--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Am taking legal advice to ascertain…" description: "\"“Am taking legal advice to ascertain whether strangling an idiot nephew counts as murder. If it doesn't look out for yourself.”\" — P.G. Wodehouse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/p-g-wodehouse-723_strangling_am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whet_1318954.png" --- # Am taking legal advice to ascertain whether strangling an… ![“Am taking legal advice to ascertain whether strangling an idiot nephew counts as murder. If it doesn't look out for yourself.” quote by P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/p-g-wodehouse-723_strangling_am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whet_1318954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/p-g-wodehouse-723_strangling_am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whet_1318954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/p-g-wodehouse-723_strangling_am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whet_1318954.png) > ““Am taking legal advice to ascertain whether strangling an idiot nephew counts as murder. If it doesn't look out for yourself.”” [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) ## 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 humorously seeks legal clarification on whether killing a foolish relative is murder, then decides to protect himself if it isn’t. **In simple terms:** He wonders if killing a stupid nephew is murder and plans to act accordingly. Key Takeaway Consider consequences before acting. Themes humor law morality self‑preservation Mood wry irreverent Type satirical dark humor When to use this quote - family disputes - crime planning - personal safety - moral dilemmas Key Concepts ethical ambiguity dark comedy legal loopholes Questions to Reflect On - Is it ever justified to kill a relative? - What does this say about personal responsibility? A Different Perspective The joke downplays serious legal and ethical issues, which can be risky to emulate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ascertain Strangling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ascertain-strangling-4389199/) [Counts Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/counts-murder-4389200/) [Murder Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder-doesn-2279193/) [Strangling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangling/) [Strangling Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangling-idiot-4389198/) ## Related quotes > [You're under arrest for multiple counts of murder. You have the right to not much at all, really. Do you have anything to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/you-re-under-arrest-for-multiple-counts-of-murder-you-have-the-right/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Murder doesn’t leave anyone innocent. It shouldn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb/murder-doesn-t-leave-anyone-innocent-it-shouldn-t/) [J.D. Robb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-robb/) > [“Murder doesn’t bother you much, does it?” “Not as much as your endless questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-wickersheim/murder-doesn-t-bother-you-much-does-it-not-as-much-as-your-endless/) [Shawn Wickersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-wickersheim/) > [“Murder often doesn't unsettle a man. In Baltimore, it usually doesn't even ruin his day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/murder-often-doesn-t-unsettle-a-man-in-baltimore-it-usually-doesn-t/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I suppose there is something in all of us that harks back to the soil. When you come to think of it, what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/i-suppose-there-is-something-in-all-of-us-that-harks-back-to-the-soil/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [The motion picture made in Hollywood, if it is to create art at all, must do so within such strangling limitations of subject and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-motion-picture-made-in-hollywood-if-it-is-to-create-art-at-all/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Donald Trump wants to dramatically reduce America's corporate tax rate (to 15%) and thereby unleash economic growth. Hillary Clinton hasn't said a word about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/donald-trump-wants-to-dramatically-reduce-america-s-corporate-tax/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Death smells like homemade applesauce as it cooks on the stove. It is not the strangling scent of illness. It is not fear. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-corrie/death-smells-like-homemade-applesauce-as-it-cooks-on-the-stove-it-is/) [Rachel Corrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-corrie/) > [The brown toxic cloud strangling Los Angeles never lifts and grows thicker with every immigrant added. One can't help appreciate the streets of Paris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frosty-wooldridge/the-brown-toxic-cloud-strangling-los-angeles-never-lifts-and-grows/) [Frosty Wooldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frosty-wooldridge/) > [Clutter is the disease of American writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-disease-of-american-writing/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [“So. Ever get the urge to drown anyone?' Ariadne asked. 'No!' Andy replied, horrified. 'Shes just messing with you,' Helen assured her. Her face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/so-ever-get-the-urge-to-drown-anyone-ariadne-asked-no-andy-replied/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“It's always best to avoid strangling the person you're on a date with. No matter how crazy he makes you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-papademetriou/it-s-always-best-to-avoid-strangling-the-person-you-re-on-a-date-with/) [Lisa Papademetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-papademetriou/) > [I gotta friend who spends his life, stabbing my picture with a bowie knife. Dreams of strangling me with a scarf, when my name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-gotta-friend-who-spends-his-life-stabbing-my-picture-with-a-bowie/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“What are you imagining? Your expression is filthy.” “Strangling you. Bare hands.” I can barely get the words out. I’m huskier than a phone-sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-thorne/what-are-you-imagining-your-expression-is-filthy-strangling-you-bare/) [Sally Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-thorne/) > [My dad was proud of himself when he farted. He sounds like he's strangling a chicken when he farts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-barron/my-dad-was-proud-of-himself-when-he-farted-he-sounds-like-he-s/) [Carl Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-barron/) ## More by P.G. Wodehouse > [“Love, Miss Halliday, is a delicate plant. It needs tending, nurturing, assiduous fostering. This cannot be done by throwing the breakfast bacon at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/love-miss-halliday-is-a-delicate-plant-it-needs-tending-nurturing/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [ “\[A\]lways get to the dialogue as soon as possible. I always feel the thing to go for is speed. Nothing puts the reader off… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/a-lways-get-to-the-dialogue-as-soon-as-possible-i-always-feel-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“In these days in which we live, when existence has become a thing of infinite complexity and fate, if it slips us a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/in-these-days-in-which-we-live-when-existence-has-become-a-thing-of/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Good Lord, Jeeves! Is there anything you don’t know?’ ‘I couldn’t say, sir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/good-lord-jeeves-is-there-anything-you-don-t-know-i-couldn-t-say-sir/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Ask the first lion cub you meet, and it will tell you that, once you’ve tasted blood, there is no pulling up, and it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/ask-the-first-lion-cub-you-meet-and-it-will-tell-you-that-once-you-ve/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“He will lunch with you at your flat tomorrow at one-thirty. Please remember that he drinks no wine, strongly disapproves of smoking, and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/he-will-lunch-with-you-at-your-flat-tomorrow-at-one-thirty-please/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Too often on such occasions one feels, as I feel so strongly with regard to poor old Stilton, that the kindly thing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/too-often-on-such-occasions-one-feels-as-i-feel-so-strongly-with/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“My late Uncle Henry, you see, was by way of being the blot on the Wooster escutcheon. An extremely decent chappie personally, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/my-late-uncle-henry-you-see-was-by-way-of-being-the-blot-on-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [ “...he switched on the \[flashlight\]. When he did so, he instantly became the center attraction to a rowdy mob of those gnats, moths, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/he-switched-on-the-flashlight-when-he-did-so-he-instantly-became-the/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Conversationally, I am like a clockwork toy. I have to be set going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/conversationally-i-am-like-a-clockwork-toy-i-have-to-be-set-going/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“One of the advantages a sister has when arguing with a brother is that she is under no obligation to be tactful. If she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/one-of-the-advantages-a-sister-has-when-arguing-with-a-brother-is/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Liz," said Mr. Cootes, lost in admiration, "when it comes to doping out a scheme, you're the snake's eyebrows!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/liz-said-mr-cootes-lost-in-admiration-when-it-comes-to-doping-out-a/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“a chap who's supposed to stop chaps pinching things from chaps having a chap come along and pinch something from him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/a-chap-who-s-supposed-to-stop-chaps-pinching-things-from-chaps-having/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“Bertie, do you read Tennyson?" "Not if I can help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/bertie-do-you-read-tennyson-not-if-i-can-help/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) > [“It seems to be one of Nature’s laws that the most attractive girls should have the least attractive brothers. Fillmore Nicholas had not worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/it-seems-to-be-one-of-nature-s-laws-that-the-most-attractive-girls/) [P.G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) [Explore all 389 P.G. Wodehouse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/) ## More Strangling quotes > [My dad was proud of himself when he farted. He sounds like he's strangling a chicken when he farts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-barron/my-dad-was-proud-of-himself-when-he-farted-he-sounds-like-he-s/) [Carl Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-barron/) > [“What are you imagining? Your expression is filthy.” “Strangling you. Bare hands.” I can barely get the words out. I’m huskier than a phone-sex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-thorne/what-are-you-imagining-your-expression-is-filthy-strangling-you-bare/) [Sally Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-thorne/) > [I gotta friend who spends his life, stabbing my picture with a bowie knife. Dreams of strangling me with a scarf, when my name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-gotta-friend-who-spends-his-life-stabbing-my-picture-with-a-bowie/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“It's always best to avoid strangling the person you're on a date with. No matter how crazy he makes you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-papademetriou/it-s-always-best-to-avoid-strangling-the-person-you-re-on-a-date-with/) [Lisa Papademetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-papademetriou/) > [“So. Ever get the urge to drown anyone?' Ariadne asked. 'No!' Andy replied, horrified. 'Shes just messing with you,' Helen assured her. Her face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/so-ever-get-the-urge-to-drown-anyone-ariadne-asked-no-andy-replied/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Clutter is the disease of American writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-disease-of-american-writing/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [The brown toxic cloud strangling Los Angeles never lifts and grows thicker with every immigrant added. One can't help appreciate the streets of Paris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frosty-wooldridge/the-brown-toxic-cloud-strangling-los-angeles-never-lifts-and-grows/) [Frosty Wooldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frosty-wooldridge/) > [Death smells like homemade applesauce as it cooks on the stove. It is not the strangling scent of illness. It is not fear. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-corrie/death-smells-like-homemade-applesauce-as-it-cooks-on-the-stove-it-is/) [Rachel Corrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-corrie/) > [Donald Trump wants to dramatically reduce America's corporate tax rate (to 15%) and thereby unleash economic growth. Hillary Clinton hasn't said a word about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/donald-trump-wants-to-dramatically-reduce-america-s-corporate-tax/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [The motion picture made in Hollywood, if it is to create art at all, must do so within such strangling limitations of subject and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-motion-picture-made-in-hollywood-if-it-is-to-create-art-at-all/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [I suppose there is something in all of us that harks back to the soil. When you come to think of it, what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roberts-rinehart/i-suppose-there-is-something-in-all-of-us-that-harks-back-to-the-soil/) [Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roberts-rinehart/) > [Most of all, I loved seeing Princess Leia strangling you at the end of Return of the Jedi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-green/most-of-all-i-loved-seeing-princess-leia-strangling-you-at-the-end-of/) [Seth Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-green/) > [“Oh, I was two seconds from jumping on his back and strangling him from behind… with love, of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/oh-i-was-two-seconds-from-jumping-on-his-back-and-strangling-him-from/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [It's hard to play with a bagpipe player. It's like an exotic bird. I love the sound, it's like strangling a goose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/it-s-hard-to-play-with-a-bagpipe-player-it-s-like-an-exotic-bird-i/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [ One of the most essential and mundane of human activities - taking care of children - requires high levels of anxious vigilance. ... \[Parents\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/one-of-the-most-essential-and-mundane-of-human-activities-taking-care/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) [Browse all 53 Strangling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Am taking legal advice to ascertain whether strangling an idiot nephew counts as murder. If it doesn't look out for yourself.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P.G. Wodehouse" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whether-strangling-an-idiot/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Strangling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whether-strangling-an-idiot/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/p-g-wodehouse-723_strangling_am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whet_1318954.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/p-g-wodehouse-723_strangling_am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whet_1318954.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e4/p-g-wodehouse-723_strangling_am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whet_1318954.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Am taking legal advice to ascertain whether strangling an idiot nephew counts as murder. If it doesn't look…” — P.G. Wodehouse", "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": "P.G. Wodehouse", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Am taking legal advice to ascertain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whether-strangling-an-idiot/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse/am-taking-legal-advice-to-ascertain-whether-strangling-an-idiot/#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 } } ] } ```