QuoteProject
Children, old crones, peasants, and dogs ramble; cats and philosophers stick to their point.
H. P. Lovecraft
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that while many might get lost in digression, true wisdom, like that of cats and philosophers, is about focus and clarity.

H. P. Lovecraft's quote draws a clear distinction between the deviating conversation styles of the masses and the focused nature of those who seek wisdom. It implies that while everyday individuals easily veer off-topic, those who possess a philosophical mindset, much like the solitary and deliberate behavior of cats, tend to remain succinct and precise in their thoughts. This reflects a broader commentary on the nature of intellectual discourse versus casual chatter.

Themes

WisdomFocusPhilosophyCatsCommunication

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion on effective communication, this quote could highlight the value of staying focused and avoiding unnecessary distractions.

More from H. P. Lovecraft

There are horrors beyond life's edge that we do not suspect, and once in a while man's evil prying calls them just within our range.
H. P. LovecraftRead
I know always that I am an outsider; a stranger in this century and among those who are still men.
H. P. LovecraftRead
Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places.
H. P. LovecraftRead
The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest form of fascination.
H. P. LovecraftRead
No new horror can be more terrible than the daily torture of the commonplace.
H. P. LovecraftRead
I am, indeed, an absolute materialist so far as actual belief goes; with not a shred of credence in any form of supernaturalism—religion, spiritualism, transcendentalism, metempsychosis, or immortality.
H. P. LovecraftRead

Similar quotes

I think my worst problem is actually living in the moment and understanding everything that's going on. I feel like I'm in my own bubble.
Kendrick LamarRead
The refusal to take sides on great moral issues is itself a decision. It is a silent acquiescence to evil. The Tragedy of our time is that those who still believe in honesty lack fire and conviction, while those who believe in dishonesty are full of passionate conviction.
Fulton J. SheenRead
Ayn Rand's 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society.... To justify and extol human greed and egotism is to my mind not only immoral, but evil.
Gore VidalRead
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.
Bertrand RussellRead
Intolerance betrays want of faith in one's cause.
Mahatma GandhiRead
Do you suppose that it is within your power to insult me? You evidently are not aware to whom you are speaking? Do you imagine that the envenomed spittle of five hundred little gentlemen of your type, heaped one upon another, would succeed in slobbering so much as the tips of my august toes?
Marcel ProustRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.