--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's…" description: "\"“When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby.”\" — Nigerian Proverb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/nigerian-proverb-68652_bravado_when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s_2369275.jpg" --- # When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby. ![“When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby.” quote by Nigerian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/nigerian-proverb-68652_bravado_when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s_2369275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/nigerian-proverb-68652_bravado_when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s_2369275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/nigerian-proverb-68652_bravado_when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s_2369275.jpg) > ““When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby.”” Nigerian Proverb ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A small sign of danger or mischief often appears when a weaker party mocks a stronger one, implying hidden threats nearby. **In simple terms:** Mockery can hide danger. Key Takeaway Stay alert to hidden risks. Themes caution power dynamics warning Mood wary reflective Type proverb cautionary When to use this quote - negotiations - conflict - humor - social interactions Key Concepts social hierarchy risk perception Questions to Reflect On - What hidden threats might you be overlooking? - How does humor reveal power imbalances? A Different Perspective Mockery may be harmless teasing, not always a sign of danger. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bravado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravado/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) ## Related quotes > [When a mouse laughs at cat, there is a hole nearby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sreenadh/when-a-mouse-laughs-at-cat-there-is-a-hole-nearby/) [Sreenadh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sreenadh/) > [Hole (noun) : When a mouse laughs at a cat, there is a hole nearby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/hole-noun-when-a-mouse-laughs-at-a-cat-there-is-a-hole-nearby/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [I have to spring a cat out of Rumelt Animal Shelter. Think of it as a prison break." It does the trick. He laughs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-have-to-spring-a-cat-out-of-rumelt-animal-shelter-think-of-it-as-a/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Good economic policy requires not so much the bravado to implement drastic change as the strength and wisdom to make reasonable trade-offs over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blair-henry/good-economic-policy-requires-not-so-much-the-bravado-to-implement/) [Peter Blair Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blair-henry/) > [ I wrote \[Valley of Violence\] entirely with James Ransone in mind. I get such a joy out of watching his performance and seeing people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/i-wrote-valley-of-violence-entirely-with-james-ransone-in-mind-i-get/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [“Who would condescend to strike down the mere things he does not fear? Who would debase himself to be merely brave, like any common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/who-would-condescend-to-strike-down-the-mere-things-he-does-not-fear/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people's fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-final-key-to-the-way-i-promote-is-bravado-i-play-to-people-s/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Cats don't bark and act brave when they see something small in fur or feathers, they kill it. Dogs tend to bravado. They're braggarts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-gorman/cats-don-t-bark-and-act-brave-when-they-see-something-small-in-fur-or/) [James P. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-gorman/) > [The male, for all his bravado and exploration, is the loyal one, the one who generally feels love. The female is skilled at betrayal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-male-for-all-his-bravado-and-exploration-is-the-loyal-one-the-one/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [As I came down the Highgate Hill, The Highgate Hill, the Highgate Hill, As I came down the Highgate Hill I met the sun's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-howarth-bashford/as-i-came-down-the-highgate-hill-the-highgate-hill-the-highgate-hill/) Henry Howarth Bashford > [I think masculinity is bravado against the mystery of the universe of women. It's just a fear of not knowing what women have that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/i-think-masculinity-is-bravado-against-the-mystery-of-the-universe-of/) [K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/) > [But whereas a puppy will cringe away or roll on its back, groveling, a little boy may cover his shyness with nonchalance, with bravado,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or-roll-on-its-back-groveling-a/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“He'd gotten this far on bravado and the time honored tradition of ignoring any inconvenient nagging thoughts, but it wasn't working so well now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-langlois/he-d-gotten-this-far-on-bravado-and-the-time-honored-tradition-of/) Michael Langlois > [Our mission is to report these horrors of war with accuracy and without prejudice. We always have to ask ourselves whether the level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-colvin/our-mission-is-to-report-these-horrors-of-war-with-accuracy-and/) [Marie Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-colvin/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## More by Nigerian Proverb > [A woman is like a horse: He who can drive her is her master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigerian-proverb/a-woman-is-like-a-horse-he-who-can-drive-her-is-her-master/) Nigerian Proverb > [If I wake up in the morning and suddenly a chicken starts chasing me,I will run because I don't know if it has grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigerian-proverb/if-i-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-suddenly-a-chicken-starts-chasing-me/) Nigerian Proverb > [Love is like seaweed; even if you have pushed it away, you will not prevent it from coming back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigerian-proverb/love-is-like-seaweed-even-if-you-have-pushed-it-away-you-will-not/) Nigerian Proverb Explore all 4 Nigerian Proverb quotes ## More Bravado quotes > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [ I wrote \[Valley of Violence\] entirely with James Ransone in mind. I get such a joy out of watching his performance and seeing people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/i-wrote-valley-of-violence-entirely-with-james-ransone-in-mind-i-get/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [I think masculinity is bravado against the mystery of the universe of women. It's just a fear of not knowing what women have that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/i-think-masculinity-is-bravado-against-the-mystery-of-the-universe-of/) [K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/) > [Good economic policy requires not so much the bravado to implement drastic change as the strength and wisdom to make reasonable trade-offs over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-blair-henry/good-economic-policy-requires-not-so-much-the-bravado-to-implement/) [Peter Blair Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-blair-henry/) > [Our mission is to report these horrors of war with accuracy and without prejudice. We always have to ask ourselves whether the level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-colvin/our-mission-is-to-report-these-horrors-of-war-with-accuracy-and/) [Marie Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-colvin/) > [“He'd gotten this far on bravado and the time honored tradition of ignoring any inconvenient nagging thoughts, but it wasn't working so well now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-langlois/he-d-gotten-this-far-on-bravado-and-the-time-honored-tradition-of/) Michael Langlois > [But whereas a puppy will cringe away or roll on its back, groveling, a little boy may cover his shyness with nonchalance, with bravado,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/but-whereas-a-puppy-will-cringe-away-or-roll-on-its-back-groveling-a/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [As I came down the Highgate Hill, The Highgate Hill, the Highgate Hill, As I came down the Highgate Hill I met the sun's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-howarth-bashford/as-i-came-down-the-highgate-hill-the-highgate-hill-the-highgate-hill/) Henry Howarth Bashford > [The male, for all his bravado and exploration, is the loyal one, the one who generally feels love. The female is skilled at betrayal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-male-for-all-his-bravado-and-exploration-is-the-loyal-one-the-one/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Cats don't bark and act brave when they see something small in fur or feathers, they kill it. Dogs tend to bravado. They're braggarts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-p-gorman/cats-don-t-bark-and-act-brave-when-they-see-something-small-in-fur-or/) [James P. Gorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-p-gorman/) > [The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people's fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-final-key-to-the-way-i-promote-is-bravado-i-play-to-people-s/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Who would condescend to strike down the mere things he does not fear? Who would debase himself to be merely brave, like any common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/who-would-condescend-to-strike-down-the-mere-things-he-does-not-fear/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [If you are the leader, you don't have the right to say things like "Ugh, didn't eat this week I was so busy." "Haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-raab/if-you-are-the-leader-you-don-t-have-the-right-to-say-things-like-ugh/) [Scott Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-raab/) > [The mere possession of a gun is, in itself, an urge to kill, not only by design, but by accident, by madness, by fright,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-mere-possession-of-a-gun-is-in-itself-an-urge-to-kill-not-only-by/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Good-to-great companies set their goals and strategies based on understanding; comparison companies set their goals and strategies based on bravado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/good-to-great-companies-set-their-goals-and-strategies-based-on/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) [Browse all 58 Bravado quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bravado/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nigerian Proverb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigerian-proverb/when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s-a-hole-nearby/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bravado" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigerian-proverb/when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s-a-hole-nearby/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/nigerian-proverb-68652_bravado_when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s_2369275.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/nigerian-proverb-68652_bravado_when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s_2369275.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d0/nigerian-proverb-68652_bravado_when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s_2369275.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby.” — Nigerian Proverb", "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": "Nigerian Proverb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigerian-proverb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When the mouse laughs at the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigerian-proverb/when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s-a-hole-nearby/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigerian-proverb/when-the-mouse-laughs-at-the-cat-there-s-a-hole-nearby/#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 } } ] } ```