Things I've Learned From Redwall

[Maudie]

Mossflower: If you're terrified of water, learn how to swim.
Mossflower: Never trust a fox, even if they aren't an actual fox.
Mossflower: Don't make eating that pine marten your goal in life.
Mossflower: Don't spend your whole life trying to destroy a badger lord.

[Duxwing]

Vith Good ze ztrength liez in ztuff like 'ope, Friendzhip, kindnezz, compazzion, bravery, mercy, etc... In ozer vordz, ze good characterz boozt each other up. Vith Evil ze ztrength liez in ztuff like greed, luzt for pover, cruelty, back-ztabbin', betrayal, lyin', killin', fear, etc... In ozer vordz, ze evil characterz fight tae be ze bezt, killin' off zoze zat are veaker zae zat zey may grov ztronger.

Vhile Evil conzumez itself zae zat it ztrengthenz zoze zat zurvive, Good 'elpz ozerz an' focuzez on ztrengthenin' ozerz instead o' itself an' zuz zey zupport an' ztrengthen each ozer.

Becauze o' ziz zere iz lezz evil, but zat vitch remainz iz ztrong an' poverful; vhile zere iz more good, but each part o' ze good iz nae zae ztrong.

Evil reliez on focuzin' on itself at ze expenze o' ozerz, vhile Good reliez on focuzin' on ozerz at it'z ovn expenze.

Furzermore, alzough good alvayz vinz in ze end, evil often endz up vinnin' for a time before finally bein' defeated by good. Juzt remember, evil vill alvayz be oot zere, zae good needz tae alvayz be zere tae face it.

But aren't those definitions of Good and Evil awfully arbitrary and easily reducible to the results of group selection for certain psychological traits?  Anyway, we're getting way off topic (feel the irony; taste the irony).

Actually, what I say is relevant, as in the Redwall series, it is established which side is good and which side is bad. But enough of that.

Yes, but in real life, as much is not established; nevertheless, I agree that Jacques makes an excellent general-case argument.  We can consider his goodies and baddies to be placeholders, symbols for variables in an ethical equation.    However, I was looking for lessons learned in the Redwall series that can be applied to life outside it.

What I've learned from Mossflower:
1. Its better to look on for better things, even if the place in front of you appears to be pretty good on the 2nd rate scale.
2. If a warrior creature who fights you is captured, kill hi m instantly. It will save your life in the end!
3. Follow the crowd.
4. If you have two different enemies, have them kill each other in some way.
5. Brains sometimes is all it takes.

Do you agree or disagree with those lessons?

Salamandastron: Don't jump into a bottomless well when you can just drown your opponent in the first foot of its murky depths.
Salamandastron: When trying to assassinate an enemy leader, don't use just one tiny javelin.  Use lots of big ones, preferably ones that are alight and filled with oil.

-Duxwing

[Ungatt Trunn]

Actually, what I say is relevant, as in the Redwall series, it is established which side is good and which side is bad. But enough of that.

Yes, but in real life, as much is not established; nevertheless, I agree that Jacques makes an excellent general-case argument.  We can consider his goodies and baddies to be placeholders, symbols for variables in an ethical equation.    However, I was looking for lessons learned in the Redwall series that can be applied to life outside it.

What I've learned from Mossflower:
1. Its better to look on for better things, even if the place in front of you appears to be pretty good on the 2nd rate scale.
2. If a warrior creature who fights you is captured, kill him instantly. It will save your life in the end!
3. Follow the crowd.
4. If you have two different enemies, have them kill each other in some way.
5. Brains sometimes is all it takes.

Do you agree or disagree with those lessons?

I agree for the most part. for number 2, that mostly applies if your a baddie, like Tsarmina. For Number 3, following the crown might not be the best way all the time, but it is still something that can be done in some circumstances.

[HeadInAnotherGalaxy]

But aren't those definitions of Good and Evil awfully arbitrary and easily reducible to the results of group selection for certain psychological traits?  Anyway, we're getting way off topic (feel the irony; taste the irony).

Juzt ztatin' me obzervtionz. Ah vaznae definin' anyzin'. *vanderz back on topic*

[Ungatt Trunn]

The Sable Quean: Dibbuns can be smarter than you think!

The Sable Quean: If you have a knife dipped in poison, don't keep it tied around your neck. It will just lead to you eventuall demise!

Martin the Warrior-Mossflower: Desert your army before THEY come!

Lord Brocktree: Don't mess with Wildcats (He, he...).

Mattimeo: Be sure to keep a close eye on the door when the enemy is about.

[Tam and Martin]

I like the one about Ungatt! Never fight a Wildcat 

[Ungatt Trunn]

I like the one about Ungatt! Never fight a Wildcat 

'Cause its true

Martin the Warrior: Learn to distinguish the sounds of bees and rivers.

Martin the Warrior: Its not safe being a captain

Martin the Warrior: You can't control fate.

[Romsca]

Mattimeo: Never let a traveling, performing fox inside the abbey

Pearls of Lutra: If there's a lizard on your ship, kill him as soon as possible. It will save you a lot of trouble later

[Rusvul]

Mattimeo: Never let a traveling, performing fox inside the abbey

Oi!

[Duxwing]

Redwall: Deploy a forward observer to positively identify your target.
Redwall: If you have a ballista capable of engaging targets in the enemy camp from a position of safety, then don't stop at one shot.  Engage targets of opportunity: Fire bolts slathered with burning pitch into their supplies, shoot anybeast who stays still, and use the bolts to deliver poison into their water and messages into their midst.
Redwall: Add jelly or gelatin to oil to turn it into napalm.  Replace oil with napalm in most weapons applications.
Redwall: Ballistas are scalable weapons.  Why fire a bolt when you can fire a burning log filled with oil or napalm?

-Duxwing

[Romsca]

Salamandastron: As a hare of the Long Patrol, never let your badger lord fight an enemy by himself. He'll likely die. Bad form, wot!

[Buzz_Bumble]

Things I've learned from Redwall ...

1. How to spell "Redwall".
2. How to spell "Salamandastron".
3. How to spell "Mossflower"
4. ...

[Shadowed One]

Pearls of Lutra-Never stack dry wood behind your fortress walls.

[Romsca]

LOL

[Kitsune]

1. Brian Jacques was very creative
2. Never let someone shifty inside Redwall