--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At that moment, in the sunset on…" description: "\"At that moment, in the sunset on Watership Down, there was offered to General Woundwort the opportunity to show whether he was really the leader of vis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/richard-adams-4326_beats_at-that-moment-in-the-sunset-on-watershi_2753773.jpg" --- # At that moment, in the sunset on Watership Down, there was… ![“At that moment, in the sunset on Watership Down, there was offered to General Woundwort the opportunity to show whether he was really the leader of vision and genius which he believed himself to be, or whether he was no more than a tyrant with the courage and cunning of a pirate. For one beat of…” quote by Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/richard-adams-4326_beats_at-that-moment-in-the-sunset-on-watershi_2753773.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/richard-adams-4326_beats_at-that-moment-in-the-sunset-on-watershi_2753773.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/richard-adams-4326_beats_at-that-moment-in-the-sunset-on-watershi_2753773.jpg) > “At that moment, in the sunset on Watership Down, there was offered to General Woundwort the opportunity to show whether he was really the leader of vision and genius which he believed himself to be, or whether he was no more than a tyrant with the courage and cunning of a pirate. For one beat of his pulse the lame rabbit's idea shone clearly before him. He grasped it and realized what it meant. The next, he had pushed it away from him.” [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. General Woundwort faces a test of true leadership versus tyrannical ambition, revealed by a humble rabbit's insight. **In simple terms:** Leadership is judged by choices, not titles. Key Takeaway Choose humility over domination. Themes leadership power humility ambition Mood reflective serious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political leadership - organizational management - personal decision making Key Concepts ethics authority identity Questions to Reflect On - What would you do when offered power? - How does humility change leadership? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt even the most confident leaders. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Pirate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pirate/) [Sunset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunset/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [TMI? Too Much Information. It”s just easier to say 'TMI'. I used to say 'don't go there', but that's lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/tmi-too-much-information-it-s-just-easier-to-say-tmi-i-used-to-say/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [You may help a lame dog over a stile but he is still a lame dog on the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-newman/you-may-help-a-lame-dog-over-a-stile-but-he-is-still-a-lame-dog-on/) [Ernest Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-newman/) > [It is the individual's task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-the-individual-s-task-to-differentiate-himself-from-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Swagg is so lame so is mr. finger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshach/swagg-is-so-lame-so-is-mr-finger/) Meshach > [What else can I do, a lame old man, but sing hymns to God? If I were a nightingale, I would do the nightingale's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/what-else-can-i-do-a-lame-old-man-but-sing-hymns-to-god-if-i-were-a/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Kerri and I met at theatre camp when were 16 years old, which is pretty lame. The rest of us met when we founded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/kerri-and-i-met-at-theatre-camp-when-were-16-years-old-which-is/) [Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/) > [Hey, you know what, I've gotta go on that 'Letterman' show. That show is so lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/hey-you-know-what-i-ve-gotta-go-on-that-letterman-show-that-show-is/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Let her alone,' said the enkanto, 'or I will curse you blind, lame, and worse.' The old man laughed. 'I'm a curse breaker, fool.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/let-her-alone-said-the-enkanto-or-i-will-curse-you-blind-lame-and/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Im the lamest lame duck there could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wallace/im-the-lamest-lame-duck-there-could-be/) [George C. 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I used to watch it back in 2002 when it was hot, now it's just lame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wwe-is-not-the-same-i-used-to-watch-it-back-in-2002-when-it-was-hot/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“no girl can permanently bolster up a lame-duck visitor, because these day it's every girl for herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/no-girl-can-permanently-bolster-up-a-lame-duck-visitor-because-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More by Richard Adams > [Men will never rest till they've spoiled the earth and destroyed the animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/men-will-never-rest-till-they-ve-spoiled-the-earth-and-destroyed-the/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“Like children in a dark room, like wayfarers passing a graveyard at night, the four men in the canoe filled the surrounding darkness with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/like-children-in-a-dark-room-like-wayfarers-passing-a-graveyard-at/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“Rabbit underground, rabbit safe and sound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/rabbit-underground-rabbit-safe-and-sound/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“There's terrible evil in the world." It comes from men," said Holly. "All other elil do what they have to do and Frith moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/there-s-terrible-evil-in-the-world-it-comes-from-men-said-holly-all/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“But I have learned that with creatures one loves, suffering is not the only thing for which one may pity them. A rabbit who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/but-i-have-learned-that-with-creatures-one-loves-suffering-is-not-the/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [People who record birdsong generally do it very early-before six o'clock-if they can. Soon after that, the invasion of distant noise in most woodland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/people-who-record-birdsong-generally-do-it-very-early-before-six-o/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“Then El-ahrairah knew that Frith was too clever for him and he was frightened. He thought that the fox and the weasel were coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/then-el-ahrairah-knew-that-frith-was-too-clever-for-him-and-he-was/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“Most of them had not understood Blackberry's discovery of the raft and at once forgot it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/most-of-them-had-not-understood-blackberry-s-discovery-of-the-raft/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“My lord,' replied El-ahrairah, 'I have come to give you my life. My life for my people.' The Black Rabbit drew his claws along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/my-lord-replied-el-ahrairah-i-have-come-to-give-you-my-life-my-life/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“Hazel, like nearly all wild animals, was unaccustomed to look up at the sky. What he thought of as the sky was the horizon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/hazel-like-nearly-all-wild-animals-was-unaccustomed-to-look-up-at-the/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/be-cunning-and-full-of-tricks-and-your-people-shall-never-be-destroyed/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [Who knows why men do anything?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/who-knows-why-men-do-anything/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“A wild animal that feels that it no longer has any reason to live reaches in the end a point when its remaining energies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/a-wild-animal-that-feels-that-it-no-longer-has-any-reason-to-live/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“Think yourself lucky,” said Bigwig, bleeding and cursing, “that I don’t kill you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/think-yourself-lucky-said-bigwig-bleeding-and-cursing-that-i-don-t/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [“Black Rabbit: Hazel... Hazel... you know me, don't you? Hazel: I don't know. \[the apparition reveals himself to be the Black Rabbit, and Hazel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/black-rabbit-hazel-hazel-you-know-me-don-t-you-hazel-i-don-t-know-the/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) [Explore all 109 Richard Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) ## More Beats quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. 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Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [If you don't like club beats take a HIT OF E and you will love the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/if-you-don-t-like-club-beats-take-a-hit-of-e-and-you-will-love-the/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [Every pitcher can beat you, it doesn't matter how good you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/every-pitcher-can-beat-you-it-doesn-t-matter-how-good-you-are/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I don't know about the rest of the world, but I know in our region everyone is gunning to beat us. We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Grand business plans are all very well, but nothing beats dipping your toe in the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/grand-business-plans-are-all-very-well-but-nothing-beats-dipping-your/) Baron Bilimoria Karan Bilimoria > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. 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