--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was surrounded at the time by about a…" description: "\"I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the enemy, whose clubs rattled upon me without mercy, and the strokes of my sabre were rendered uncert..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/richard-francis-burton-22705_compassion_i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a_1383332.jpg" --- # I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the… ![“I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the enemy, whose clubs rattled upon me without mercy, and the strokes of my sabre were rendered uncertain by the energetic pushes of an attendant who thus hoped to save me.” quote by Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/richard-francis-burton-22705_compassion_i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a_1383332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/richard-francis-burton-22705_compassion_i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a_1383332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/richard-francis-burton-22705_compassion_i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a_1383332.jpg) > “I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the enemy, whose clubs rattled upon me without mercy, and the strokes of my sabre were rendered uncertain by the energetic pushes of an attendant who thus hoped to save me.” [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes a chaotic battle where the narrator is overwhelmed by many enemies. **In simple terms:** Narrator faces many attackers. Key Takeaway Prepare for overwhelming challenges. Themes conflict survival chaos Mood tense dramatic Type historical narrative When to use this quote - combat - self‑defense - historical reenactment Key Concepts military tactics personal endurance Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay composed under pressure? - What strategies help when outnumbered? A Different Perspective May glorify violence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clubs Rattled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs-rattled-4799799/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Dozen Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dozen-enemy-4799797/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Rattled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rattled-269384/) [Rendered Uncertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rendered-uncertain-4799798/) [Save](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save/) [Surrounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrounded/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [Wherever we halted we were surrounded by wandering troops of Bedouins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/wherever-we-halted-we-were-surrounded-by-wandering-troops-of-bedouins/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [The word rattled in my head like rocks in an oatmeal box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/the-word-rattled-in-my-head-like-rocks-in-an-oatmeal-box/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“They rattled my cage to see if I’d bite. When they released me, they’d see that the answer was yes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-hodkin/they-rattled-my-cage-to-see-if-i-d-bite-when-they-released-me-they-d/) [Michelle Hodkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-hodkin/) > [I used to panic and get rattled when I was young, but as I've got older, I've started literally to live day to day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/i-used-to-panic-and-get-rattled-when-i-was-young-but-as-i-ve-got/) [Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/) > [“When she gets rattled, the South really comes out. Once when Daddy tried to cancel our country club membership because he said the dues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-lancaster/when-she-gets-rattled-the-south-really-comes-out-once-when-daddy/) [Jen Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-lancaster/) > [“an Underground train roared and rattled, driving a ghost-wind along the platform, which scattered a copy of the tabloid Sun into its component pages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/an-underground-train-roared-and-rattled-driving-a-ghost-wind-along/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I'm a very poised guy. I don't really get rattled easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oubre-jr/i-m-a-very-poised-guy-i-don-t-really-get-rattled-easily/) [Kelly Oubre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oubre-jr/) > [I don't get rattled about the big things. I get rattled when I have to pick up my laundry, get gas in the car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-stringfield/i-don-t-get-rattled-about-the-big-things-i-get-rattled-when-i-have-to/) [Sherry Stringfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-stringfield/) > [Every quarterback can be rattled. There's no guy who can't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-pierre-paul/every-quarterback-can-be-rattled-there-s-no-guy-who-can-t-be/) [Jason Pierre-Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-pierre-paul/) > [“It wasn’t story (good or bad) that pulled me in; it was English itself, the way it felt in my braces-caged mouth and rattled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kory-stamper/it-wasn-t-story-good-or-bad-that-pulled-me-in-it-was-english-itself/) [Kory Stamper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kory-stamper/) > [When you're too mad and too rattled to see straight, you're bound to make mistakes. You can't go on and on for years being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/when-you-re-too-mad-and-too-rattled-to-see-straight-you-re-bound-to/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [We were rattled. A team like Rutgers, they play in spurts, and they didn't have a large spurt. We certainly knew we had it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/we-were-rattled-a-team-like-rutgers-they-play-in-spurts-and-they-didn/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [To be silent. In hopes of not offending, in hopes of being accepted. But what happened to people who never spoke, never raised their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/to-be-silent-in-hopes-of-not-offending-in-hopes-of-being-accepted-but/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Something bashed against the submarine with such a tremendous force that the vessel rocked violently from side to side, throwing people back and forth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-f-wilson/something-bashed-against-the-submarine-with-such-a-tremendous-force/) [Dean F. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-f-wilson/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## More by Richard Francis Burton > [One death to a man is a serious thing: a dozen neutralize one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/one-death-to-a-man-is-a-serious-thing-a-dozen-neutralize-one-another/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [The Now, that indivisible point which studs the length of infinite line Whose ends are nowhere, is thine all , the puny all thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-now-that-indivisible-point-which-studs-the-length-of-infinite/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [The dearest ambition of a slave is not liberty, but to have a slave of his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-dearest-ambition-of-a-slave-is-not-liberty-but-to-have-a-slave-of/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [When doctors differ who decides amid the milliard-headed throng?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/when-doctors-differ-who-decides-amid-the-milliard-headed-throng/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Friends of my youth, a last adieu! Haply some day we meet again: Ye ne'er the self-same men shall meet; the years shall make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/friends-of-my-youth-a-last-adieu-haply-some-day-we-meet-again-ye-ne/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/the-more-i-study-religions-the-more-i-am-convinced-that-man-never/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Do what thy manhood bids thee do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/do-what-thy-manhood-bids-thee-do/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [“O genius," I said, "you see that this Sultan was not content with merely forgiving the envious man for the attempt on his life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/o-genius-i-said-you-see-that-this-sultan-was-not-content-with-merely/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [For each believes his glimm'ering lamp to be the gorgeous light of day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/for-each-believes-his-glimm-ering-lamp-to-be-the-gorgeous-light-of-day/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [“Scheherazade had perused the books, annals and legends of preceding Kings, and the stories, examples and instances of bygone men and things; indeed it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/scheherazade-had-perused-the-books-annals-and-legends-of-preceding/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/of-the-gladdest-moments-in-human-life-methinks-is-the-departure-upon/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [ \[Shahrazad\] had perused the books, annals and legends of preceding Kings, and the stories, examples and instances of by gone men and things; indeed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/shahrazad-had-perused-the-books-annals-and-legends-of-preceding-kings/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Broke is a temporary condition, poor is a state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/broke-is-a-temporary-condition-poor-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [Reason is Life's sole arbiter, themagic Laby'rinth's single clue...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/reason-is-life-s-sole-arbiter-themagic-laby-rinth-s-single-clue/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [How melancholy a thing is success. Whilst failure inspirits a man, attainment reads the sad prosy lesson that all our glories "Are shadows, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/how-melancholy-a-thing-is-success-whilst-failure-inspirits-a-man/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) [Explore all 27 Richard Francis Burton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. 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Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the enemy, whose clubs rattled upon me without mercy, and the strokes of my sabre were rendered uncertain by the energetic pushes of an attendant who thus hoped to save me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Francis Burton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a-dozen-of-the-enemy-whose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a-dozen-of-the-enemy-whose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/richard-francis-burton-22705_compassion_i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a_1383332.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/richard-francis-burton-22705_compassion_i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a_1383332.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34a/richard-francis-burton-22705_compassion_i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a_1383332.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was surrounded at the time by about a dozen of the enemy, whose clubs rattled upon me without mercy, and…” — Richard Francis Burton", "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": "Richard Francis Burton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was surrounded at the time...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a-dozen-of-the-enemy-whose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/i-was-surrounded-at-the-time-by-about-a-dozen-of-the-enemy-whose/#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 } } ] } ```