--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While the cat's away, you may find the…" description: "\"While the cat's away, you may find the rats getting damned uppity.\" — Simon R. Green" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/simon-r-green-6185_cat_while-the-cat-s-away-you-may-find-the-ra_721791.png" --- # While the cat's away, you may find the rats getting damned… ![“While the cat's away, you may find the rats getting damned uppity.” quote by Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/simon-r-green-6185_cat_while-the-cat-s-away-you-may-find-the-ra_721791.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/simon-r-green-6185_cat_while-the-cat-s-away-you-may-find-the-ra_721791.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e80/simon-r-green-6185_cat_while-the-cat-s-away-you-may-find-the-ra_721791.png) > “While the cat's away, you may find the rats getting damned uppity.” [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When authority is absent, subordinates may become arrogant and disruptive. **In simple terms:** Without oversight, people can become overly bold. Key Takeaway Maintain checks and balances. Themes power authority rebellion behavior leadership Mood cautious reflective Type ethical behavioral When to use this quote - workplace - government - team projects - family settings Key Concepts hierarchy social dynamics risk management Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards prevent abuse of power? - How does oversight affect morale? A Different Perspective Not all groups react the same; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) ## Related quotes > [When the cat's away, chances are he's been run over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-sanders/when-the-cat-s-away-chances-are-he-s-been-run-over/) Mike Sanders > [We will shake and we'll be quiet as mice while the cat is away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radiohead/we-will-shake-and-we-ll-be-quiet-as-mice-while-the-cat-is-away/) [Radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radiohead/) > [While the cat's away, the mice will play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur-ray/while-the-cat-s-away-the-mice-will-play/) [James Arthur Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur-ray/) > [“Do people ever wonder about why it has been said that the mice shall play when the cat is away?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amarjyoti-acharya/do-people-ever-wonder-about-why-it-has-been-said-that-the-mice-shall/) [Amarjyoti Acharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amarjyoti-acharya/) > [If you want to reduce the rats, use the cats! If you want to reduce the fools, use the books!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-want-to-reduce-the-rats-use-the-cats-if-you-want-to-reduce-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I see an actress smoking a cigarette in an old Fred McMurray movie. She’s clever and beautiful and manipulative. I feel envy. I suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chila-woychik/i-see-an-actress-smoking-a-cigarette-in-an-old-fred-mcmurray-movie/) [Chila Woychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chila-woychik/) > [“To Robin’s recollection, one of the first shots that went out on the Television Food Network was of rats scurrying across a black floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-salkin/to-robin-s-recollection-one-of-the-first-shots-that-went-out-on-the/) [Allen Salkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-salkin/) > [If Under fell, if Over leaped, If death was life and Death life reaped, Something rises from the gloom, To make the Underland a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/if-under-fell-if-over-leaped-if-death-was-life-and-death-life-reaped/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Rats would’ve eaten the tender parts: eyes, nose, earlobes, testicles…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/rats-would-ve-eaten-the-tender-parts-eyes-nose-earlobes-testicles/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [It is restful, tragedy, because one knows that there is no more lousy hope left. You know you're caught, caught at last like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anouilh/it-is-restful-tragedy-because-one-knows-that-there-is-no-more-lousy/) [Jean Anouilh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anouilh/) > [I wouldn't mind the rat race - if the rats would lose once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wilson/i-wouldn-t-mind-the-rat-race-if-the-rats-would-lose-once-in-a-while/) [Tom Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wilson/) > [He wanted to go running home to Mommy, what can I say? Of course, it's hard for me to believe that anyone would choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/he-wanted-to-go-running-home-to-mommy-what-can-i-say-of-course-it-s/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [He looked exactly like a rat. Like the human being version of a rat. Like the villain in a Don Bluth movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-looked-exactly-like-a-rat-like-the-human-being-version-of-a-rat/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [But there was more to it than that. As the Amazing Maurice said, it was just a story about people and rats. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-there-was-more-to-it-than-that-as-the-amazing-maurice-said-it-was/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) ## More by Simon R. Green > [“Worship Me Like the Goddess I Am or There Will Be Some Serious Smiting." Jubilee”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/worship-me-like-the-goddess-i-am-or-there-will-be-some-serious/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“Don’t you dare try to out-gloom me. I’m the only one here entitled to indulge in deep dark existential brooding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/don-t-you-dare-try-to-out-gloom-me-i-m-the-only-one-here-entitled-to/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“He has also worked as a shop assistant, bicycle-repair mechanic, journalist, actor, eccentric dancer, and mail-order bride. He has never worked for MI5. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/he-has-also-worked-as-a-shop-assistant-bicycle-repair-mechanic/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“Families – can’t live with them – can’t take them down to the river and drown them all in sacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/families-can-t-live-with-them-can-t-take-them-down-to-the-river-and/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“I am the scalpel that cuts out infection, and the heartbreak that makes men wiser.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/i-am-the-scalpel-that-cuts-out-infection-and-the-heartbreak-that/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“You’re the only man I know who makes the sign of the cross when confronted with broccoli.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/you-re-the-only-man-i-know-who-makes-the-sign-of-the-cross-when/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“Every day there’s something which makes me think ‘I’d better ask Dad about that, I wonder what Mother would say…’ and then I remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/every-day-there-s-something-which-makes-me-think-i-d-better-ask-dad/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“CHAPTER SIX Dangerous Lab Interns”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/chapter-six-dangerous-lab-interns/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [Books can be terrible snobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/books-can-be-terrible-snobs/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“Never look back,” I said wisely. “All you’ll ever see are lost opportunities creeping up on you with bad intent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/never-look-back-i-said-wisely-all-you-ll-ever-see-are-lost/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“I’m exempt from anything I damned will feel like on the grounds that I’ll kick anyone’s ass who says otherwise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/i-m-exempt-from-anything-i-damned-will-feel-like-on-the-grounds-that/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [We are in the dark places of the earth," said Madman. "Where all the ancient and most dangerous secrets are kept. There are Old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/we-are-in-the-dark-places-of-the-earth-said-madman-where-all-the/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [“I’m not crazy. I know what I’m doing. You’re just jealous because the voices only speak to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/i-m-not-crazy-i-know-what-i-m-doing-you-re-just-jealous-because-the/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [Revenge is simply justice with teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/revenge-is-simply-justice-with-teeth/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) > [Nothing is ever really lost. The memories of good friends and good times are always there, never more than a thought away. In a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-r-green/nothing-is-ever-really-lost-the-memories-of-good-friends-and-good/) [Simon R. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) [Explore all 98 Simon R. Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-r-green/) ## More Cat quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Man wishes woman to be peaceable, but in fact she is essentially warlike, like the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-wishes-woman-to-be-peaceable-but-in-fact-she-is-essentially/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There are videos I used to take at home, pretending to be a newscaster, interviewing the teapot or my house cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-are-videos-i-used-to-take-at-home-pretending-to-be-a-newscaster/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) [Browse all 2,996 Cat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While the cat's away, you may find the rats getting damned uppity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon R. 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