--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's true, you can never eat a pet you…" description: "\"It's true, you can never eat a pet you name. And anyway, it would be like a ventriloquist eating his dummy.\" — Alexander Theroux" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/alexander-theroux-14881_dummy_it-s-true-you-can-never-eat-a-pet-you-na_1085206.png" --- # It's true, you can never eat a pet you name. And anyway… ![“It's true, you can never eat a pet you name. And anyway, it would be like a ventriloquist eating his dummy.” quote by Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/alexander-theroux-14881_dummy_it-s-true-you-can-never-eat-a-pet-you-na_1085206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/alexander-theroux-14881_dummy_it-s-true-you-can-never-eat-a-pet-you-na_1085206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e6/alexander-theroux-14881_dummy_it-s-true-you-can-never-eat-a-pet-you-na_1085206.png) > “It's true, you can never eat a pet you name. And anyway, it would be like a ventriloquist eating his dummy.” [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Naming a pet creates an emotional bond that makes harming it feel like self‑betrayal, similar to a ventriloquist harming his dummy. **In simple terms:** Naming creates attachment; harming feels like self‑betrayal. Key Takeaway Respect the bond; avoid harming what you love. Themes ethics attachment animal welfare Mood thoughtful reflective Type aphilosophical ethical When to use this quote - pet ownership - culinary choices - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts psychology empathy Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel more attached to things you name? - How does naming affect your decisions? A Different Perspective The metaphor may not translate to all cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Pet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet/) [Ventriloquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ventriloquist/) ## Related quotes > [With every step I took away from her, the movement at my heart and between my legs grew more defined: I felt like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/with-every-step-i-took-away-from-her-the-movement-at-my-heart-and/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“I’m like a ventriloquist chasing his own voice. 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It came after Edgar Bergen because everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/i-think-there-s-a-lot-of-unfortunately-unfunny-ventriloquists-out/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [To be accused of 'channeling' is to be dismissed as a ventriloquist's live dummy, derogated at not having a mind of one's own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/to-be-accused-of-channeling-is-to-be-dismissed-as-a-ventriloquist-s/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [I admire ventriloquists, because I can't do that. 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See, tigers, I don't know - I can't be playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/my-dream-pet-i-like-a-couple-of-them-man-monkey-i-love-dogs-see/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [Men are kids at heart. They want to be nourished and pet like a dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/men-are-kids-at-heart-they-want-to-be-nourished-and-pet-like-a-dog/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [Having an animal that you fix, knowing that you saved its life or you saved a pet - Like on a dog, these little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/having-an-animal-that-you-fix-knowing-that-you-saved-its-life-or-you/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [Adopting a pet is like taking the responsibility of a baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farah-khan/adopting-a-pet-is-like-taking-the-responsibility-of-a-baby/) [Farah Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farah-khan/) > [Loving your pet is like loving your kids you can never let them go, if they get sick you take care of them, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella/loving-your-pet-is-like-loving-your-kids-you-can-never-let-them-go-if/) [Isabella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella/) ## More by Alexander Theroux > [There is no loneliness like that of a failed marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/there-is-no-loneliness-like-that-of-a-failed-marriage/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) > [Yellow is vagueness and luminousness, both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/yellow-is-vagueness-and-luminousness-both/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) > [Will I have to use a dictionary to read your book?" asked Mrs. Dodypol. 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We create what we are willing to admire and admiring what we shouldn't confess to the secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/we-all-end-up-living-secret-lives-we-create-what-we-are-willing-to/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) > [“That night God and Satan fought long hours for his soul. And God conquered. It was only left to be determined which of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/that-night-god-and-satan-fought-long-hours-for-his-soul-and-god/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) [Explore all 45 Alexander Theroux quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) ## More Dummy quotes > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. 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You can't move up the ladder until everyone is comfortable with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-wyse/always-hire-people-who-are-better-than-you-hiring-dummies-is/) [Lois Wyse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-wyse/) > [We used to say, There's nothing cool about being a dummy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-paul/we-used-to-say-there-s-nothing-cool-about-being-a-dummy/) [Rich Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-paul/) > [I just quit eating like a dummy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uncle-kracker/i-just-quit-eating-like-a-dummy/) [Uncle Kracker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uncle-kracker/) > [Just remember: you're not a 'dummy,' no matter what those computer books claim. The real dummies are the people who-though technically expert-couldn't design hardware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/just-remember-you-re-not-a-dummy-no-matter-what-those-computer-books/) [Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/) > [When I was eight years old, I got a dummy for Christmas and started teaching myself. I got books and records and sat in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-dunham/when-i-was-eight-years-old-i-got-a-dummy-for-christmas-and-started/) [Jeff Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-dunham/) > [Ignoring for a moment the power of the American Medical Association, we still wouldn't see a huge amount of books on neurosurgery for dummies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/ignoring-for-a-moment-the-power-of-the-american-medical-association/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [We can talk about the economy, we can talk about Social Security. 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