--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not fooling around, not bothering nobody…" description: "\"Not fooling around, not bothering nobody, just sitting here mending the Primus,\" said the cat with a hostile frown, \"and, moreover, I consider it my du..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_ancient_not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody_2671351.jpg" --- # Not fooling around, not bothering nobody, just sitting… ![“Not fooling around, not bothering nobody, just sitting here mending the Primus," said the cat with a hostile frown, "and, moreover, I consider it my duty to warn you that the cat is an ancient, inviolable animal.” quote by Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_ancient_not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody_2671351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_ancient_not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody_2671351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_ancient_not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody_2671351.jpg) > “Not fooling around, not bothering nobody, just sitting here mending the Primus," said the cat with a hostile frown, "and, moreover, I consider it my duty to warn you that the cat is an ancient, inviolable animal.” [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The cat declares its ancient duty to warn, highlighting the absurdity of assigning moral authority to mythic creatures. **In simple terms:** Even fantastical beings claim moral duties, revealing absurdity. Key Takeaway Question the seriousness of self‑appointed moral guardians. Themes absurdity authority mythology Mood satirical philosophical Type literary humorous When to use this quote - reading groups - creative writing workshops - philosophical debates - role‑playing games Key Concepts moral philosophy literary satire Questions to Reflect On - What does assigning moral duty to a cat symbolize? - How does satire expose power structures? A Different Perspective Some may view the cat’s warning as sincere rather than satirical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Bother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bother/) [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cat Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-ancient-2504994/) [Cat Hostile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat-hostile-2504990/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Fooling around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fooling-around/) [Hostile Frown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostile-frown-2504996/) [Mending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mending/) [Mending Primus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mending-primus-2504998/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Warn Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warn-cat-2504992/) ## Related quotes > [But there is a different between mending someone who's broken and finding someone who makes you complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/but-there-is-a-different-between-mending-someone-who-s-broken-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Happy are those who hear their detractions and can put them to mending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happy-are-those-who-hear-their-detractions-and-can-put-them-to-mending/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Passing time does nothing to heal our brokenness. It’s the work we put into our mending that makes us well. We”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-pisel/passing-time-does-nothing-to-heal-our-brokenness-it-s-the-work-we-put/) [Angela Pisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-pisel/) > [“If I can't have you for the rest of my life, I will be alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-mcgee/if-i-can-t-have-you-for-the-rest-of-my-life-i-will-be-alone/) [J.B. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-mcgee/) > [The Court's decision reflects the philosophy that judges should endure whatever interpretive distortions it takes in order to correct a supposed flaw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-s-decision-reflects-the-philosophy-that-judges-should/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [“You look…” he shook his head looking her up and down, “You look delicious. If I don’t get you out of here, I’m going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-mcgee/you-look-he-shook-his-head-looking-her-up-and-down-you-look-delicious/) [J.B. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-mcgee/) > [“Never sever ties with a family member you once loved. Each of you might be on different spiritual paths, but both trails are leading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/never-sever-ties-with-a-family-member-you-once-loved-each-of-you/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [Happy are they that hear their detractions, and can put them to mending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/happy-are-they-that-hear-their-detractions-and-can-put-them-to-mending/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [For God to mend your broken heart you must give him ALL the pieces. You can't hold any back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/for-god-to-mend-your-broken-heart-you-must-give-him-all-the-pieces/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I felt shame - I see this clearly, now - at the instinctive recognition in myself of an awful enfeebling fatalism, a sense that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-o-neill/i-felt-shame-i-see-this-clearly-now-at-the-instinctive-recognition-in/) [Joseph O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-o-neill/) > [“Smile. Smile until all that's left are the pieces of your broken heart that are slowly fixing itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ammiel-josiah-osia-monterde/smile-smile-until-all-that-s-left-are-the-pieces-of-your-broken-heart/) [Ammiel Josiah Osia Monterde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ammiel-josiah-osia-monterde/) > [“All I have is broken. Broken mends best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-k-sorrells/all-i-have-is-broken-broken-mends-best/) [Amy K. Sorrells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-k-sorrells/) > [“And, I just can't shake this feeling I have when I'm around him. The chemistry, The electricity I feel when he's close to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-mcgee/and-i-just-can-t-shake-this-feeling-i-have-when-i-m-around-him-the/) [J.B. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-mcgee/) > [“Being stitched was evidence of a mending, an overcoming of pain. Our scars were proof that we were strong enough to keep living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-monk/being-stitched-was-evidence-of-a-mending-an-overcoming-of-pain-our/) [Devon Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-monk/) > [“I’m so sorry,” Gabby whispered. “Don’t be, baby. This was way better than what I had planned anyway.” He moved a stray curl back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-mcgee/i-m-so-sorry-gabby-whispered-don-t-be-baby-this-was-way-better-than/) [J.B. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-mcgee/) ## More by Mikhail Bulgakov > [“The Procurator did not squint because the sun dazzled him. No! For some reason, he did not want to see the group of condemned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-procurator-did-not-squint-because-the-sun-dazzled-him-no-for-some/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“…i głośno, radośnie oznajmił: - Utną panu głowę!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/i-g-o-no-rado-nie-oznajmi-utn-panu-g-ow/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [If it is true that cowardice is the most grave vice, then the dog, at least, is not guilty of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/if-it-is-true-that-cowardice-is-the-most-grave-vice-then-the-dog-at/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“-No, to rzeczywiście nie są pieniądze – lekceważąco powiedział do swego gościa Woland – chociaż szczerze mówiąc, nawet tyle nie jest panu potrzebne. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/no-to-rzeczywi-cie-nie-s-pieni-dze-lekcewa-co-powiedzia-do-swego-go/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [The tongue can conceal the truth, but the eyes never! You're asked an unexpected question, you don't even flinch, it takes just a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-tongue-can-conceal-the-truth-but-the-eyes-never-you-re-asked-an/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [This twenty-year-old boy was distinguished from childhood by strange qualities, a dreamer and an eccentric. A girl fell in love with him, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/this-twenty-year-old-boy-was-distinguished-from-childhood-by-strange/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“You should never ask anyone for anything. Never—and especially from those who are more powerful than yourself. They will make the offer and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/you-should-never-ask-anyone-for-anything-never-and-especially-from/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [Cowardice is the greatest sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/cowardice-is-the-greatest-sin/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Too bad!' the feisty poet responded. 'Yes, too bad!' the stranger agreed, his eye flashing, and went on: 'But here is a question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/too-bad-the-feisty-poet-responded-yes-too-bad-the-stranger-agreed-his/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Don't be afraid, your majesty... Don't be afraid, your majesty, the blood has long since drained away into the earth and grapes have grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/don-t-be-afraid-your-majesty-don-t-be-afraid-your-majesty-the-blood/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“But this is what disturbs me: if there is no God, then, the question is, who is in control of man's life and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/but-this-is-what-disturbs-me-if-there-is-no-god-then-the-question-is/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“If you’ve been exiled, why don’t you send me word of yourself? People do send word. Have you stopped loving me? No, for some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/if-you-ve-been-exiled-why-don-t-you-send-me-word-of-yourself-people/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Tu nieznajomy uprzejmie zdjął beret i pisarzom nie pozostawało nic innego, jak wstać i ukłonić się.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/tu-nieznajomy-uprzejmie-zdj-beret-i-pisarzom-nie-pozostawa-o-nic/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“Thou art a black God! I curse Thee, God of thieves, their soul and protector! (191)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/thou-art-a-black-god-i-curse-thee-god-of-thieves-their-soul-and/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [“-No, więc ja wysłałem depeszę. I co dalej? Popławskiemu zawirowało w głowie, stracił władzę w rękach i nogach, wypuścił z ręki walizkę i opadł…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/no-wi-c-ja-wys-a-em-depesz-i-co-dalej-pop-awskiemu-zawirowa-o-w-g/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) [Explore all 186 Mikhail Bulgakov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-p-jones/) > [All the stories I have told you are finally as useless as all ancient knowledge is to man and to us. Its images and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/all-the-stories-i-have-told-you-are-finally-as-useless-as-all-ancient/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [So what if I'm ninety-three? So what if I'm ancient and cranky and my body's a wreck? If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not fooling around, not bothering nobody, just sitting here mending the Primus,\" said the cat with a hostile frown, \"and, moreover, I consider it my duty to warn you that the cat is an ancient, inviolable animal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mikhail Bulgakov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody-just-sitting-here-mending-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody-just-sitting-here-mending-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_ancient_not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody_2671351.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_ancient_not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody_2671351.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/mikhail-bulgakov-1389_ancient_not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody_2671351.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not fooling around, not bothering nobody, just sitting here mending the Primus,\" said the cat with a hostile…” — Mikhail Bulgakov", "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": "Mikhail Bulgakov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Not fooling around, not bothering nobody,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody-just-sitting-here-mending-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/not-fooling-around-not-bothering-nobody-just-sitting-here-mending-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 } } ] } ```