--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The wolf howled under the leaves And spit…" description: "\"The wolf howled under the leaves And spit out the prettiest feathers Of his meal of fowl: Like him I consume myself.\" — Arthur Rimbaud" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/arthur-rimbaud-2266_feathers_the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spi_1073003.jpg" --- # The wolf howled under the leaves And spit out the… ![“The wolf howled under the leaves And spit out the prettiest feathers Of his meal of fowl: Like him I consume myself.” quote by Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/arthur-rimbaud-2266_feathers_the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spi_1073003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/arthur-rimbaud-2266_feathers_the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spi_1073003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/arthur-rimbaud-2266_feathers_the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spi_1073003.jpg) > “The wolf howled under the leaves And spit out the prettiest feathers Of his meal of fowl: Like him I consume myself.” [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees self-destruction as consuming one's own essence, like a wolf eating its own feathers. **In simple terms:** Self-destruction consumes the self. Key Takeaway Beware of self‑destructive habits. Themes self‑destruction identity paradox Mood melancholic introspective Type poetic literary When to use this quote - creative crises - addiction - emotional turmoil Key Concepts nihilism existentialism self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What parts of yourself are you consuming? - Can destruction lead to renewal? A Different Perspective Self‑destruction can also be a path to rebirth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) ## Related quotes > [“A wolf howled sending her lonely ululations high into the air, wailing and crying like a tortured soul. 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Ferghus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-savage/to-their-rear-a-wolf-howled-and-she-wondered-if-it-was-her-handsome/) [Vivienne Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-savage/) > [“In a distant forest a wolf howled, felt embarrassed when no one joined in, and stopped.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/in-a-distant-forest-a-wolf-howled-felt-embarrassed-when-no-one-joined/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hunter, Lizzie’s not even on our team!” Raven shouted after him. “Aw, he’s a big sweetie pie,” said Maddie. “A big, sugary banana slice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/hunter-lizzie-s-not-even-on-our-team-raven-shouted-after-him-aw-he-s/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“Somewhere to the eastward a wolf howled; lightly, questioningly. I knew the voice, for I had heard it many times before. 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Arms stretched out next to me, I howled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/my-mouth-opened-it-happened-yes-with-my-head-thrown-into-the-sky-i/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Jem, naturally, was Boo: he went under the front steps and shrieked and howled from time to time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/jem-naturally-was-boo-he-went-under-the-front-steps-and-shrieked-and/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [“No moon in sight, so I howled at the exit sign instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-choi/no-moon-in-sight-so-i-howled-at-the-exit-sign-instead/) Franny Choi > [“An ambulance came. Then a cop car. When pressed harder about it, I cried. A lot. Howled, really.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kuehn/an-ambulance-came-then-a-cop-car-when-pressed-harder-about-it-i-cried/) [Stephanie Kuehn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kuehn/) > [We danced too wild, and we sang too long, and we hugged too hard, and we kissed too sweet, and howled just as loud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-cleage/we-danced-too-wild-and-we-sang-too-long-and-we-hugged-too-hard-and-we/) [Pearl Cleage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-cleage/) ## More by Arthur Rimbaud > [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“My turn now. The story of one of my insanities. For a long time I boasted that I was master of all possible landscapes--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/my-turn-now-the-story-of-one-of-my-insanities-for-a-long-time-i/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [Eternity. It is the sea mingled with the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/eternity-it-is-the-sea-mingled-with-the-sun/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“Delivered to oblivion...growing and flowering with incense and weeds to the sullen whine of nasty flies... I loved deserts, burnt out orchards, faded boutiques...I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/delivered-to-oblivion-growing-and-flowering-with-incense-and-weeds-to/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“I On the calm black water where the stars are sleeping White Ophelia floats like a great lily; Floats very slowly, lying in her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-on-the-calm-black-water-where-the-stars-are-sleeping-white-ophelia/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [I went out under the sky, Muse! and I was your vassal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-went-out-under-the-sky-muse-and-i-was-your-vassal/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [But the problem is to make the soul into a monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/but-the-problem-is-to-make-the-soul-into-a-monster/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [Love...no such thing. Whatever it is that binds families and married couples together, that's not love. That's stupidity or selfishness or fear. Love doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/love-no-such-thing-whatever-it-is-that-binds-families-and-married/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [Weakness or strength: you exist, that is strength. You don't know where you are going or why you are going, go in everywhere, answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/weakness-or-strength-you-exist-that-is-strength-you-don-t-know-where/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [Oh! If only we were naked now, and free to watch our protruding parts align; To whisper - both of us - in ecstasy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/oh-if-only-we-were-naked-now-and-free-to-watch-our-protruding-parts/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [But, truly, I have wept too much! The Dawns are heartbreaking. Every moon is atrocious and every sun bitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/but-truly-i-have-wept-too-much-the-dawns-are-heartbreaking-every-moon/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [What an old maid I'm getting to be. lacking the courage to be in love with death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/what-an-old-maid-i-m-getting-to-be-lacking-the-courage-to-be-in-love/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [“I shall ask forgiveness for having fed on lies. - Farewell ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/i-shall-ask-forgiveness-for-having-fed-on-lies-farewell/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [And I am still alive-what though, my damnation is eternal. A man who deliberately mutilates himself is truly damned, is he not? I believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/and-i-am-still-alive-what-though-my-damnation-is-eternal-a-man-who/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) > [. . . be absolute moderne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/be-absolute-moderne/) [Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) [Explore all 148 Arthur Rimbaud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/) ## More Feathers quotes > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [Stefan: "Indian with a dot, not a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stefan-indian-with-a-dot-not-a-feather/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [All she saw, down in the cellar well beneath the stoop, was a light yellow feather with a tip of green. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/all-she-saw-down-in-the-cellar-well-beneath-the-stoop-was-a-light/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/just-erotic-nothing-kinky-it-s-the-difference-between-using-a-feather/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Now I'm free of him and I'm light as a feather. There's no weight holding me down; I'm ready to spread my wings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/now-i-m-free-of-him-and-i-m-light-as-a-feather-there-s-no-weight/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I often say if men were meant to fly we would have been born with either feathers and wings or at the very least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zakour/i-often-say-if-men-were-meant-to-fly-we-would-have-been-born-with/) [John Zakour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zakour/) > [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/) [Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/) > [I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-ve-been-doing-the-bachelor-long-enough-that-i-don-t-really-care/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [“Featherweight by Suzy Kassem One evening, I sat by the ocean and questioned the moon about my destiny. I revealed to it that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/featherweight-by-suzy-kassem-one-evening-i-sat-by-the-ocean-and/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Birds, unlike us, lack countenance. But they make us smile when they connecting the sky with their dazzling feathers. They amaze us with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ligori/birds-unlike-us-lack-countenance-but-they-make-us-smile-when-they/) Susan Ligori > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [...wings—-vast shimmering wings, their reach so great they swept the walls on either side of the alley, each feather like the wind-tugged lick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/wings-vast-shimmering-wings-their-reach-so-great-they-swept-the-walls/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Erotica is using a feather; pornograpy is using the whole chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/erotica-is-using-a-feather-pornograpy-is-using-the-whole-chicken/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) Browse all 605 Feathers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The wolf howled under the leaves And spit out the prettiest feathers Of his meal of fowl: Like him I consume myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Rimbaud" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spit-out-the-prettiest-feathers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feathers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spit-out-the-prettiest-feathers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/arthur-rimbaud-2266_feathers_the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spi_1073003.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/arthur-rimbaud-2266_feathers_the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spi_1073003.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a5/arthur-rimbaud-2266_feathers_the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spi_1073003.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The wolf howled under the leaves And spit out the prettiest feathers Of his meal of fowl: Like him I consume…” — Arthur Rimbaud", "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": "Arthur Rimbaud", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The wolf howled under the leaves...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spit-out-the-prettiest-feathers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/the-wolf-howled-under-the-leaves-and-spit-out-the-prettiest-feathers/#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 } } ] } ```