--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once (says an Author; where I need not…" description: "\"Once (says an Author; where I need not say) Two Trav'lers found an Oyster in their way; Both fierce, both hungry; the dispute grew stong; While Scale i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/pope-alexander-vi-60320_adieu_once-says-an-author-where-i-need-not-say_2820708.jpg" --- # Once (says an Author; where I need not say) Two Trav'lers… ![“Once (says an Author; where I need not say) Two Trav'lers found an Oyster in their way; Both fierce, both hungry; the dispute grew stong; While Scale in Hand Dame Justice pass'd along Before her each with clamour pleads the Laws. Explain'd the matter, and would win the cause, Dame Justice wighing…” quote by Pope Alexander VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/pope-alexander-vi-60320_adieu_once-says-an-author-where-i-need-not-say_2820708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/pope-alexander-vi-60320_adieu_once-says-an-author-where-i-need-not-say_2820708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/pope-alexander-vi-60320_adieu_once-says-an-author-where-i-need-not-say_2820708.jpg) > “Once (says an Author; where I need not say) Two Trav'lers found an Oyster in their way; Both fierce, both hungry; the dispute grew stong; While Scale in Hand Dame Justice pass'd along Before her each with clamour pleads the Laws. Explain'd the matter, and would win the cause, Dame Justice wighing long the doubtful Right Takes, opens, swallows it, before their sight. The cause of strife remov'd so rarely well, "There take" (says Justice), "take ye each a shell. We thrive at Westminster on Fools like you: 'Twas a fat oyster - live in peace - Adieu."” [Pope Alexander VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-alexander-vi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A satirical poem uses an oyster dispute to mock legal battles and the arbitrary rulings of justice. **In simple terms:** A poem about a legal fight over an oyster, showing how justice can be absurd. Key Takeaway Recognize and avoid petty disputes. Themes justice law absurdity conflict satire Mood ironic critical mocking Type satirical political literary When to use this quote - courtroom arguments - political debates - media commentary - personal conflicts Key Concepts legal satire medieval criticism symbolic narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when a conflict is worth pursuing? - When does legal authority become absurd? A Different Perspective The humor may downplay real injustices faced by marginalized groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adieu/) [Cause Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-strife-3588025/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Clamour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clamour/) [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Dames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dames/) [Disputes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disputes/) [Doubtful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubtful/) [Fats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fats/) [Fierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fierce/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Justice Wighing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice-wighing-3588024/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Live In Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-peace/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Oyster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oyster/) [Oysters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oysters/) [Says Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says-justice-982679/) [Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales/) [Shells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shells/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Strife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strife/) [Takes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/takes/) [Thrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrive/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Westminster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/westminster/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Im for the truth no matter who says it, I'm with justice no matter who for or against it. Im a human first and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcom-x/im-for-the-truth-no-matter-who-says-it-i-m-with-justice-no-matter-who/) [Malcom X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcom-x/) > [“There is no such source and cause of strife, quarrel, fights, malignant opposition, persecution, and war, and all evil in the state, as religion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-source-and-cause-of-strife-quarrel-fights-malignant/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Gelernter says, “If there is to be justice in the world, America must create it.”17 When I read things like that, I usually have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wilson/gelernter-says-if-there-is-to-be-justice-in-the-world-america-must/) [Douglas Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wilson/) > [“Everything we suggest you do comes from what we have observed to work most often. The things we recommend you avoid are things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-we-suggest-you-do-comes-from-what-we-have-observed-to-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God is neither in the form of justice nor injustice. 'No one shall be hurt' is what the God's language says. Justice-injustice is people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/god-is-neither-in-the-form-of-justice-nor-injustice-no-one-shall-be/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The West pays money and piles up pressure to cause a strife between Islamic countries so that Muslims would kill each other and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-emami-kashani/the-west-pays-money-and-piles-up-pressure-to-cause-a-strife-between/) [Mohammed Emami-Kashani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-emami-kashani/) > [Oxford, in those days, was still a city of aquatint. In her spacious and quiet streets men walked and spoke as they had done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/oxford-in-those-days-was-still-a-city-of-aquatint-in-her-spacious-and/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The clamours of spring are the same old delicate noises, The earth renews its magical youth at a breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/the-clamours-of-spring-are-the-same-old-delicate-noises-the-earth/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [ When He \[God\] talks of their losing their selves, He means only abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that, He really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-he-god-talks-of-their-losing-their-selves-he-means-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The performance of buggery is no more inevitable a part of homosexuality than an orange syllabub is an inevitable part of a dinner: some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-performance-of-buggery-is-no-more-inevitable-a-part-of/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The thing you fail to grasp is that people are not basically good. We are basically selfish. We shove and clamour and cry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-nolan/the-thing-you-fail-to-grasp-is-that-people-are-not-basically-good-we/) [Christopher Nolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-nolan/) > [Mysterious in the light of day, nature retains her veil, despite our clamours: That which she does not willingly display cannot be wrenched from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/mysterious-in-the-light-of-day-nature-retains-her-veil-despite-our/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [In noise can be read the codes of life, the relations among men. Clamour, Melody, Dissonance, Harmony; when it is fashioned by man with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-attali/in-noise-can-be-read-the-codes-of-life-the-relations-among-men/) [Jacques Attali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-attali/) > [I heard through the nightThe rush and the clamour;The pulse of the fightLike blows of Thor's hammer;The pattering flightOf the leaves, and the anguishedMoan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/i-heard-through-the-nightthe-rush-and-the-clamour-the-pulse-of-the/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [I have wrestled with death. It is the most unexciting contest you can imagine. It takes place in an impalpable greyness, with nothing underfoot,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/i-have-wrestled-with-death-it-is-the-most-unexciting-contest-you-can/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) ## More by Pope Alexander VI > [May the Lord array thee in the garment of salvation and surround thee with the cloak of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-alexander-vi/may-the-lord-array-thee-in-the-garment-of-salvation-and-surround-thee/) [Pope Alexander VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-alexander-vi/) > [Sometimes one barely understand oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-alexander-vi/sometimes-one-barely-understand-oneself/) [Pope Alexander VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-alexander-vi/) > [Oh what would Rome be without a plot?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-alexander-vi/oh-what-would-rome-be-without-a-plot/) [Pope Alexander VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-alexander-vi/) > [Who are we to trust if not our family?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-alexander-vi/who-are-we-to-trust-if-not-our-family/) [Pope Alexander VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-alexander-vi/) [Explore all 5 Pope Alexander VI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-alexander-vi/) ## More Adieu quotes > [“Time wastes too fast… the days and hours of it… are flying over our heads like little clouds on a windy day, never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-life-and-opinions-of-tristram-shandy/time-wastes-too-fast-the-days-and-hours-of-it-are-flying-over-our/) [The Life And Opinions of Tristram Shandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-life-and-opinions-of-tristram-shandy/) > [Time wastes too fast : every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity Life follows my pen ; the days and hours of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-wastes-too-fast-every-letter-i-trace-tells-me-with-what-rapidity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I haven't really bid adieu to Bollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/i-haven-t-really-bid-adieu-to-bollywood/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [“ADIEU The glimmer farther away than the head The heart-skip On the slope where the air rolls its voice The spokes of the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-reverdy/adieu-the-glimmer-farther-away-than-the-head-the-heart-skip-on-the/) [Pierre Reverdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-reverdy/) > [So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear,Farewell remorse: all good to me is lost;Evil,be thou my good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-farewell-hope-and-with-hope-farewell-fear-farewell-remorse-all/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Fond, flatt'ring world, adieu!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora/fond-flatt-ring-world-adieu/) [Theodora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora/) > [So sweetly she bade me adieu, I thought that she bade me return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/so-sweetly-she-bade-me-adieu-i-thought-that-she-bade-me-return/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [And so, My lovely tunes played, My Weird mind splayed, I move on once again, To giggle, Create, Draw, For those, That dare see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/and-so-my-lovely-tunes-played-my-weird-mind-splayed-i-move-on-once/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [Adieu! adieu! thy plaintive anthem fades Past the near meadows, over the still stream, Up the hill-side; and now 'tis buried deep In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/adieu-adieu-thy-plaintive-anthem-fades-past-the-near-meadows-over-the/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“Do not be sad. Or think Adieu. Never Adieu. We will watch the sun set again - many times, and perhaps we'll see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/do-not-be-sad-or-think-adieu-never-adieu-we-will-watch-the-sun-set/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears: But yet It is our trick; nature her custom holds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/too-much-of-water-hast-thou-poor-ophelia-and-therefore-i-forbid-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Aye, by all minerals we are mocked. Vegetables, yearly deciduous, are far more sympathetic. The lilac and laburnum, making lovely now the railed pathway…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/aye-by-all-minerals-we-are-mocked-vegetables-yearly-deciduous-are-far/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [Good bye, proud world! I'm going home; Thou art not my friend, and I'm not thine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-bye-proud-world-i-m-going-home-thou-art-not-my-friend-and-i-m/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I have just been condemned, not to a shameful death, which can only apply to felons, but rather to finding your brother again...I seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoinette/i-have-just-been-condemned-not-to-a-shameful-death-which-can-only/) [Marie Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoinette/) > [“Adieu, mes amis. Je vais à la gloire. Farewell my friends. I go to glory. Isadora Duncan's last words before her scarf caught in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadora-duncan/adieu-mes-amis-je-vais-la-gloire-farewell-my-friends-i-go-to-glory/) [Isadora Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadora-duncan/) [Browse all 54 Adieu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adieu/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once (says an Author; where I need not say) Two Trav'lers found an Oyster in their way; Both fierce, both hungry; the dispute grew stong; While Scale in Hand Dame Justice pass'd along Before her each with clamour pleads the Laws. Explain'd the matter, and would win the cause, Dame Justice wighing long the doubtful Right Takes, opens, swallows it, before their sight. The cause of strife remov'd so rarely well, \"There take\" (says Justice), \"take ye each a shell. 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