--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This could be . . . a very bad idea,\" I…" description: "\"“This could be . . . a very bad idea,\" I admitted, my grip tightening on his hand. \"Oh, it most certainly is,\" Cassian said with a faint smile as we co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/sarah-j-maas-58_acowar_this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted_1909968.png" --- # This could be . . . a very bad idea," I admitted, my grip… ![“This could be . . . a very bad idea," I admitted, my grip tightening on his hand. "Oh, it most certainly is," Cassian said with a faint smile as we continued down and down into the heavy black and thrumming silence. "But this is war. We don't have the luxury of good ideas–only picking between the…” quote by Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/sarah-j-maas-58_acowar_this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted_1909968.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/sarah-j-maas-58_acowar_this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted_1909968.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/sarah-j-maas-58_acowar_this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted_1909968.png) > ““This could be . . . a very bad idea," I admitted, my grip tightening on his hand. "Oh, it most certainly is," Cassian said with a faint smile as we continued down and down into the heavy black and thrumming silence. "But this is war. We don't have the luxury of good ideas–only picking between the bad ones.”” [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War forces choices between imperfect options, rejecting idealism for survival. **In simple terms:** War means picking the lesser evil. Key Takeaway Accept hard choices in conflict. Themes war morality decision‑making Mood tense determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - military leadership - political negotiations - personal crises Key Concepts ethical dilemmas survival instincts Questions to Reflect On - What compromises are you willing to make? - How do you evaluate bad versus worse? A Different Perspective Idealism may be impossible in war. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acowar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acowar/) [Bad idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-idea/) [Cassian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cassian/) [Feyre-archeron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feyre-archeron/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [“I believe everything happens for a reason. Whether it is decided by the Mother, or the Cauldron, or some sort of tapestry of Fate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-believe-everything-happens-for-a-reason-whether-it-is-decided-by/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Pick on someone your own size, 'Cassian said to Amren, shoveling roast chicken into his mouth. 'I'd feel bad for the mice,' Azriel muttered.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/pick-on-someone-your-own-size-cassian-said-to-amren-shoveling-roast/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“No going back now,' Cassian said to Rhys, gesturing to his wings. Rhys slid his hands into his pockets. 'I figure it's time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/no-going-back-now-cassian-said-to-rhys-gesturing-to-his-wings-rhys/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Cassian grunted in pain, but lifted his bloodied hands- to cup her face. 'I have no regrets in my life, but this.' HIs voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/cassian-grunted-in-pain-but-lifted-his-bloodied-hands-to-cup-her-face/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“My money’s on yes,” Cassian said. “Want to make a wager?” “No,” Azriel said, not turning from the window. Cassian sat up, the portrait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/my-money-s-on-yes-cassian-said-want-to-make-a-wager-no-azriel-said/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Nesta looked at the king with death twining around his hands, then down at Cassian. And covered Cassian’s body with her own. Cassian went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/nesta-looked-at-the-king-with-death-twining-around-his-hands-then/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“But I still don’t know how to fix myself.” “There’s nothing broken to be fixed,” he said fiercely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/but-i-still-don-t-know-how-to-fix-myself-there-s-nothing-broken-to-be/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“It's already ended badly. Now it's just a matter of deciding how we meet the consequences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/it-s-already-ended-badly-now-it-s-just-a-matter-of-deciding-how-we/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Mor rubbed her face. 'You were right about me, though. You were...' Her hand shook as she lowered it. She gnawed on her lip,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/mor-rubbed-her-face-you-were-right-about-me-though-you-were-her-hand/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,' Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. 'There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut-2/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“The flame in her eyes was not of your usual sort, I take it.' Lucien shook his head. 'No. It spoke to nothing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-flame-in-her-eyes-was-not-of-your-usual-sort-i-take-it-lucien/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Even in the warm faelight of the foyer, the gown glittered and gleamed like a fresh-cut jewel. We had taken my gown from Starfall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/even-in-the-warm-faelight-of-the-foyer-the-gown-glittered-and-gleamed/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Twenty gold marks says there's a fight in the first hour,' Cassian said, still not really looking at Nesta. 'Thirty, and I say within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/twenty-gold-marks-says-there-s-a-fight-in-the-first-hour-cassian-said/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“You told me about the time with Cassian, but did you and Azriel ever...?' A sharp laugh. 'No. Azriel? After that time with Cassian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-told-me-about-the-time-with-cassian-but-did-you-and-azriel-ever-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Helion threw himself onto the couch across from Cassian and Mor. He'd ditched that radiant crown somewhere, but kept that gold armband of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/helion-threw-himself-onto-the-couch-across-from-cassian-and-mor-he-d/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More by Sarah J. Maas > [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What does he look like? The question was soft- tentative. I knew who he meant. I interlaced my fingers through Rhysand's and squeezed tightly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-does-he-look-like-the-question-was-soft-tentative-i-knew-who-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Lysandra chuckled, a surprisingly deep, wicked sound—probably a laugh she never let Arobynn or her clients hear. “Some night soon, I’ll sneak back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/lysandra-chuckled-a-surprisingly-deep-wicked-sound-probably-a-laugh/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I love you. I am in love with you, Rowan. I have been for a while. And I know there are limits to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-love-you-i-am-in-love-with-you-rowan-i-have-been-for-a-while-and-i/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“To being the most fearsome and imposing girls the world has ever seen.” Celaena raised her goblet high before she drank. As she swallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/to-being-the-most-fearsome-and-imposing-girls-the-world-has-ever-seen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“have no interest in prisoners or battling today,” Manon said. The Queen of Terrasen gave her a grin. “Good.” Manon turned away, barking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/have-no-interest-in-prisoners-or-battling-today-manon-said-the-queen/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Well, I'm late for something incredibly important," Lucien said, and before I could call him on his outright lie or beg him to stay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-i-m-late-for-something-incredibly-important-lucien-said-and/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Holy gods. He'd frozen the whole damn lake. He was THAT powerful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/holy-gods-he-d-frozen-the-whole-damn-lake-he-was-that-powerful/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“She bellowed the last word with such soul-deep hatred that he felt it like a punch to the gut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/she-bellowed-the-last-word-with-such-soul-deep-hatred-that-he-felt-it/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Afraid she and I had a summer romance?" That insufferable grin was still there. "I hope you did. I certainly enjoyed myself this summer."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/afraid-she-and-i-had-a-summer-romance-that-insufferable-grin-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“There are different kinds of darkness,” Rhys said. I kept my eyes shut. “There is the darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/there-are-different-kinds-of-darkness-rhys-said-i-kept-my-eyes-shut/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Gently, he pulled my hands away from my face. Gently, he took my cheeks in his hands and brushed away my tears. I didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/gently-he-pulled-my-hands-away-from-my-face-gently-he-took-my-cheeks/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I barely saw my silk slipper as it flew through the air, fast as a shooting star, so fast that even a High Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-barely-saw-my-silk-slipper-as-it-flew-through-the-air-fast-as-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Explore all 1,807 Sarah J. Maas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More Acowar quotes > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I see all of you, Rhys. And there is not one part that I do not love with everything I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-see-all-of-you-rhys-and-there-is-not-one-part-that-i-do-not-love/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Rhys turned his head, looking me over from head to toe. Then back to Tamlin. A storm about to be unleashed. But it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas-2/rhys-turned-his-head-looking-me-over-from-head-to-toe-then-back-to/) [Sarah J Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas-2/) > [“You're still lovely," Mor said a bit gently. Elain offered a half smile. "I suppose that war makes wanting things like that unimportant." Mor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-re-still-lovely-mor-said-a-bit-gently-elain-offered-a-half-smile/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“You do not fear. You do not falter. You do not yield.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/you-do-not-fear-you-do-not-falter-you-do-not-yield/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“What we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/what-we-think-to-be-our-greatest-weakness-can-sometimes-be-our/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I believe everything happens for a reason. Whether it is decided by the Mother, or the Cauldron, or some sort of tapestry of Fate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-believe-everything-happens-for-a-reason-whether-it-is-decided-by/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“When do you come home to me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/when-do-you-come-home-to-me/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“But I still don’t know how to fix myself.” “There’s nothing broken to be fixed,” he said fiercely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/but-i-still-don-t-know-how-to-fix-myself-there-s-nothing-broken-to-be/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Nesta looked at the king with death twining around his hands, then down at Cassian. And covered Cassian’s body with her own. Cassian went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/nesta-looked-at-the-king-with-death-twining-around-his-hands-then/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I'd always thought death would be some sort of peaceful homecoming - a sweet, sad lullaby to usher me into whatever waited afterward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-d-always-thought-death-would-be-some-sort-of-peaceful-homecoming-a/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Kindness can thrive even amongst cruelty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/kindness-can-thrive-even-amongst-cruelty/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I looked ahead, toward that laugh, that light—and that vision of the future Feyre had shown me, more beautiful than anything I could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-looked-ahead-toward-that-laugh-that-light-and-that-vision-of-the/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“I want to share this bed with you, though," I breathed. "I want you to hold me." Stars flickered to life in his eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/i-want-to-share-this-bed-with-you-though-i-breathed-i-want-you-to/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“We're all a broken, in our own ways - In places no one might see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/we-re-all-a-broken-in-our-own-ways-in-places-no-one-might-see/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) [Browse all 18 Acowar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acowar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This could be . . . a very bad idea,\" I admitted, my grip tightening on his hand. \"Oh, it most certainly is,\" Cassian said with a faint smile as we continued down and down into the heavy black and thrumming silence. \"But this is war. We don't have the luxury of good ideas–only picking between the bad ones.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah J. Maas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted-my-grip-tightening-on-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acowar" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted-my-grip-tightening-on-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/sarah-j-maas-58_acowar_this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted_1909968.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/sarah-j-maas-58_acowar_this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted_1909968.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/sarah-j-maas-58_acowar_this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted_1909968.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This could be . . . a very bad idea,\" I admitted, my grip tightening on his hand. \"Oh, it most certainly…” — Sarah J. Maas", "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": "Sarah J. Maas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“This could be . . ....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted-my-grip-tightening-on-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/this-could-be-a-very-bad-idea-i-admitted-my-grip-tightening-on-his/#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 } } ] } ```