--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, Professor, this stray kitten…" description: "\"“You know, Professor, this stray kitten and you have one very important thing in common.' 'I can't imagine,' responded the professor coolly. 'Your life..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/david-michie-21837_cats_you-know-professor-this-stray-kitten-and_2729720.jpg" --- # You know, Professor, this stray kitten and you have one… ![“You know, Professor, this stray kitten and you have one very important thing in common.' 'I can't imagine,' responded the professor coolly. 'Your life is the most important thing in the world to you,' said His Holiness. 'Same for this kitten.” quote by David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/david-michie-21837_cats_you-know-professor-this-stray-kitten-and_2729720.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/david-michie-21837_cats_you-know-professor-this-stray-kitten-and_2729720.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ae/david-michie-21837_cats_you-know-professor-this-stray-kitten-and_2729720.jpg) > ““You know, Professor, this stray kitten and you have one very important thing in common.' 'I can't imagine,' responded the professor coolly. 'Your life is the most important thing in the world to you,' said His Holiness. 'Same for this kitten.”” [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s value is shared across beings, even tiny ones. **In simple terms:** All life matters equally. Key Takeaway Respect all living things. Themes compassion value of life humility Mood empathetic inspirational Type narrative ethical When to use this quote - pet care - environmental activism - teaching empathy Key Concepts ethics animal rights Questions to Reflect On - How do you prioritize responsibilities? - What responsibilities you learn from a kitten? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex moral hierarchies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Kitten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitten/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Never pick up a stray kitten . . . unless you've already made up your mind to be owned by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-pick-up-a-stray-kitten-unless-you-ve-already-made-up-your-mind/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I've always loved animals. I've never lived without them. As long as I can remember, I was bringing home strays. When I was five,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/i-ve-always-loved-animals-i-ve-never-lived-without-them-as-long-as-i/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [“It's the human condition, Kitten. The unknown isn't something that sits well. They'd rather push it away-not completely, but just enough that it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/it-s-the-human-condition-kitten-the-unknown-isn-t-something-that-sits/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [Alex McLeish will have had kittens - literally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coleman/alex-mcleish-will-have-had-kittens-literally/) [Chris Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coleman/) > [ \[My kitten's\] gambols are not to be described, and would be incredible, if they could. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/my-kitten-s-gambols-are-not-to-be-described-and-would-be-incredible/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [“This Kitten Has Claws”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/this-kitten-has-claws/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [With little wit and ease to suit them, They whirl in narrow circling trails, Like kittens playing with their tails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/with-little-wit-and-ease-to-suit-them-they-whirl-in-narrow-circling/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“The soldier was like that. He was an expert in getting other people to do what he wanted. The only creature that could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/the-soldier-was-like-that-he-was-an-expert-in-getting-other-people-to/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [“I didn't know you had a cat!' she exclaimed. I am always surprised how many people make this observation-though not all are as bold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/i-didn-t-know-you-had-a-cat-she-exclaimed-i-am-always-surprised-how/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“He smiled at me, as innocent as an angel. "I will sit her all day and night. I'll camp out on your porch. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/he-smiled-at-me-as-innocent-as-an-angel-i-will-sit-her-all-day-and/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“Charlemagne opened his mouth to protest, but immediately snapped it shut and slapped a hand over his nose, a look of disgust on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-hill/charlemagne-opened-his-mouth-to-protest-but-immediately-snapped-it/) [Stuart Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-hill/) > [Sam loved to listen to music and make his own songs, to wear soft velvets, to play in the castle kitchen beside the cooks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sam-loved-to-listen-to-music-and-make-his-own-songs-to-wear-soft/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Consciousness slipped slowly away, as he watched through gaping roof-holes pinprick stars high up, glistening against a purple sky. He thought of his mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-y-sam/consciousness-slipped-slowly-away-as-he-watched-through-gaping-roof/) J.Y. Sam > [I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by David Michie > [“Despising yourself, thinking you are no good, saying ‘I can’t do this.’ This is the mind of weakness. You must work to overcome it.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/despising-yourself-thinking-you-are-no-good-saying-i-can-t-do-this/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“the best way to achieve happiness for oneself is to give happiness to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/the-best-way-to-achieve-happiness-for-oneself-is-to-give-happiness-to/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“I didn't know you had a cat!' she exclaimed. I am always surprised how many people make this observation-though not all are as bold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/i-didn-t-know-you-had-a-cat-she-exclaimed-i-am-always-surprised-how/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“It is most useful,” Geshe Wangpo told Sam, “to share one’s knowledge with others. Otherwise, what is the point in having it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/it-is-most-useful-geshe-wangpo-told-sam-to-share-one-s-knowledge-with/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“Surely you're not saying that the life of a human and the life of an animal are of the same value?' he ventured. 'As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/surely-you-re-not-saying-that-the-life-of-a-human-and-the-life-of-an/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“Fear,” said Lobsang. “An instinct that prevents many people from taking actions that they know, deep down inside, would liberate them. Like a bird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/fear-said-lobsang-an-instinct-that-prevents-many-people-from-taking/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“The main shift, you see, is from placing self at the center of our thoughts to putting others there. It is-what do you say?-a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/the-main-shift-you-see-is-from-placing-self-at-the-center-of-our/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“It is to heal the body, soothe the mind, and give joy to the heart, Because it is your beloved’s lap that you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/it-is-to-heal-the-body-soothe-the-mind-and-give-joy-to-the-heart/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“lack of self-confidence was considered, in Buddhism, to be a form of laziness,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/lack-of-self-confidence-was-considered-in-buddhism-to-be-a-form-of/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“Having money means more opportunity to practice generosity,” he agrees. “Which is the true cause of wealth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/having-money-means-more-opportunity-to-practice-generosity-he-agrees/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“As much as possible, it is useful to think of all other beings as being just like me. Every living being strives for happiness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/as-much-as-possible-it-is-useful-to-think-of-all-other-beings-as/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“There's no thrilling anticipation of the day's first cup of coffee...nor the eye-closing delight of that first swallow of sauvignon blanc in the evening.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/there-s-no-thrilling-anticipation-of-the-day-s-first-cup-of-coffee/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“Every time we do something nice for someone else, even if it is a routine thing they expect, we can do so with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/every-time-we-do-something-nice-for-someone-else-even-if-it-is-a/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“It’s not what happens to you that matters, but the way you interpret things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/it-s-not-what-happens-to-you-that-matters-but-the-way-you-interpret/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) > [“how to deal with problems in life. They are never asked for, but how we deal with them defines our future happiness or unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-michie/how-to-deal-with-problems-in-life-they-are-never-asked-for-but-how-we/) [David Michie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) [Explore all 26 David Michie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-michie/) ## More Cats quotes > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I liked Cats as a kid, now its hard to say. I dont live in New York anymore so dont see so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-moennig/i-liked-cats-as-a-kid-now-its-hard-to-say-i-dont-live-in-new-york/) [Katherine Moennig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-moennig/) > [“The next day, Trixie pawed Maddie awake, patting her arm gently. “I’m up,” Maddie groaned, blinking sleep out of her eyes. “Mrrow.” Trixie peered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinty-james/the-next-day-trixie-pawed-maddie-awake-patting-her-arm-gently-i-m-up/) Jinty James > [“So Nikki came aboard as Jaqueline's spare cat, presumably in case our prime cat, Eliza, goes on vacation, takes industrial action, or requests a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-s-wren/so-nikki-came-aboard-as-jaqueline-s-spare-cat-presumably-in-case-our/) Christopher S. Wren > [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [When I see things through my eyes, I don't want to ever just be really negative towards someone's performance. There are many ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-see-things-through-my-eyes-i-don-t-want-to-ever-just-be-really/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“In the morning, when she wishes me to wake, she crouches on my chest, and pats my face with her paw. Or, if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/in-the-morning-when-she-wishes-me-to-wake-she-crouches-on-my-chest/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [“Curiosity killed the cat, but not before teaching her that honey bees are not sweet, tweeting birds are slow to react, mice can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-not-before-teaching-her-that-honey-bees/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“Quin took on the air of someone who has just realized it's time for the yearly visit to the spinster great-aunt in a desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/quin-took-on-the-air-of-someone-who-has-just-realized-it-s-time-for/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [“Save for the ancient Egyptians, he found, virtually no one kept cats as pets until the latter part of the 1700s. The first people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-mcauliffe/save-for-the-ancient-egyptians-he-found-virtually-no-one-kept-cats-as/) [Kathleen McAuliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-mcauliffe/) [Browse all 3,253 Cats quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You know, Professor, this stray kitten and you have one very important thing in common.' 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