--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I found signs of their trespass: a…" description: "\"“But I found signs of their trespass: a burned patch planted with a fistful of grain, a tree felled or stripped of fruit, a deer strung up in a snare. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/sarah-micklem-32491_gods_but-i-found-signs-of-their-trespass-a-bu_2428863.jpg" --- # But I found signs of their trespass: a burned patch… ![“But I found signs of their trespass: a burned patch planted with a fistful of grain, a tree felled or stripped of fruit, a deer strung up in a snare. I never saw a poacher. They were too cunning, and for cause: the foresters would take a man's hands and eyes and leave him to the mercy of the…” quote by Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/sarah-micklem-32491_gods_but-i-found-signs-of-their-trespass-a-bu_2428863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/sarah-micklem-32491_gods_but-i-found-signs-of-their-trespass-a-bu_2428863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fe/sarah-micklem-32491_gods_but-i-found-signs-of-their-trespass-a-bu_2428863.jpg) > ““But I found signs of their trespass: a burned patch planted with a fistful of grain, a tree felled or stripped of fruit, a deer strung up in a snare. I never saw a poacher. They were too cunning, and for cause: the foresters would take a man's hands and eyes and leave him to the mercy of the wolves for such an offense. It was bad enough to steal the king's game, but snares were an abomnination. The gods abhor weapons that leave the hand, coward' weapons such as javelins, bows and arrows, slings. No man or beast should die by such means.”” [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage condemns cruel hunting methods and praises natural, honorable ways of taking life, reflecting ancient moral codes against inhumane weapons. **In simple terms:** Violent hunting is dishonorable; natural death is preferred. Key Takeaway Respect wildlife and avoid cruel traps. Themes ethics hunting environment morality tradition Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - hunting policy - wildlife conservation - ethical debates - education on humane practices Key Concepts animal rights ancient law humane practices Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance tradition with modern conservation? - Are there humane alternatives to traditional hunting? A Different Perspective Such strict codes may be impractical in modern wildlife management. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Poachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poachers/) [Poaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poaching/) [Theft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theft/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [among a coward's weapons, cynicism is the nastiest of all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-kidder/among-a-coward-s-weapons-cynicism-is-the-nastiest-of-all/) [Tracy Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-kidder/) > [The Parc des Volcans in Rwanda, where I conduct most of my studies, is heavily infested with poachers and herdsmen, whose cattle graze right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/the-parc-des-volcans-in-rwanda-where-i-conduct-most-of-my-studies-is/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [“Loving people are becoming extinct due to these poachers of humanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-koukol/loving-people-are-becoming-extinct-due-to-these-poachers-of-humanity/) [Zachary Koukol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-koukol/) > [“The mellow autumn came, and with it came The promised party, to enjoy its sweets. The corn is cut, the manor full of game;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-mellow-autumn-came-and-with-it-came-the-promised-party-to-enjoy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In terms of economical aspects, reinforcing those national parks with sophisticated anti-poaching patrols - these poachers are beefed up like the army. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronika-varekova/in-terms-of-economical-aspects-reinforcing-those-national-parks-with/) [Veronika Varekova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronika-varekova/) > [“poverty and desperation are fueling much of the environmental crime in Amazon. Twelve million wild birds and animals are poached in Brazil every year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-wallace/poverty-and-desperation-are-fueling-much-of-the-environmental-crime/) [Scott Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-wallace/) > [Adult gorillas will fight to the death defending their families. This is why poachers who may be seeking only one infant for the zoo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sy-montgomery/adult-gorillas-will-fight-to-the-death-defending-their-families-this/) [Sy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sy-montgomery/) > [In Africa, the rangers shoot poachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/in-africa-the-rangers-shoot-poachers/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [“When poachers target the matriarchs or older females—as they often do, because older elephants usually have larger tusks—they also destroy that lifetime of learning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-morell/when-poachers-target-the-matriarchs-or-older-females-as-they-often-do/) [Virginia Morell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-morell/) > [ Active conservation \[of gorillas\] involves simply going out into the forest, on foot, day after day after day, attempting to capture poachers, killing-regretfully-poacher dogs,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/active-conservation-of-gorillas-involves-simply-going-out-into-the/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [What other developed democracy has such a ridiculous and squalid history of intolerance? From the imprisonment and roasting of heretics, witches and poachers, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/what-other-developed-democracy-has-such-a-ridiculous-and-squalid/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Authors from whom others steal should not complain, but rejoice. Where there is no game there are no poachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/authors-from-whom-others-steal-should-not-complain-but-rejoice-where/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [“am looking for signs of life, although I know I won’t find them. I’m not sure how the poachers took this herd down. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/am-looking-for-signs-of-life-although-i-know-i-won-t-find-them-i-m/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The quarrels of theologians and philosophers have not been about religion, but about philosophy; and philosophers not unfrequently seem to entertain the same feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/the-quarrels-of-theologians-and-philosophers-have-not-been-about/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [I want to build a wired ocean that helps us take back the seas from poachers and illegal fishers. To do this, we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-block/i-want-to-build-a-wired-ocean-that-helps-us-take-back-the-seas-from/) [Barbara Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-block/) ## More by Sarah Micklem > [“I awoke in the deepest night to find I had been divided from myself. There lay my body sleeping and dreaming, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/i-awoke-in-the-deepest-night-to-find-i-had-been-divided-from-myself/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“The world the gods made is too big for us, so we make ourselves a smaller one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/the-world-the-gods-made-is-too-big-for-us-so-we-make-ourselves-a/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“He pushed up his visor and came over to me. He put his shield arm around me and pulled me close. This new skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/he-pushed-up-his-visor-and-came-over-to-me-he-put-his-shield-arm/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“Then the queenmother said, "I am done with weeping." She whistled for the grey wolves that guarded her keep, and they loped at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/then-the-queenmother-said-i-am-done-with-weeping-she-whistled-for-the/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“The master and mistress of the house and the rest of the Blood -even the Crux himself- brought our food, poured the wine, did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/the-master-and-mistress-of-the-house-and-the-rest-of-the-blood-even/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“I leaned toward him and whispered, "I'm drowning. Save me." But when I tried to grasp his shoulder my hand passed through him. "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/i-leaned-toward-him-and-whispered-i-m-drowning-save-me-but-when-i/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“If he was wood, he was a flail, and I was grain on the threshing floor. I was a thousand grains, my thoughts blown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/if-he-was-wood-he-was-a-flail-and-i-was-grain-on-the-threshing-floor/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“But that was all bravado. Already - how had it come about so quickly - desire had begotten need. A few whispered words (perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/but-that-was-all-bravado-already-how-had-it-come-about-so-quickly/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“It's one thing to forbid the worship of a god, and another to command that it be forgotten. One day I found the oldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/it-s-one-thing-to-forbid-the-worship-of-a-god-and-another-to-command/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“You still haven't said where you come from. Where is your home?" I said, "I am a sheath, so home is wherenever my shade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/you-still-haven-t-said-where-you-come-from-where-is-your-home-i-said/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“An edge of a sword is made as much from the steel taken away as the steel that is left”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/an-edge-of-a-sword-is-made-as-much-from-the-steel-taken-away-as-the/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“These Fatalists preach that Chance and Peril are merely masks for Fate's workings, nothing in themselves, and moreover that all the gods move at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/these-fatalists-preach-that-chance-and-peril-are-merely-masks-for/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“I knew by the signs it would be a hard winter. The hollies bore a heavy crop of berries and birds stripped them bare.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/i-knew-by-the-signs-it-would-be-a-hard-winter-the-hollies-bore-a/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) > [“I took to the Kingswood the midsummer after the Dame died. I did not swear a vow, but I kept to myself just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-micklem/i-took-to-the-kingswood-the-midsummer-after-the-dame-died-i-did-not/) [Sarah Micklem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) [Explore all 15 Sarah Micklem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-micklem/) ## More Gods quotes > [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/) [Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/) > [What Gods do you believe in? I'll build you a temple of mirrors so you can see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-gibson/what-gods-do-you-believe-in-i-ll-build-you-a-temple-of-mirrors-so-you/) [Andrea Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-gibson/) > [Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/against-stupidity-the-gods-themselves-contend-in-vain/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do you see those dull stars?" She outlined the formation with her finger. "A pentagram," whispered Scott. "Yes, but not just any pentagram. Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mattie/do-you-see-those-dull-stars-she-outlined-the-formation-with-her/) [Katie Mattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mattie/) > [How do you explain a person like Asha Bhosle? A star or a super star or just someone from the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anu-malik/how-do-you-explain-a-person-like-asha-bhosle-a-star-or-a-super-star/) [Anu Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anu-malik/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Aeneas' mother is a star?" "No; a goddess." I said cautiously, "Venus is the power that we invoke in spring, in the garden, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/aeneas-mother-is-a-star-no-a-goddess-i-said-cautiously-venus-is-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“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/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“It was suffering and incapacity that created all afterworlds - this, and that brief madness of bliss which is experienced only by those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-was-suffering-and-incapacity-that-created-all-afterworlds-this-and/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The natural gods of men are other men, mythic or real, who embody manhood in men's eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-donovan/the-natural-gods-of-men-are-other-men-mythic-or-real-who-embody/) [Jack Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-donovan/) > [“Every nation is part of the history we inherit, blacks and whites, slaves and gods; we have no other option, embracing each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/every-nation-is-part-of-the-history-we-inherit-blacks-and-whites/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) [Browse all 1,461 Gods quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But I found signs of their trespass: a burned patch planted with a fistful of grain, a tree felled or stripped of fruit, a deer strung up in a snare. 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