--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can knock down kingdoms on a whim…" description: "\"You can knock down kingdoms on a whim. What you need is someone to make sure you don't get hit by a carriage when you cross the street.\" — Scott Lynch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/scott-lynch-1437_carriage_you-can-knock-down-kingdoms-on-a-whim-wh_884355.png" --- # You can knock down kingdoms on a whim. What you need is… ![“You can knock down kingdoms on a whim. What you need is someone to make sure you don't get hit by a carriage when you cross the street.” quote by Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/scott-lynch-1437_carriage_you-can-knock-down-kingdoms-on-a-whim-wh_884355.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/scott-lynch-1437_carriage_you-can-knock-down-kingdoms-on-a-whim-wh_884355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/scott-lynch-1437_carriage_you-can-knock-down-kingdoms-on-a-whim-wh_884355.png) > “You can knock down kingdoms on a whim. What you need is someone to make sure you don't get hit by a carriage when you cross the street.” [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power can be toppled easily, but one needs protection from unforeseen dangers. **In simple terms:** You can destroy kingdoms, but must guard against accidents. Key Takeaway Combine ambition with practical safeguards. Themes power risk protection Mood witty cautious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political coups - business ventures - personal projects Key Concepts strategic planning risk management Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards are essential for your goals? - How do you balance bold moves with safety? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [A pleasant traveling companion on a journey is as good as a carriage. Each day is the scholar of yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/a-pleasant-traveling-companion-on-a-journey-is-as-good-as-a-carriage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [I love trains. I dont even mind First Great Western, which is a stupid name because it implies every carriage is first class, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-rice/i-love-trains-i-dont-even-mind-first-great-western-which-is-a-stupid/) [Tim Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-rice/) > [ The introduction of so powerful an agent as steam \[to a carriage on wheels\] will make a great change in the situation of man. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-introduction-of-so-powerful-an-agent-as-steam-to-a-carriage-on/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [A carriage will start from Washington in the morning, the passengers will breakfast at Baltimore, dine at Philadelphia, and sup in New York the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-evans/a-carriage-will-start-from-washington-in-the-morning-the-passengers/) Oliver Evans > [Let thy carriage be such as becomes a man grave settled and attentive to that which is spoken. Contradict not, at every turn, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/let-thy-carriage-be-such-as-becomes-a-man-grave-settled-and-attentive/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [We are in the greatest danger of being run over when we have just gotten out of the way of a carriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-are-in-the-greatest-danger-of-being-run-over-when-we-have-just/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I would much rather always look forward to the time when I am going to ride in a carriage, than to look back on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/i-would-much-rather-always-look-forward-to-the-time-when-i-am-going/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [To go through life without love is to travel through the world in a carriage with closed windows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-panin/to-go-through-life-without-love-is-to-travel-through-the-world-in-a/) [Ivan Panin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-panin/) > [Charleston has something for everyone, rain or shine. Its architecture is unparalleled. Carriage rides are great for seeing the city and hearing the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gibson/charleston-has-something-for-everyone-rain-or-shine-its-architecture/) [Thomas Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gibson/) > [Learning from books and teachers is like traveling by carriage, so we are told in the Veda. 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I think quiet L.A. suited him better, but he loved to see shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/i-remember-going-on-carriage-rides-with-dad-when-we-d-visit-i-think/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [A third-class carriage is a community, while a first-class carriage is a place of wild hermits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-third-class-carriage-is-a-community-while-a-first-class-carriage-is/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [My feet is my only carriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/my-feet-is-my-only-carriage/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) ## More by Scott Lynch > [“Please, boy. Let’s not start out with either of us insulting the other’s intelligence. 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When anyone tells you habits die hard, Locke, they’re lying—it seems they never die at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/ha-yes-when-anyone-tells-you-habits-die-hard-locke-they-re-lying-it/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“ESPARA, FORMERLY a seat of prestige only one step below Therim Pel itself, had descended from its imperial years the way some men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/espara-formerly-a-seat-of-prestige-only-one-step-below-therim-pel/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Advice,' Doña Vorchenza chuckled. 'Advice. The years play a sort of alchemical trick, transmuting one's mutterings to a state of respectability. Give advice at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/advice-do-a-vorchenza-chuckled-advice-the-years-play-a-sort-of/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“Ibelius," said Jean. "If what Locke is doing were lurking about, corpses could be acrobats.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/ibelius-said-jean-if-what-locke-is-doing-were-lurking-about-corpses/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [Any man can fart in a closed room and say that he commands the wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/any-man-can-fart-in-a-closed-room-and-say-that-he-commands-the-wind/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“What an interesting choice of words. “Not real, and never were.” Could there be any more appropriate literature for men of our profession? Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/what-an-interesting-choice-of-words-not-real-and-never-were-could/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“Why were all his fantasies so calamitous for that table, which had done him no injury?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/why-were-all-his-fantasies-so-calamitous-for-that-table-which-had/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“I more proudly take a speck from a man with empty pockets,” said Sabetha, “than riches from a man whose purse stays heavy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/i-more-proudly-take-a-speck-from-a-man-with-empty-pockets-said/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“He was bewildered at how quickly he had escaped his old life and fallen into this new one with strangely pleasant crazy people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/he-was-bewildered-at-how-quickly-he-had-escaped-his-old-life-and/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [I think piracy is a bit like drinking. You want to stay out all night doing it, you pay the price the next day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/i-think-piracy-is-a-bit-like-drinking-you-want-to-stay-out-all-night/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“That's a sweet piece," said Jean, briefly forgetting to be aggravated. "You didn't snatch that off a street." "No," said Locke, before taking another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/that-s-a-sweet-piece-said-jean-briefly-forgetting-to-be-aggravated/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“But time’s a river, Locke, and we’ve always drifted farther down it than we think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/but-time-s-a-river-locke-and-we-ve-always-drifted-farther-down-it/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) > [“I understand, my lord. I…don’t wish to embarrass you again.” “Embarrass me? Jean, you misunderstand.” Maranzalla kicked idly at the toy rapier, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lynch/i-understand-my-lord-i-don-t-wish-to-embarrass-you-again-embarrass-me/) [Scott Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) [Explore all 241 Scott Lynch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lynch/) ## More Carriage quotes > [“Ethan! What on earth are you doing?" "Excuse us,please.It is very warm in here and my wife has begun to feel a little faint."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-martin/ethan-what-on-earth-are-you-doing-excuse-us-please-it-is-very-warm-in/) [Kat Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-martin/) > [Whether we think of Disney's blonde beauty and her pumpkin carriage or Marissa Meyer's recent recasting of 'Cinderella' as a cyborg in the young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-rutkoski/whether-we-think-of-disney-s-blonde-beauty-and-her-pumpkin-carriage/) [Marie Rutkoski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-rutkoski/) > [When I am travelling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/when-i-am-travelling-in-a-carriage-or-walking-after-a-good-meal-or/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [“Nobody sees any one as he is, let alone an elderly lady sitting opposite a strange young man in a railway carriage. They see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/nobody-sees-any-one-as-he-is-let-alone-an-elderly-lady-sitting/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [A pleasant traveling companion on a journey is as good as a carriage. Each day is the scholar of yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/a-pleasant-traveling-companion-on-a-journey-is-as-good-as-a-carriage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [A third-class carriage is a community, while a first-class carriage is a place of wild hermits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/a-third-class-carriage-is-a-community-while-a-first-class-carriage-is/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [I see that I have, as part of my stock in trade, a very regal personality and carriage. I see that I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-fishburne/i-see-that-i-have-as-part-of-my-stock-in-trade-a-very-regal/) [Laurence Fishburne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-fishburne/) > [The true Christian is called to be a soldier and must behave as such from the day of his conversion to the day of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-christian-is-called-to-be-a-soldier-and-must-behave-as-such/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [I remember going on carriage rides with Dad when we'd visit. I think quiet L.A. suited him better, but he loved to see shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/i-remember-going-on-carriage-rides-with-dad-when-we-d-visit-i-think/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [“They continued on to London, and she's there, safe and sound, waiting for you.' 'You can't know for sure.' Piers swung up into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/they-continued-on-to-london-and-she-s-there-safe-and-sound-waiting/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [“Yes, my lord, and riding on sleek steel rails in a well-sprung carriage would be the height of comfort. So smooth!” said Moist. “Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/yes-my-lord-and-riding-on-sleek-steel-rails-in-a-well-sprung-carriage/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Yakima Canutt was famously John Wayne's stunt double, and in the Western movie 'Stagecoach,' there is a fantastic scene where there are some horses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-truglia/yakima-canutt-was-famously-john-wayne-s-stunt-double-and-in-the/) [Steve Truglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-truglia/) > [Sometimes, a novel is like a train: the first chapter is a comfortable seat in an attractive carriage, and the narrative speeds up. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/sometimes-a-novel-is-like-a-train-the-first-chapter-is-a-comfortable/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [“The carriage lurches back and forth as the vehicle – the bastard child of a spider, a H. G. Wells war machine and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannu-rajaniemi/the-carriage-lurches-back-and-forth-as-the-vehicle-the-bastard-child/) [Hannu Rajaniemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannu-rajaniemi/) > [“I always knew our first time would be in a carriage." - Sebastian”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-gleason/i-always-knew-our-first-time-would-be-in-a-carriage-sebastian/) [Colleen Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-gleason/) Browse all 48 Carriage quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can knock down kingdoms on a whim. 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