--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once he had a grove of oaks chopped down…" description: "\"“Once he had a grove of oaks chopped down because they were looking at him. And then insisted that they would be given decent funerals; he gave the ora..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/robert-jordan-438_dig-graves_once-he-had-a-grove-of-oaks-chopped-down_2318995.jpg" --- # Once he had a grove of oaks chopped down because they were… ![“Once he had a grove of oaks chopped down because they were looking at him. And then insisted that they would be given decent funerals; he gave the orations. Do you have any idea how longs it takes to dig graves for twenty-three oak trees?” quote by Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/robert-jordan-438_dig-graves_once-he-had-a-grove-of-oaks-chopped-down_2318995.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/robert-jordan-438_dig-graves_once-he-had-a-grove-of-oaks-chopped-down_2318995.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bef/robert-jordan-438_dig-graves_once-he-had-a-grove-of-oaks-chopped-down_2318995.jpg) > ““Once he had a grove of oaks chopped down because they were looking at him. And then insisted that they would be given decent funerals; he gave the orations. Do you have any idea how longs it takes to dig graves for twenty-three oak trees?”” [Robert Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He ordered oak trees cut for looking at him, then gave them elaborate funerals, highlighting absurdity. **In simple terms:** He punished trees, then mourned them. Key Takeaway Beware irrational actions. Themes absurdity power ritual Mood ironic critical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - political satire - environmental commentary - bureaucratic excess Key Concepts authority environment morality Questions to Reflect On - Why punish what you fear? - What does this say about authority? A Different Perspective The story may be metaphorical, not literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Why do you think great leaders and great orations are coincident with wars, revolutions, and the founding or ending of governments and states? Common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/why-do-you-think-great-leaders-and-great-orations-are-coincident-with/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [“He was a windbag. 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Guelzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-c-guelzo/) > [While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/while-seeking-revenge-dig-two-graves-one-for-yourself/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [we dig our graves with our teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-hurst/we-dig-our-graves-with-our-teeth/) [Fannie Hurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-hurst/) > [If you are bent on revenge, dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/old-chinese-proverb/if-you-are-bent-on-revenge-dig-two-graves/) Old Chinese Proverb > [Before you enbark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-enbark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When seeking revenge, dig two graves before you star, one for your enemy, the other for anyone who gets in your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-heller/when-seeking-revenge-dig-two-graves-before-you-star-one-for-your/) Andrew Heller > [If you devote your life to seeking revenge, first dig two graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-devote-your-life-to-seeking-revenge-first-dig-two-graves/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves, Confucius said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/before-you-embark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves-confucius/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“Confucius said, “Before embarking upon a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” I planned to dig seven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-germain/confucius-said-before-embarking-upon-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two/) [Lili St. Germain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-germain/) > [“He who seeks revenge should dig two graves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-haines/he-who-seeks-revenge-should-dig-two-graves/) Mick Haines > [“Build castles, don't dig graves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/build-castles-don-t-dig-graves/) [David J. Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-schwartz/) > [To Emback on a journey of revenge, dig two graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kings/to-emback-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves/) [Chris Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kings/) > [“When plotting revenge, you should dig two graves - one for your enemy, and the other for yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-robert-brown/when-plotting-revenge-you-should-dig-two-graves-one-for-your-enemy/) Nathan Robert Brown > [“Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.-- Confucius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-embark-on-a-journey-of-revenge-dig-two-graves-confucius-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 24 Dig Graves quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Once he had a grove of oaks chopped down because they were looking at him. 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