---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't remember a single monster before…"
description: "\"“I don't remember a single monster before I met you.' he'd told Amphibian. 'Now they seem to be all over the place.' 'You mean there wasn't anything yo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/andrew-kaufman-23239_fear_i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before_858780.png"
---

#  I don't remember a single monster before I met you.' he'd…

![“I don't remember a single monster before I met you.' he'd told Amphibian. 'Now they seem to be all over the place.' 'You mean there wasn't anything you were afraid of?' the Amphibian had asked him. 'lots.' 'What did they look like?' It was a funny question. 'They didn't look like anything. They…” quote by Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/andrew-kaufman-23239_fear_i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before_858780.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/andrew-kaufman-23239_fear_i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before_858780.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/andrew-kaufman-23239_fear_i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before_858780.png)

> ““I don't remember a single monster before I met you.' he'd told Amphibian. 'Now they seem to be all over the place.' 'You mean there wasn't anything you were afraid of?' the Amphibian had asked him. 'lots.' 'What did they look like?' It was a funny question. 'They didn't look like anything. They were ideas,' Tom told him. 'Like not being able to pay rent, or being lonely.' 'That's the most terrifying thing I've ever heard.' the Amphibian replied.””

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Monsters are metaphorical, representing internal fears like financial strain or loneliness; confronting them reveals deeper anxieties.

**In simple terms:** Ideas become monsters when they embody fear.

Key Takeaway

Identify and name your hidden anxieties.

Themes

fear loneliness financial stress imagination psychology

Mood

introspective thoughtful

Type

literary psychological

When to use this quote

- budgeting
- relationship counseling
- creative brainstorming
- self‑reflection

Key Concepts

metaphor internal conflict psychological horror

Questions to Reflect On

- What “monsters” are you ignoring?
- How do you differentiate real threats from imagined ones?

A Different Perspective

Labeling fears can oversimplify complex emotions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Afraid Amphibian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-amphibian-829091/) [Amphibian Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amphibian-asked-829093/) [Amphibian Replied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amphibian-replied-829094/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Heard Amphibian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard-amphibian-829095/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Superheroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superheroes/) [Told Amphibian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-amphibian-829092/)

## Related quotes

> [“The Sloth would sit on his couch, paralyzed by all the things he wasn't taking care of. Then one day, a Wednesday, he just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/the-sloth-would-sit-on-his-couch-paralyzed-by-all-the-things-he-wasn/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“Either I protect my friends and lie low until the fight for Radiasure is over, or I put everyone in harm's way and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-whipple/either-i-protect-my-friends-and-lie-low-until-the-fight-for-radiasure/)

[Natalie Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-whipple/)

> [Girls actually need superheroes much more than boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/girls-actually-need-superheroes-much-more-than-boys/)

[Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/)

> [“Wait," Honey said to herself, as she realized something amazing. "I’m already an excellent flyer. Maybe I can fight crime too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emlyn-chand/wait-honey-said-to-herself-as-she-realized-something-amazing-i-m/)

[Emlyn Chand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emlyn-chand/)

> [I'm used to comic books being reimagined, different takes on some of our beloved superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-wiseman/i-m-used-to-comic-books-being-reimagined-different-takes-on-some-of/)

[Len Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/len-wiseman/)

> [“By connecting your inner child to your internal being, you bring out the hero in you that is inside all of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/by-connecting-your-inner-child-to-your-internal-being-you-bring-out/)

[Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/)

> [“We'd been trying so hard to look like our heroes, we'd kinda forgotten what a hero really is. Capes, masks, powers — sure, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko/we-d-been-trying-so-hard-to-look-like-our-heroes-we-d-kinda-forgotten/)

[Mikko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko/)

> [What I've always really appreciated about MCU superheroes versus elsewhere is that they are trying to disrupt the idea of what a superhero can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simu-liu/what-i-ve-always-really-appreciated-about-mcu-superheroes-versus/)

[Simu Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simu-liu/)

> [“…turning your ankle hurts like hell, even if you're a superhero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/turning-your-ankle-hurts-like-hell-even-if-you-re-a-superhero/)

[Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/)

> [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [I'm uninterested in superheroes. I am only interested in real stories, real people, real connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-m-uninterested-in-superheroes-i-am-only-interested-in-real-stories/)

[Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/)

> [There's something about the superheroes and the idea behind their relationship with humans, whether it's a metaphor for the better part of ourselves, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/there-s-something-about-the-superheroes-and-the-idea-behind-their/)

[Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/)

> [“We were taught to be good, and we were taught to be careful. But in this world, sometimes, I do not think we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-bennett/we-were-taught-to-be-good-and-we-were-taught-to-be-careful-but-in/)

[Marguerite Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-bennett/)

> [“I hadn't realized she could shrink... It makes sense now with the tricks Ari was able to perform with her." "She wasn't born that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-bock/i-hadn-t-realized-she-could-shrink-it-makes-sense-now-with-the-tricks/)

[J.T. Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-bock/)

> [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/)

[Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/)

## More by Andrew Kaufman

> [“Perhaps one of the hardest things about having kids is realizing that you love them more than your wife. that it's possible to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/perhaps-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-having-kids-is-realizing-that/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“Are these affairs an attempt to figure out who you are?" "Maybe..." "And you think that everyone else knows this? That they know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/are-these-affairs-an-attempt-to-figure-out-who-you-are-maybe-and-you/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“It’s true most superheroes have funny names. But they have to come up with these names by themselves. Think about how hard it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/it-s-true-most-superheroes-have-funny-names-but-they-have-to-come-up/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [There are two ways to get rid of an anxiety monster,my friend-you either have a bath or a nap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/there-are-two-ways-to-get-rid-of-an-anxiety-monster-my-friend-you/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“He knocks on doors and stands there. You’d be surprised how few doors get answered”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/he-knocks-on-doors-and-stands-there-you-d-be-surprised-how-few-doors/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“The Sloth would sit on his couch, paralyzed by all the things he wasn't taking care of. Then one day, a Wednesday, he just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/the-sloth-would-sit-on-his-couch-paralyzed-by-all-the-things-he-wasn/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“But I'm here to tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. Your soul is a living, breathing, organic thing. No different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/but-i-m-here-to-tell-you-that-nothing-could-be-further-from-the-truth/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“Why do bad things happen to good people?' 'Because it makes a good story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people-because-it-makes-a-good-story/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“No one gets found in love. Everyone gets lost in it, Because love is overwhelming. Its beyond your control. You have to relinquish control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/no-one-gets-found-in-love-everyone-gets-lost-in-it-because-love-is/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“the code of a world he'd never been invited to join.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/the-code-of-a-world-he-d-never-been-invited-to-join/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“We are now, all of us, cinematographers for the movie of our own lives. Not the star. Not the director. Not even the writer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/we-are-now-all-of-us-cinematographers-for-the-movie-of-our-own-lives/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“To lose one's keys is the equivalent of losing one's mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/to-lose-one-s-keys-is-the-equivalent-of-losing-one-s-mind/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“The Sloth hated himself. He considered himself lazy. He had a dead-end job and no plans to get a better one. His relationship was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/the-sloth-hated-himself-he-considered-himself-lazy-he-had-a-dead-end/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“We’re here,’ the Clock says. The Perfectionist opens her eyes. She sees nothing. It’s white. All white. There’s no up. There’s no down. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/we-re-here-the-clock-says-the-perfectionist-opens-her-eyes-she-sees/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

> [“When Aquatics are overwhelmed, they seek out the tallest object in view, lie on their backs, put their heads against it and look up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/when-aquatics-are-overwhelmed-they-seek-out-the-tallest-object-in/)

[Andrew Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

[Explore all 25 Andrew Kaufman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/)

## More Fear quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/)

[M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/)

> [What an incredible drug fear is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/what-an-incredible-drug-fear-is/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

[Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/)

> [“We all know how the thing we secretly fear is not a secret at all but the open and eternal thing that predicts its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/we-all-know-how-the-thing-we-secretly-fear-is-not-a-secret-at-all-but/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/)

[Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [“Snip off the little worries and expressions of worry” like little branches atop a tall tree.28 If you are truly worried, sharing your concerns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/snip-off-the-little-worries-and-expressions-of-worry-like-little/)

[Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/)

> [“Fear and desire for pleasure. Aggressiveness comes out of fear, predominantly, and sexuality predominantly out of the other. But they mix in the middle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/fear-and-desire-for-pleasure-aggressiveness-comes-out-of-fear/)

[Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/)

> [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/)

[Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/)

[Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/)

> [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

[Browse all 35,569 Fear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I don't remember a single monster before I met you.' he'd told Amphibian. 'Now they seem to be all over the place.' 'You mean there wasn't anything you were afraid of?' the Amphibian had asked him. 'lots.' 'What did they look like?' It was a funny question. 'They didn't look like anything. They were ideas,' Tom told him. 'Like not being able to pay rent, or being lonely.' 'That's the most terrifying thing I've ever heard.' the Amphibian replied.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Andrew Kaufman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before-i-met-you-he-d-told/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before-i-met-you-he-d-told/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/andrew-kaufman-23239_fear_i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before_858780.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/andrew-kaufman-23239_fear_i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before_858780.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/andrew-kaufman-23239_fear_i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before_858780.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't remember a single monster before I met you.' he'd told Amphibian. 'Now they seem to be all over the…” — Andrew Kaufman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Andrew Kaufman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-kaufman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I don't remember a single monster...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before-i-met-you-he-d-told/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-kaufman/i-don-t-remember-a-single-monster-before-i-met-you-he-d-told/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
