--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From the same twelfth-century bestiary…" description: "\"“From the same twelfth-century bestiary, we learn that the hedgehog is covered with spikes and curls itself into a ball for protection; that the fox is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/david-c-lindberg-59447_animals_from-the-same-twelfth-century-bestiary-w_2923738.jpg" --- # From the same twelfth-century bestiary, we learn that the… ![“From the same twelfth-century bestiary, we learn that the hedgehog is covered with spikes and curls itself into a ball for protection; that the fox is a 'fraudulent and ingenious animal' that plays dead in order to catch its prey; that cranes move about in military formation; that the serpent…” quote by David C. Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/david-c-lindberg-59447_animals_from-the-same-twelfth-century-bestiary-w_2923738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/david-c-lindberg-59447_animals_from-the-same-twelfth-century-bestiary-w_2923738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/david-c-lindberg-59447_animals_from-the-same-twelfth-century-bestiary-w_2923738.jpg) > ““From the same twelfth-century bestiary, we learn that the hedgehog is covered with spikes and curls itself into a ball for protection; that the fox is a 'fraudulent and ingenious animal' that plays dead in order to catch its prey; that cranes move about in military formation; that the serpent called 'basilisk' can with the power of its glance; that the lynx's urine turns into a precious stone; that lions are compassionate and courageous, and that the eyebrows and manes offer a clue to their disposition. Finally, many (but not all) entries go on to draw a moral or make a theological point on the basis of the animal description. The hedgehog is an example of prudence, the crane of courtesy and responsibility. The fox is employed as a type of the devil, who entices carnal man through fraudulent behavior. And the male lion, breathing life into its stillborn offspring after three days, represents God the Father raising Christ from the dead.”” [David C. Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-lindberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage illustrates how medieval bestiaries used animal traits to teach moral and theological lessons, assigning symbolic meanings to each creature. **In simple terms:** Animals were used as moral symbols in medieval texts. Key Takeaway Recognize symbolic meanings behind stories. Themes symbolism morality theology medieval literature animal allegory Mood reflective educational Type didactic historical When to use this quote - teaching ethics - religious instruction - literary analysis - cultural history Key Concepts allegory didacticism anthropomorphism Questions to Reflect On - What moral lessons can we draw from animal symbols today? - How do cultural contexts shape symbolic meanings? A Different Perspective Modern readers may miss the nuanced theological context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Breathing life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing-life/) [Description Hedgehog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/description-hedgehog-4273995/) [God The Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-the-father/) [Hedgehog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hedgehog/) [Hedgehog Covered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hedgehog-covered-4273998/) [Hedgehog Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hedgehog-example-4273996/) [Learn Hedgehog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-hedgehog-4273997/) [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) ## Related quotes > [“Better not to sit on a hedgehog if you are naked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulgakov-mikhail/better-not-to-sit-on-a-hedgehog-if-you-are-naked/) [Bulgakov Mikhail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulgakov-mikhail/) > [“She was still going somewhere terrible, but she had a hedgehog, dammit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-kingfisher/she-was-still-going-somewhere-terrible-but-she-had-a-hedgehog-dammit/) [T. Kingfisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-kingfisher/) > [When I went to college, I discovered the Sega console, and 'Sonic the Hedgehog' became very dear to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wright/when-i-went-to-college-i-discovered-the-sega-console-and-sonic-the/) [Edgar Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wright/) > [“The figure stopped to cough long and hard, making a noise like a wall being hit repeatedly with a bag of rocks. Moist saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-figure-stopped-to-cough-long-and-hard-making-a-noise-like-a-wall/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Captain Phelan and I dislike each other,” Beatrix told her. “In fact, we’re sworn enemies.” Christopher glanced at her quickly. “When did we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/captain-phelan-and-i-dislike-each-other-beatrix-told-her-in-fact-we/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [What's worse than a bull in a china shop? A hedgehog in a condom factory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-s-worse-than-a-bull-in-a-china-shop-a-hedgehog-in-a-condom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never sleep before 4 A.M. and usually play 'Sonic the Hedgehog' computer games before bed. I like Sonic - he reminds me of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-millar/i-never-sleep-before-4-a-m-and-usually-play-sonic-the-hedgehog/) [Martin Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-millar/) > [“I'm not a mouse or a tigress, she thought, I'm a hedgehog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-m-not-a-mouse-or-a-tigress-she-thought-i-m-a-hedgehog/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Madame Michel has the elegance of the hedgehog: on the outside she is covered in quills, a real fortress, but my gut feeling is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/madame-michel-has-the-elegance-of-the-hedgehog-on-the-outside-she-is/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [“The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog, which seemed to Alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one of them with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-hedgehog-was-engaged-in-a-fight-with-another-hedgehog-which/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I successfully chloroformed a hedgehog that was entangled in the tennis net and so managed to release it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-successfully-chloroformed-a-hedgehog-that-was-entangled-in-the/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“I want a hedgehog fund. They are so cute and I think I need one. But I would probably kill it by accident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-want-a-hedgehog-fund-they-are-so-cute-and-i-think-i-need-one-but-i/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [When I was super young, I had an Atari and used to play 'Space Invaders.' Then I fell in love with 'Mario Bros.,' 'Sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rose/when-i-was-super-young-i-had-an-atari-and-used-to-play-space-invaders/) [Amber Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rose/) > [“The fox knows many tricks; the hedgehog one good one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archilochus/the-fox-knows-many-tricks-the-hedgehog-one-good-one/) [Archilochus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archilochus/) > [Sonic the hedgehog is a beautiful statement on capitalism. You spend your whole life collecting yellow rings and then hit one spike and lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/sonic-the-hedgehog-is-a-beautiful-statement-on-capitalism-you-spend/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) ## More by David C. Lindberg > [“If there was anything obviously heroic about medieval surgery, it was the patient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-lindberg/if-there-was-anything-obviously-heroic-about-medieval-surgery-it-was/) [David C. Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-lindberg/) > [“The proper measure of a philosophical system or a scientific theory is not the degree to which it anticipated modern thought, but its degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-lindberg/the-proper-measure-of-a-philosophical-system-or-a-scientific-theory/) [David C. Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-lindberg/) > [“If we wish to do justice to the historical enterprise, we must take past for what it was. And that means that we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-lindberg/if-we-wish-to-do-justice-to-the-historical-enterprise-we-must-take/) [David C. Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-lindberg/) > [“The establishment of medical studies in the university (as opposed to some other possible institutional home) created a linkage between medicine and other branches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-lindberg/the-establishment-of-medical-studies-in-the-university-as-opposed-to/) [David C. Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-lindberg/) [Explore all 5 David C. Lindberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-c-lindberg/) ## More Animals 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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“From the same twelfth-century bestiary, we learn that the hedgehog is covered with spikes and curls itself into a ball for protection; that the fox is a 'fraudulent and ingenious animal' that plays dead in order to catch its prey; that cranes move about in military formation; that the serpent called 'basilisk' can with the power of its glance; that the lynx's urine turns into a precious stone; that lions are compassionate and courageous, and that the eyebrows and manes offer a clue to their disposition. 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