--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here’s something I bet you don’t know…" description: "\"“Here’s something I bet you don’t know: every time someone writes a story about a dragon a real dragon dies. Something about seeing and being seen some..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/catherynne-m-valente-375_dragon_here-s-something-i-bet-you-don-t-know-ev_2864662.jpg" --- # Here’s something I bet you don’t know: every time someone… ![“Here’s something I bet you don’t know: every time someone writes a story about a dragon a real dragon dies. Something about seeing and being seen something about mirrors that old tune about how a photograph can take your whole soul. At the end of this poem I’m going to go out like electricity in…” quote by Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/catherynne-m-valente-375_dragon_here-s-something-i-bet-you-don-t-know-ev_2864662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/catherynne-m-valente-375_dragon_here-s-something-i-bet-you-don-t-know-ev_2864662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f48/catherynne-m-valente-375_dragon_here-s-something-i-bet-you-don-t-know-ev_2864662.jpg) > ““Here’s something I bet you don’t know: every time someone writes a story about a dragon a real dragon dies. Something about seeing and being seen something about mirrors that old tune about how a photograph can take your whole soul. At the end of this poem I’m going to go out like electricity in an ice storm. I’ve made peace with it.”” [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that storytelling about dragons harms the creatures, using metaphor of mirrors and photographs to convey how observation consumes essence, ending with a vivid, electrifying self‑acceptance. **In simple terms:** Stories about dragons drain them; observation can steal soul; acceptance leads to powerful release. Key Takeaway Recognize the cost of creation and embrace your ending. Themes creation observation identity acceptance transformation Mood introspective dramatic hopeful Type poetic philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing fiction - photography - self‑analysis - rituals - artistic performance Key Concepts metaphor symbolism self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What responsibility do creators have to their subjects? - How does self‑acceptance change your actions? A Different Perspective The metaphor may exaggerate harm; not all storytelling has literal consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) [Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) [Ice storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice-storm/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Hold up," Leo said. "You guys lost a dragon? A Real full size dragon?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hold-up-leo-said-you-guys-lost-a-dragon-a-real-full-size-dragon/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [In China there was once a man who liked pictures of dragons, and his clothing and furnishings were all designed accordingly. His deep affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/in-china-there-was-once-a-man-who-liked-pictures-of-dragons-and-his/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [When the prison doors are opened, the real dragon will fly out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ho-chi-minh/when-the-prison-doors-are-opened-the-real-dragon-will-fly-out/) [Ho Chi Minh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ho-chi-minh/) > [“He was so hard and warm against her, his body the perfect fit, no different than what she’d dreamed. It wasn’t a dream. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-savage/he-was-so-hard-and-warm-against-her-his-body-the-perfect-fit-no/) [Vivienne Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-savage/) > [“If you cannot fight a dragon (because they are too powerful or because they don’t exist anymore,) you can always create a simulacrum of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-lastra/if-you-cannot-fight-a-dragon-because-they-are-too-powerful-or-because/) [Xavier Lastra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-lastra/) > [“What is more, as J. R. R. Tolkien reminds us in his great essay on Beowulf, there is a danger that attends rational and scientific description:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-alan-thornbury/what-is-more-as-j-r-r-tolkien-reminds-us-in-his-great-essay-on/) Gregory Alan Thornbury > [“A story just isn't a story without a dragon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-b-bolton/a-story-just-isn-t-a-story-without-a-dragon/) [H.B. Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-b-bolton/) > [The heart of Dragon's Lair has always been its compelling story. With Dragon's Lair 3D, we think the team has really created an interactive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-bluth/the-heart-of-dragon-s-lair-has-always-been-its-compelling-story-with/) [Don Bluth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-bluth/) > [“And that is the story of the boy who cried "Dragon!" Of course, when dragons sit around the campire at night or tuck their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-resnick/and-that-is-the-story-of-the-boy-who-cried-dragon-of-course-when/) [Mike Resnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-resnick/) > [“At certain moments in life, reflection is mandatory. I found being squeezed in the scaly claw of a three story dragon to be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-rourke/at-certain-moments-in-life-reflection-is-mandatory-i-found-being/) [Stacey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-rourke/) > [“I get it, Will,” I finally whisper. “I get it. 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We have a little silence at the end of a line, a bigger one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-paterson/a-poetic-form-is-essentially-a-codified-pattern-of-silence-we-have-a/) [Don Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-paterson/) > [The speaker tentatively reaches out with that feeling and realizes that it's kind of absurd, or at least a dangerous consolation, which is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-zapruder/the-speaker-tentatively-reaches-out-with-that-feeling-and-realizes/) [Matthew Zapruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-zapruder/) ## More by Catherynne M. Valente > [When I saw him I thought I could curl up inside him and go to sleep and never wake up." "Men are no good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/when-i-saw-him-i-thought-i-could-curl-up-inside-him-and-go-to-sleep/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all just keep moving, September. We keep moving until we stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-just-keep-moving-september-we-keep-moving-until-we-stop/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You couldn't ever really fix a sad story. You could only make another. And another. And another, until you found the right one at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-couldn-t-ever-really-fix-a-sad-story-you-could-only-make-another/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“He considers it for a moment and spits out the seeds, which sprout, quickly, into tiny junkblossoms sizzling with recursive algorithms. The algorithms wriggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/he-considers-it-for-a-moment-and-spits-out-the-seeds-which-sprout/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“Truly, Mallow yearned to know everything. Curiosity was part of her, like her short blond hair and bitten fingernails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/truly-mallow-yearned-to-know-everything-curiosity-was-part-of-her/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“The cicada lies in the earth for seventeen years. It is warm and dark there, it is soft and wet. Its little legs curl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/the-cicada-lies-in-the-earth-for-seventeen-years-it-is-warm-and-dark/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Her heart was bruised by the kiss, smashed and surprised and unsettled by it. September thought kisses were all nice, sweet things asked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/her-heart-was-bruised-by-the-kiss-smashed-and-surprised-and-unsettled/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“September put her hand on the grip of the Rivet Gun. She’d only just gotten it, and she’d promised to take copious notes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/september-put-her-hand-on-the-grip-of-the-rivet-gun-she-d-only-just/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Just tell yourself a story that'll satisfy you and pretend he told it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/just-tell-yourself-a-story-that-ll-satisfy-you-and-pretend-he-told-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“You see, the future is a kind of stew, a soup, a vichyssoise of the present and the past. That's how you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/you-see-the-future-is-a-kind-of-stew-a-soup-a-vichyssoise-of-the/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Fairy tales have always been about getting through the worst of everything, the darkest and the deepest and the bloodiest of events. They are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/fairy-tales-have-always-been-about-getting-through-the-worst-of/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“There is a place, September, oh, very far from Pandemonium. A place where it is always autumn, where there is always cider and pumpkin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/there-is-a-place-september-oh-very-far-from-pandemonium-a-place-where/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“I was happy, the sun was high. I had enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/i-was-happy-the-sun-was-high-i-had-enough/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Who are you?" "I am Death," said the creature. "I thought that was obvious." "But you're so small!" "Only because you are small. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/who-are-you-i-am-death-said-the-creature-i-thought-that-was-obvious/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) [Explore all 621 Catherynne M. Valente quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) ## More Dragon quotes > [ “Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus \[ never tickle a sleeping dragon \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/draco-dormiens-nunquam-titillandus-never-tickle-a-sleeping-dragon/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“If you banish the dragons, you banish the heroes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/if-you-banish-the-dragons-you-banish-the-heroes/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [“You must see her pucker when she’s a dragon.” “This pucker can light your ass on fire, missy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-woods/you-must-see-her-pucker-when-she-s-a-dragon-this-pucker-can-light/) [Adrienne Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-woods/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) > [“Unable to help herself, she traced the tat, startled by the black and red ink mixed together. But it was the dragon design itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-grant/unable-to-help-herself-she-traced-the-tat-startled-by-the-black-and/) [Donna Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-grant/) > [The Soyuz is probably only slightly smaller than the Dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/the-soyuz-is-probably-only-slightly-smaller-than-the-dragon/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fairy-tales-are-more-than-true-not-because-they-tell-us-that-dragons/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the alchemy of man's soul almost all noble attributes--courage, honor, love, hope, faith, duty, loyalty, etc.--can be transmuted into ruthlessness. Compassion alone stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/in-the-alchemy-of-man-s-soul-almost-all-noble-attributes-courage/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [To have dragons one must have change; that is the first principle of dragon lore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/to-have-dragons-one-must-have-change-that-is-the-first-principle-of/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [I know how the birds fly, how the fishes swim, how animals run. But there is the Dragon. I cannot tell how it mounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-know-how-the-birds-fly-how-the-fishes-swim-how-animals-run-but/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It was always that detail that drove me. Ever since I was a little kid, I used to get into the nitty gritty... when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-base/it-was-always-that-detail-that-drove-me-ever-since-i-was-a-little-kid/) [Graeme Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-base/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Browse all 704 Dragon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here’s something I bet you don’t know: every time someone writes a story about a dragon a real dragon dies. Something about seeing and being seen something about mirrors that old tune about how a photograph can take your whole soul. 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