great unmarried men?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/it-s-like-the-riddle-of-the-sphinx-why-are-there-so-many-great/)

[Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/)

## 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 Bars quotes

> [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/)

[Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/)

> [The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/the-dark-ages-still-reign-over-all-humanity-and-the-depth-and/)

[R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/)

> [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/)

[Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/)

> [Your thief looks Exactly like the rest, or rather better; 'Tis only at the bar, and in the dungeon, That wise men know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/your-thief-looks-exactly-like-the-rest-or-rather-better-tis-only-at/)

[Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/)

> [While traveling, I love granola bars, trail mix nuts, dry cereal and fruit for on-the-go snacks. I also try and start the day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christie-rampone/while-traveling-i-love-granola-bars-trail-mix-nuts-dry-cereal-and/)

[Christie Rampone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christie-rampone/)

> [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader &amp; an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/)

[Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/)

> [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/)

[W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/)

> [Meanwhile after failing the bar twice, I knew some people in New York and moved here in August '71.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-quine/meanwhile-after-failing-the-bar-twice-i-knew-some-people-in-new-york/)

[Robert Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-quine/)

> [If you look at coffee, tea, food and juice, we think there are inherent opportunities. If you look at health bars or grab-and-go products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-you-look-at-coffee-tea-food-and-juice-we-think-there-are-inherent/)

[Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/)

> [At about 10 o'clock in the morning the sun threw a bright dust-laden bar through one of the side windows and in and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/at-about-10-o-clock-in-the-morning-the-sun-threw-a-bright-dust-laden/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [I bet a guy at a bar 50 bucks that I was more dysfunctional than he was. He raped me. So I tipped him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-a-guy-at-a-bar-50-bucks-that-i-was-more-dysfunctional-than-he/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I closed my own jazz bar so I could be a man who can write novels as I like. I was pleased about that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-closed-my-own-jazz-bar-so-i-could-be-a-man-who-can-write-novels-as/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [My parents were Orthodox Jews but not very regular Orthodox Jews. I was bar mitzvahed and all that. But God was hardly ever mentioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-parents-were-orthodox-jews-but-not-very-regular-orthodox-jews-i/)

[Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/)

> [I know a lot about Canadian politics. I lived in Canadian bars for six years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/i-know-a-lot-about-canadian-politics-i-lived-in-canadian-bars-for-six/)

[Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/)

> [History is the heavy traffic that prevents us from crossing the road. We're not especially interested in what it consists of. We wait, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mal-peet/history-is-the-heavy-traffic-that-prevents-us-from-crossing-the-road/)

[Mal Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mal-peet/)

Browse all 1,768 Bars quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Virginia,\" Billy said urgently. \"Don't do this.\" \"Shut up,Billy.\" \"Think of the people in San Francisco.\" \"I don't know any of the people in San Francisco,\" Virginia answered, then paused. \"Well,actually I do,and I don't like them. But I do like you,Billy, and I'm not going to allow you to end up as lunch for some raggedy lion-monster-thingy.\" \"A sphinx,\" Machiavelli corrected her. He was standing at the bars again. \"Mistress Dare,\" the Italian said carefully. \"I absolutely applaud you for what you want to do for your friend. But I urge you to think of the bigger picture.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Scott"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-this-shut-up-billy-think-of-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bars"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-this-shut-up-billy-think-of-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/michael-scott-1216_bars_virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-th_2409202.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/michael-scott-1216_bars_virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-th_2409202.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c4/michael-scott-1216_bars_virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-th_2409202.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Virginia,\" Billy said urgently. \"Don't do this.\" \"Shut up,Billy.\" \"Think of the people in San Francisco.\" \"I…” — 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": "Virginia,\" Billy said urgently. \"Don't do...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-this-shut-up-billy-think-of-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/virginia-billy-said-urgently-don-t-do-this-shut-up-billy-think-of-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
