Bed Quote by Patrick O'Brian
“They will not be pleased. But they know we must catch the monsoon with a well-found ship; and they know they are in the Navy--they have chosen their cake, and must lie on it.' You mean, they cannot have their bed and eat it.' No, no, it is not quite that either. I mean--I wish you would not confuse my mind, Stephen.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Aubrey-Maturin series, “The Fortune of War”, 1979
The quote uses a metaphor about a ship and cake to illustrate that once a choice is made, one must accept its consequences, even if undesirable.
In simple terms: Choices have consequences that must be faced.
Key Takeaway
Accept the outcomes of your decisions.
Themes
responsibility
consequences
choice
acceptance
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership decisions
- career choices
- ethical dilemmas
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
metaphor
moral dilemma
Questions to Reflect On
- What choices have you made that you cannot reverse?
- How do you cope with unavoidable outcomes?
A Different Perspective
May overlook nuance of involuntary constraints or lack of alternatives.
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
