--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A woman who goes around wearing a knife…" description: "\"“A woman who goes around wearing a knife is obviously looking for trouble.\" She reached deep into her pocket and brought out a long, slender piece of m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/patrick-rothfuss-145_defenses_a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife_2306430.jpg" --- # A woman who goes around wearing a knife is obviously… ![“A woman who goes around wearing a knife is obviously looking for trouble." She reached deep into her pocket and brought out a long, slender piece of metal, glittering all along one edge. "However a woman who carries a knife is ready for trouble. Generally speaking, it's easier to appear harmless…” quote by Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/patrick-rothfuss-145_defenses_a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife_2306430.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/patrick-rothfuss-145_defenses_a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife_2306430.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/patrick-rothfuss-145_defenses_a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife_2306430.jpg) > ““A woman who goes around wearing a knife is obviously looking for trouble." She reached deep into her pocket and brought out a long, slender piece of metal, glittering all along one edge. "However a woman who carries a knife is ready for trouble. Generally speaking, it's easier to appear harmless. It's less trouble all around.”” [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Carrying a weapon can be a protective stance, while appearing unarmed invites danger; preparedness versus perceived harmlessness. **In simple terms:** Being armed can deter trouble; seeming harmless can invite it. Key Takeaway Consider how your appearance affects safety. Themes self‑defense perception risk personal safety confidence Mood cautious reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - street walking - travel - night shifts - personal security - self‑defense training Key Concepts preparedness vulnerability social signaling Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel safer armed or unarmed? - How does perception influence your safety choices? A Different Perspective Being armed may increase conflict risk and legal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Carries Knife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carries-knife-2860407/) [Defenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenses/) [Knife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knife/) [Knife Obviously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knife-obviously-5464021/) [Knives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knives/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Self defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-defense/) [Wearing Knife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wearing-knife-5464020/) [Woman Carries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-carries-447134/) ## Related quotes > [“She'd never have to cut herself again. She carries a knife inside herself now, one that was always cutting her. She could feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/she-d-never-have-to-cut-herself-again-she-carries-a-knife-inside/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“A woman carries her inner life—lugs it around or holds it in like fumes that both poison and bless her—while nourishing another’s inner life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/durga-chew-bose/a-woman-carries-her-inner-life-lugs-it-around-or-holds-it-in-like/) [Durga Chew-Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/durga-chew-bose/) > [If a woman Carries your big headed child for 9 months, least u can do is respect && support her!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-santana/if-a-woman-carries-your-big-headed-child-for-9-months-least-u-can-do/) [Jason Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-santana/) > [“Don't dare presume there's shame in the lot of a woman who carries on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/don-t-dare-presume-there-s-shame-in-the-lot-of-a-woman-who-carries-on/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [A woman carries her clothes. But the shoe carries the woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/a-woman-carries-her-clothes-but-the-shoe-carries-the-woman/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Fantasy allows you to get past defenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-moon/fantasy-allows-you-to-get-past-defenses/) [Elizabeth Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-moon/) > [“But he who dares not grasp the thorn Should never crave the rose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/but-he-who-dares-not-grasp-the-thorn-should-never-crave-the-rose/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [With my size and receiving skills, I would hope I could cause some matchup problems for defenses, and that some team sees that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-olsen/with-my-size-and-receiving-skills-i-would-hope-i-could-cause-some/) [Greg Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-olsen/) > [I just don't like defenses, so I want to able to be the most prepared to rip them apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-haskins/i-just-don-t-like-defenses-so-i-want-to-able-to-be-the-most-prepared/) [Dwayne Haskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-haskins/) > [“I rely on images of violence, which bring the shock of pain, to penetrate the barriers people erect and defend, not simple defenses; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/i-rely-on-images-of-violence-which-bring-the-shock-of-pain-to/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [A lot of times defenses expect you to shoot it against the three-point line so if you can extend your range, it makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/a-lot-of-times-defenses-expect-you-to-shoot-it-against-the-three/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [Here at home, we will strengthen our defenses but not succumb to a siege mentality that sacrifices the open society and liberties and values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/here-at-home-we-will-strengthen-our-defenses-but-not-succumb-to-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Defenses had to play us, obviously, out to the arc, but it was really, to me, my mid-range game that was probably more dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-miller/defenses-had-to-play-us-obviously-out-to-the-arc-but-it-was-really-to/) [Reggie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-miller/) > [“What does freedom mean? It means warriors are fighting for you, defenses are protecting you, and soldiers are sacrificing to preserve your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/what-does-freedom-mean-it-means-warriors-are-fighting-for-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I already know Cover 3, Cover 2, everything else. But it's a lot of times, defenses try to take you away and they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-jones/i-already-know-cover-3-cover-2-everything-else-but-it-s-a-lot-of/) [Julio Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-jones/) ## More by Patrick Rothfuss > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Prefiero tocar canciones que divierten a mis amigos que complacer a quienes me juzgan basándose solo en habladurías" - Kvothe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/prefiero-tocar-canciones-que-divierten-a-mis-amigos-que-complacer-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Wilem snorted."That doesn't sound suspicious at all," he said. "And you wonder why people talk about you." "I don't wonder why they talk," I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/wilem-snorted-that-doesn-t-sound-suspicious-at-all-he-said-and-you/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“The point isn't to win the game. The point is to play a beautiful game. (paraphrased)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/the-point-isn-t-to-win-the-game-the-point-is-to-play-a-beautiful-game/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I was nervous about writing Slow Regard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-was-nervous-about-writing-slow-regard/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I am no poet. I do not love words for the sake of words. I love words for what they can accomplish. Similarly, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-am-no-poet-i-do-not-love-words-for-the-sake-of-words-i-love-words/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“There is something deeply satisfying in shaping something with your hands. Proper artificing is like a song made solid. It is an act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/there-is-something-deeply-satisfying-in-shaping-something-with-your/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [He had a bright, reckless tenor that was always wandering off, looking for notes in the wrong places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/he-had-a-bright-reckless-tenor-that-was-always-wandering-off-looking/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I smiled,"Deoch, my heart is made of stronger stuff than glass. When she strikes she'll find it strong as iron-bound brass, or gold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-smiled-deoch-my-heart-is-made-of-stronger-stuff-than-glass-when-she/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I have a blog where I keep in touch with my fans. I write about things that are important to me. Sometimes on there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-have-a-blog-where-i-keep-in-touch-with-my-fans-i-write-about-things/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Soft fantasy worlds have a much looser cause-and-effect relationship. Alchemists can turn lead into gold and nobody wonders about how it will impact the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/soft-fantasy-worlds-have-a-much-looser-cause-and-effect-relationship/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [But how awful would that be? How terrible to live surrounded by the stark, sharp, hollowness of things that simply were enough?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/but-how-awful-would-that-be-how-terrible-to-live-surrounded-by-the/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [ Here's the thing: Authors live or die by recommendations. \[That's one of the reason I review so many books on Goodreads.\] Giving books you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/here-s-the-thing-authors-live-or-die-by-recommendations-that-s-one-of/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I was pretty poor for a long time. Not \*poor\* poor. But college student poor. I lived for most of my adult life living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/i-was-pretty-poor-for-a-long-time-not-poor-poor-but-college-student/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) [Explore all 895 Patrick Rothfuss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) ## More Defenses quotes > [I already know Cover 3, Cover 2, everything else. But it's a lot of times, defenses try to take you away and they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-jones/i-already-know-cover-3-cover-2-everything-else-but-it-s-a-lot-of/) [Julio Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-jones/) > [“What does freedom mean? It means warriors are fighting for you, defenses are protecting you, and soldiers are sacrificing to preserve your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/what-does-freedom-mean-it-means-warriors-are-fighting-for-you/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Defenses had to play us, obviously, out to the arc, but it was really, to me, my mid-range game that was probably more dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-miller/defenses-had-to-play-us-obviously-out-to-the-arc-but-it-was-really-to/) [Reggie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-miller/) > [Here at home, we will strengthen our defenses but not succumb to a siege mentality that sacrifices the open society and liberties and values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/here-at-home-we-will-strengthen-our-defenses-but-not-succumb-to-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A lot of times defenses expect you to shoot it against the three-point line so if you can extend your range, it makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-huerter/a-lot-of-times-defenses-expect-you-to-shoot-it-against-the-three/) [Kevin Huerter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-huerter/) > [“I rely on images of violence, which bring the shock of pain, to penetrate the barriers people erect and defend, not simple defenses; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/i-rely-on-images-of-violence-which-bring-the-shock-of-pain-to/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) > [I just don't like defenses, so I want to able to be the most prepared to rip them apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-haskins/i-just-don-t-like-defenses-so-i-want-to-able-to-be-the-most-prepared/) [Dwayne Haskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-haskins/) > [With my size and receiving skills, I would hope I could cause some matchup problems for defenses, and that some team sees that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-olsen/with-my-size-and-receiving-skills-i-would-hope-i-could-cause-some/) [Greg Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-olsen/) > [“But he who dares not grasp the thorn Should never crave the rose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/but-he-who-dares-not-grasp-the-thorn-should-never-crave-the-rose/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [Fantasy allows you to get past defenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-moon/fantasy-allows-you-to-get-past-defenses/) [Elizabeth Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-moon/) > [I have a unique skill set to impose threats in numerous ways on defenses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-hurts/i-have-a-unique-skill-set-to-impose-threats-in-numerous-ways-on/) [Jalen Hurts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-hurts/) > [“The architect of the walls around me is the fear within me. And if I have foolishly granted this architect full license to build…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-architect-of-the-walls-around-me-is-the-fear-within-me-and-if-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I've learned how defenses will play me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerami-grant/i-ve-learned-how-defenses-will-play-me/) [Jerami Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerami-grant/) > [Each day is an opportunity to build the defenses of peace in the minds of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/widad-akrawi/each-day-is-an-opportunity-to-build-the-defenses-of-peace-in-the/) [Widad Akrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/widad-akrawi/) > [“in the end it is words poetry. sunsets someone’s deep blue silk voice. mountain scents. someone’s smile. eyes. that we have no defenses against.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanober-khan/in-the-end-it-is-words-poetry-sunsets-someone-s-deep-blue-silk-voice/) [Sanober Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanober-khan/) [Browse all 47 Defenses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defenses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A woman who goes around wearing a knife is obviously looking for trouble.\" She reached deep into her pocket and brought out a long, slender piece of metal, glittering all along one edge. \"However a woman who carries a knife is ready for trouble. Generally speaking, it's easier to appear harmless. It's less trouble all around.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Rothfuss" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife-is-obviously-looking-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defenses" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife-is-obviously-looking-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/patrick-rothfuss-145_defenses_a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife_2306430.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/patrick-rothfuss-145_defenses_a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife_2306430.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6cc/patrick-rothfuss-145_defenses_a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife_2306430.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A woman who goes around wearing a knife is obviously looking for trouble.\" She reached deep into her pocket…” — Patrick Rothfuss", "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": "Patrick Rothfuss", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A woman who goes around wearing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife-is-obviously-looking-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-woman-who-goes-around-wearing-a-knife-is-obviously-looking-for/#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 } } ] } ```