--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a witty fiction of the poets, that…" description: "\"“It was a witty fiction of the poets, that when Mercury had cast Argus into a sleep and with an enchanted wand closed his eyes, he then killed him. Whe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/thomas-watson-4209_humor_it-was-a-witty-fiction-of-the-poets-that_2410922.jpg" --- # It was a witty fiction of the poets, that when Mercury had… ![“It was a witty fiction of the poets, that when Mercury had cast Argus into a sleep and with an enchanted wand closed his eyes, he then killed him. When Satan has by his witcheries lulled men asleep in sloth, then he destroys them. Some report that while the crocodile sleeps with its mouth open…” quote by Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/thomas-watson-4209_humor_it-was-a-witty-fiction-of-the-poets-that_2410922.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/thomas-watson-4209_humor_it-was-a-witty-fiction-of-the-poets-that_2410922.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/386/thomas-watson-4209_humor_it-was-a-witty-fiction-of-the-poets-that_2410922.jpg) > ““It was a witty fiction of the poets, that when Mercury had cast Argus into a sleep and with an enchanted wand closed his eyes, he then killed him. When Satan has by his witcheries lulled men asleep in sloth, then he destroys them. Some report that while the crocodile sleeps with its mouth open, the Indian rat gets into its belly and eats up its entrails. So while men sleep in security they are devoured.”” [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People become vulnerable when complacent, allowing predators—literal or metaphorical—to exploit them. **In simple terms:** Complacency invites danger. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant against complacency. Themes vigilance complacency danger Mood cautionary thoughtful Type philosophical warning When to use this quote - workplace complacency - political apathy - personal safety Key Concepts psychology security predation Questions to Reflect On - How do you guard against hidden threats? - What habits keep you alert? A Different Perspective Not all threats are overt; some are subtle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) ## Related quotes > [The bore is good for promoting sleep; but though he causeth sleep in others, it is uncertain whether he ever sleeps himself; as few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/the-bore-is-good-for-promoting-sleep-but-though-he-causeth-sleep-in/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [“I promise to respect and protect your aloneness, knowing that everything created must have its period of darkness: child and bulb, poem and personality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/i-promise-to-respect-and-protect-your-aloneness-knowing-that/) [anne morrow lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. 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God cannot deny a praying soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/prayer-delights-god-s-ear-it-melts-his-heart-and-opens-his-hand-god/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) [Explore all 113 Thomas Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) ## More Humor quotes > ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/) [Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. 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