--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somewhere in that ancient brain it knows…" description: "\"“Somewhere in that ancient brain it knows that you are an idiot with a stick, to be endured, and that tomorrow there will be fish to catch. It can't, l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/brian-kimberling-40734_turtles_somewhere-in-that-ancient-brain-it-knows_258910.jpg" --- # Somewhere in that ancient brain it knows that you are an… ![“Somewhere in that ancient brain it knows that you are an idiot with a stick, to be endured, and that tomorrow there will be fish to catch. It can't, like other turtles, withdraw into its shell, but, serious and adult, it will not rise to your childish taunts.” quote by Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/brian-kimberling-40734_turtles_somewhere-in-that-ancient-brain-it-knows_258910.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/brian-kimberling-40734_turtles_somewhere-in-that-ancient-brain-it-knows_258910.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efb/brian-kimberling-40734_turtles_somewhere-in-that-ancient-brain-it-knows_258910.jpg) > ““Somewhere in that ancient brain it knows that you are an idiot with a stick, to be endured, and that tomorrow there will be fish to catch. It can't, like other turtles, withdraw into its shell, but, serious and adult, it will not rise to your childish taunts.”” [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature resists simple ridicule; we seek meaning beyond childish taunts. **In simple terms:** We crave respect, not mockery. Key Takeaway Seek mature engagement over mockery. Themes respect growth human nature Mood serious thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - education - parenting - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy behavioral science Questions to Reflect On - How can you respond to ridicule constructively? - What fosters mature dialogue? A Different Perspective People may still react defensively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Turtles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turtles/) ## Related quotes > [“Joad rolled the coat up more tightly. “An old turtle,’’ he said. “Picked him up on the road. An old bulldozer. Thought I’d take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/joad-rolled-the-coat-up-more-tightly-an-old-turtle-he-said-picked-him/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“You and I and everyone else are a bit like turtles: we only make progress when we stick our necks out a little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/you-and-i-and-everyone-else-are-a-bit-like-turtles-we-only-make/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [“I like turtles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-turtles/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men should be like turtles. They have a tough exterior for protection and longevity; but they can stick their necks out and reveal their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-riley/men-should-be-like-turtles-they-have-a-tough-exterior-for-protection/) [S Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-riley/) > [I like turtles because they're so chill. They don't hurt anyone. They're just like, 'Hey man, I want to swim, and maybe eat some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-turtles-because-they-re-so-chill-they-don-t-hurt-anyone-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Men are like turtles; they are classified and valued according to their shells. In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/men-are-like-turtles-they-are-classified-and-valued-according-to/) [José Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [“People have been on earth in our present form for only about 100,000 years, and in so many ways we’re still ironing out our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/people-have-been-on-earth-in-our-present-form-for-only-about-100-000/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) > [“Our relationship is like ten turtles marching along, followed by seven beetles, with each carrying one monosyllabic word on its back. You might call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/our-relationship-is-like-ten-turtles-marching-along-followed-by-seven/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Gene Siskel used to describe old-age makeup as making young actors look like turtles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/gene-siskel-used-to-describe-old-age-makeup-as-making-young-actors/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Men who wear turtlenecks look like turtles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lilly/men-who-wear-turtlenecks-look-like-turtles/) Doris Lilly > [“Lift your eyes, straighten your back, let fear and pain walk away like the turtles they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-robert-lee/lift-your-eyes-straighten-your-back-let-fear-and-pain-walk-away-like/) [Victor Robert Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-robert-lee/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [“I wonder about turtles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/i-wonder-about-turtles/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [My favorite superheroes when I was younger were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and they still are. Simply because they rule and you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/my-favorite-superheroes-when-i-was-younger-were-the-teenage-mutant/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [The two are unrelated. I'm not into turtles or space stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/the-two-are-unrelated-i-m-not-into-turtles-or-space-stuff/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) ## More by Brian Kimberling > [“A proper Indiana twister looks something like God got fed up with his spinach. God in this instance is about six years old .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/a-proper-indiana-twister-looks-something-like-god-got-fed-up-with-his/) [Brian kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“Dismemberment, even posthumous, is obscene.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/dismemberment-even-posthumous-is-obscene/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“It was only when I returned that I viewed Indiana through such a jaundiced eye. While there I tried desperately to gather the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/it-was-only-when-i-returned-that-i-viewed-indiana-through-such-a/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“Well, that's one afternoon shot to hell,' I said. 'No,' said Shane. 'Other people are watching TV.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/well-that-s-one-afternoon-shot-to-hell-i-said-no-said-shane-other/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“A list of birds seen on a given day is also a form of prayer, a thanksgiving for being alive at a certain time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/a-list-of-birds-seen-on-a-given-day-is-also-a-form-of-prayer-a/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“It takes no skill to find a bald eagle. You look for flat rabbits on country roads. Wait a while and the national emblem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/it-takes-no-skill-to-find-a-bald-eagle-you-look-for-flat-rabbits-on/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“She was not always honest, but she was never rude. "I've only been in his house once. He has a sofa and two bird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/she-was-not-always-honest-but-she-was-never-rude-i-ve-only-been-in/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“She said not to worry-- that she had done so many things she regretted and perhaps we should both agree that we had sprung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/she-said-not-to-worry-that-she-had-done-so-many-things-she-regretted/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) > [“From remote and sparsely populated Vermont, Indiana seemed hopeless; a collection of turtle-shooting subliterates--people opposed to evolution, pluralism, and poetry. And yet. Those leaves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kimberling/from-remote-and-sparsely-populated-vermont-indiana-seemed-hopeless-a/) [Brian Kimberling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) [Explore all 10 Brian Kimberling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kimberling/) ## More Turtles quotes > [The two are unrelated. I'm not into turtles or space stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/the-two-are-unrelated-i-m-not-into-turtles-or-space-stuff/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [My favorite superheroes when I was younger were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and they still are. Simply because they rule and you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/my-favorite-superheroes-when-i-was-younger-were-the-teenage-mutant/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [“I wonder about turtles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/i-wonder-about-turtles/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Rabbits are played. Nowadays it's all about the turtles. Tell them it's a ninja, they'll freak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/rabbits-are-played-nowadays-it-s-all-about-the-turtles-tell-them-it-s/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [Now you see,' said the turtle, drifting back into the pond, 'why it is useless to cry. Your tears do not wash away your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/now-you-see-said-the-turtle-drifting-back-into-the-pond-why-it-is/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [I have this awareness that the more dynamic the situation is, the more on guard I need to be that the dynamic isn't controlling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/i-have-this-awareness-that-the-more-dynamic-the-situation-is-the-more/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [I kept a few turtles and tortoises and maybe a snake in my apartment in New York City, off and on. Maybe sometimes against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-goode/i-kept-a-few-turtles-and-tortoises-and-maybe-a-snake-in-my-apartment/) [Eric Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-goode/) > [There was the pedestrian who wedged himself into the crowd, but there was also the flneur who demanded elbow room and was unwilling to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/there-was-the-pedestrian-who-wedged-himself-into-the-crowd-but-there/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [“Your brother?" St. Clair points above my bed to the only picture I've hung up. Seany is grinning at the camera and pointing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/your-brother-st-clair-points-above-my-bed-to-the-only-picture-i-ve/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [Did I ever tell you my pet peeve?' No,' I said. People who dress up their pets to look like Little Lord Fauntleroys or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/did-i-ever-tell-you-my-pet-peeve-no-i-said-people-who-dress-up-their/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [“I don't mind running with turtles. From book: stuff I think about By Sondra Faye”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sondra-faye/i-don-t-mind-running-with-turtles-from-book-stuff-i-think-about-by/) Sondra Faye > [It's okay to play turtle for a while, as long as you don't get too fond of your shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-wilks/it-s-okay-to-play-turtle-for-a-while-as-long-as-you-don-t-get-too/) [Eileen Wilks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-wilks/) > [Turtles hate heights. They don't even like being a few feet off the ground. It's the main reason they have resisted evolution for so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/turtles-hate-heights-they-don-t-even-like-being-a-few-feet-off-the/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [the body is simple as a turtle / and straight as a dog: / the body cannot lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/the-body-is-simple-as-a-turtle-and-straight-as-a-dog-the-body-cannot/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) [Browse all 220 Turtles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turtles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Somewhere in that ancient brain it knows that you are an idiot with a stick, to be endured, and that tomorrow there will be fish to catch. 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