--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not a beard, it's an animal I've…" description: "\"It's not a beard, it's an animal I've trained to sit very still\" — Bill Bailey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/bill-bailey-2171_animal_it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-tra_551497.png" --- # It's not a beard, it's an animal I've trained to sit very… ![“It's not a beard, it's an animal I've trained to sit very still” quote by Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/bill-bailey-2171_animal_it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-tra_551497.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/bill-bailey-2171_animal_it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-tra_551497.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/bill-bailey-2171_animal_it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-tra_551497.png) > “It's not a beard, it's an animal I've trained to sit very still” [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A comedic metaphor comparing a beard to a trained, still animal, emphasizing its unruly nature. **In simple terms:** Beard likened to a tame animal. Key Takeaway Treat beards with humor and patience. Themes humor appearance self‑deprecation Mood playful self‑aware Type comedic observational When to use this quote - daily routines - stage performances - social interactions Key Concepts metaphor personal grooming Questions to Reflect On - What does the animal metaphor reveal about self‑image? - How does humor change perception of appearance? A Different Perspective May trivialize personal grooming concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beard/) [Beard Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beard-animal-4590451/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Trained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained/) [Trained Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trained-sit-4590452/) ## Related quotes > [What I'd like to do now - well, what I'd like to do now is grow my beard very long, weave it into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/what-i-d-like-to-do-now-well-what-i-d-like-to-do-now-is-grow-my-beard/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [A beard is something that is almost like a mirror to the viewer. When someone sees you wearing a beard, they're seeing something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/a-beard-is-something-that-is-almost-like-a-mirror-to-the-viewer-when/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in-sports/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [“Twenty highly trained agents versus one eighteen year old high school drop out and he managed to kick all your asses. Okay, did we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-l-j-shortt/twenty-highly-trained-agents-versus-one-eighteen-year-old-high-school/) [S.L.J. 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I beat Adele for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/i-m-trained-in-musical-theatre-and-pitch-perfect-is-the-first-movie/) [Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/) > [I've always trained hard and I've never slacked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cub-swanson/i-ve-always-trained-hard-and-i-ve-never-slacked/) [Cub Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cub-swanson/) > [Osama Bin Laden is dead. Killed not by a massive troop deployment but by a commando raid carried out by a few dozen highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-killed-not-by-a-massive-troop-deployment-but/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Let's focus on how we can take someone who is being poorly educated in an American public school and how they are poorly trained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steele/let-s-focus-on-how-we-can-take-someone-who-is-being-poorly-educated/) [Michael Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steele/) ## More by Bill Bailey > [I tried to like it. For me, it was like being smacked around the head by a piece of IKEA furniture: it hurts, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-tried-to-like-it-for-me-it-was-like-being-smacked-around-the-head/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Three blind mice walk into a pub. But they are unaware of their surroundings, so to derive humour from it would be exploitative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/three-blind-mice-walk-into-a-pub-but-they-are-unaware-of-their/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I did a show in this tiny town called Longyearbyen. We went snowmobiling around Svalbard and saw Arctic foxes, snow bunting, polar bear footprints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-did-a-show-in-this-tiny-town-called-longyearbyen-we-went/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I hate getting ill, it irritates me so I try to stay reasonably healthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-hate-getting-ill-it-irritates-me-so-i-try-to-stay-reasonably-healthy/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Hitler was a vegetarian. Just goes to show, vegetarianism, not always a good thing. Can in some extreme cases lead to genocide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/hitler-was-a-vegetarian-just-goes-to-show-vegetarianism-not-always-a/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [There is something very poignant about plastic bags. These lonely plastic bags that gradually disintegrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/there-is-something-very-poignant-about-plastic-bags-these-lonely/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [At college, I felt frustrated thinking three years was a long time and I just wanted a job but afterwards I was in employment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/at-college-i-felt-frustrated-thinking-three-years-was-a-long-time-and/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I am pretty laid-back as a parent, but I do like a lot of activity. So I am constantly suggesting things to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-am-pretty-laid-back-as-a-parent-but-i-do-like-a-lot-of-activity-so/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Work hard, save and live within your means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/work-hard-save-and-live-within-your-means/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [There's more evil in the charts than an Al-Qaeda suggestion box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/there-s-more-evil-in-the-charts-than-an-al-qaeda-suggestion-box/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I don't think any comic could say there isn't a bit of them that doesn't want to show off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/i-don-t-think-any-comic-could-say-there-isn-t-a-bit-of-them-that/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Three blokes go into a pub. Something happens. The outcome was hilarious!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/three-blokes-go-into-a-pub-something-happens-the-outcome-was-hilarious/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [You spend a lot more time on your own as an only child. And there's space to allow your imagination to take flight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/you-spend-a-lot-more-time-on-your-own-as-an-only-child-and-there-s/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [Nostalgia: How long's that been around?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/nostalgia-how-long-s-that-been-around/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [My mother was a classic matriarchal figure. She'd sing round the house and always had music on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/my-mother-was-a-classic-matriarchal-figure-she-d-sing-round-the-house/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) [Explore all 182 Bill Bailey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not a beard, it's an animal I've trained to sit very still", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Bailey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-trained-to-sit-very-still/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-trained-to-sit-very-still/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/bill-bailey-2171_animal_it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-tra_551497.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/bill-bailey-2171_animal_it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-tra_551497.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94d/bill-bailey-2171_animal_it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-tra_551497.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not a beard, it's an animal I've trained to sit very still” — Bill Bailey", "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": "Bill Bailey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not a beard, it's an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-trained-to-sit-very-still/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/it-s-not-a-beard-it-s-an-animal-i-ve-trained-to-sit-very-still/#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 } } ] } ```