--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I bought a cactus. A week later it died…" description: "\"I bought a cactus. A week later it died. And I got depressed, because I thought, Damn. I am less nurturing than a desert.\" — Demetri Martin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/demetri-martin-511_cactus_i-bought-a-cactus-a-week-later-it-died-a_94269.jpg" --- # I bought a cactus. A week later it died. And I got… ![“I bought a cactus. A week later it died. And I got depressed, because I thought, Damn. I am less nurturing than a desert.” quote by Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/demetri-martin-511_cactus_i-bought-a-cactus-a-week-later-it-died-a_94269.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/demetri-martin-511_cactus_i-bought-a-cactus-a-week-later-it-died-a_94269.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28c/demetri-martin-511_cactus_i-bought-a-cactus-a-week-later-it-died-a_94269.jpg) > “I bought a cactus. A week later it died. And I got depressed, because I thought, Damn. I am less nurturing than a desert.” [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A failed plant becomes a self‑deprecating metaphor for personal inadequacy, highlighting how we judge ourselves against nature's resilience. **In simple terms:** Plant death triggers self‑critique Key Takeaway Nature outlives our nurturing Themes humor self‑esteem failure nature psychology Mood wry light‑hearted Type humorous anecdote self‑deprecation When to use this quote - stand‑up routine - social media post - personal blog Key Concepts metaphor self‑reflection Practical Applications - comedy writing - motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - Why do we compare ourselves to plants? - What does this reveal about our expectations of care? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bought Cactus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bought-cactus-1161924/) [Cactus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cactus/) [Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Depressed Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed-thought-1161925/) [Desert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desert/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Got Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-depressed-384909/) [Nurturing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nurturing/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [“The arousing from sleep, after a recent misfortune, is a bitter moment; the mind at first habitually recurs to its previous tranquility, but is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-arousing-from-sleep-after-a-recent-misfortune-is-a-bitter-moment/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never felt like that before. 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I was really depressed because I was like, 'Damn! I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/about-a-month-ago-i-got-a-cactus-a-week-later-it-died-i-was-really/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I made two or three albums with money from my own pocket, but I couldn't get them released or played on the radio. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilson-pickett/i-made-two-or-three-albums-with-money-from-my-own-pocket-but-i-couldn/) [Wilson Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilson-pickett/) > [I fought back, got injured again and I had to have another operation. I got down and depressed and I think I was drinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gascoigne/i-fought-back-got-injured-again-and-i-had-to-have-another-operation-i/) [Paul Gascoigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gascoigne/) > [“I killed four flies while waiting. Damn, death was everywhere. Man, bird, beast, reptile, rodent, insect, fish didn't have a chance. The fix was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-killed-four-flies-while-waiting-damn-death-was-everywhere-man-bird/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I had no doubt that Tiny thought he got depressed, but that was probably because he had nothing to compare it to. Still, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-had-no-doubt-that-tiny-thought-he-got-depressed-but-that-was/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I got very depressed. Hollywood can be a terrible place when youre depressed. The pits. I decided I had to change my life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-conaway/i-got-very-depressed-hollywood-can-be-a-terrible-place-when-youre/) [Jeff Conaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-conaway/) > [Writing my first book, 'Beautiful,' was the time that I was able to write the truth of it - that I was despairing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/writing-my-first-book-beautiful-was-the-time-that-i-was-able-to-write/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [I can understand why some people might look at me and say, 'What's she got to be depressed about?' I get that a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-imbruglia/i-can-understand-why-some-people-might-look-at-me-and-say-what-s-she/) [Natalie Imbruglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-imbruglia/) > [“Sometimes she missed people before they even left her, got depressed about a vacation being over before it started.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-close/sometimes-she-missed-people-before-they-even-left-her-got-depressed/) [Jennifer Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-close/) > [“The last time I’d been unwell, suicidally depressed, whatever you want to call it, the reactions of my friends and family had fallen into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/the-last-time-i-d-been-unwell-suicidally-depressed-whatever-you-want/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [The worst moment was in 2015 when I was close to quitting this sport because I couldn't find a way to fix my wrist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-martin-del-potro/the-worst-moment-was-in-2015-when-i-was-close-to-quitting-this-sport/) [Juan Martin del Potro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-martin-del-potro/) ## More by Demetri Martin > [I think hair gel was invented to make it easier to identify assholes from a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-hair-gel-was-invented-to-make-it-easier-to-identify-assholes/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [When someone describes themself as a taxpayer, they're about to be an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/when-someone-describes-themself-as-a-taxpayer-they-re-about-to-be-an/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I think they named the orange before the carrot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-they-named-the-orange-before-the-carrot/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I like to go to concerts because I love to see my favorite band through the phone of the asshole who's standing in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-like-to-go-to-concerts-because-i-love-to-see-my-favorite-band/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [How fast does a zebra have to run before it looks gray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/how-fast-does-a-zebra-have-to-run-before-it-looks-gray/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Skiing is my favorite sport, because, that's the only sport that is actually better to watch the worst the person is at it. "That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/skiing-is-my-favorite-sport-because-that-s-the-only-sport-that-is/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I know about Woodstock probably as much as your average person who is over 30, where I'd know Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-know-about-woodstock-probably-as-much-as-your-average-person-who-is/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [Never be less interesting than your refrigerator magnets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/never-be-less-interesting-than-your-refrigerator-magnets/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [A Wednesday with no rain is a dry hump day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/a-wednesday-with-no-rain-is-a-dry-hump-day/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [THING TO TRY: If you are asked to describe a suspect to a police sketch artist, describe in precise detail, the features of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/thing-to-try-if-you-are-asked-to-describe-a-suspect-to-a-police/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [If you happen to catch on fire during the show, do not panic or wave your arms around or scream or we wil give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/if-you-happen-to-catch-on-fire-during-the-show-do-not-panic-or-wave/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [They say that structure is freedom, and in a sense it is. When you're dealing with multiple constraints, you have to figure out what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/they-say-that-structure-is-freedom-and-in-a-sense-it-is-when-you-re/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I think my favorite sound is the sound of someone not playing the bongos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-my-favorite-sound-is-the-sound-of-someone-not-playing-the/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [A musical is the same as a burlap sack, I would not want to be in either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/a-musical-is-the-same-as-a-burlap-sack-i-would-not-want-to-be-in/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) [Explore all 508 Demetri Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) ## More Cactus quotes > [There was a product on late night TV that you could attach to your garden hose - "You can water your hard-to-reach plants with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/there-was-a-product-on-late-night-tv-that-you-could-attach-to-your/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/the-cactus-thrives-in-the-desert-while-the-fern-thrives-in-the/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [I had forgotten that talking to you is like trying to pet a cactus." Saiman said dryly. "Thank you for reminding me." "Always happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/i-had-forgotten-that-talking-to-you-is-like-trying-to-pet-a-cactus/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [The one thing that seems to be consistent through all my work that I like, and I experimented a lot, is the viewer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-misrach/the-one-thing-that-seems-to-be-consistent-through-all-my-work-that-i/) [Richard Misrach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-misrach/) > [“What a surprise. That boy doesn't have the sense God gave a cactus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-peacock/what-a-surprise-that-boy-doesn-t-have-the-sense-god-gave-a-cactus/) [Kathleen Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-peacock/) > [Texas is a hell hole, man. Dirt, cactus, lizards, dirt, cactus, the Bush family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/texas-is-a-hell-hole-man-dirt-cactus-lizards-dirt-cactus-the-bush/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [John flung himself into a pseudo-karate stance, one hand poised behind him and one in front, posed like a cartoon cactus. I thought for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/john-flung-himself-into-a-pseudo-karate-stance-one-hand-poised-behind/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [Key West is the place where your sickly house plant back in New York grows to 10 ft. It's also the place where an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/key-west-is-the-place-where-your-sickly-house-plant-back-in-new-york/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/she-was-elusive-she-was-today-she-was-tomorrow-she-was-the-faintest/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [“Well what I was going to say was that it reminds me of us because a cactus can grow and thrive without a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-bloom/well-what-i-was-going-to-say-was-that-it-reminds-me-of-us-because-a/) [Rebecca Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-bloom/) > [The desert seems to be a brown wasteland of dry, prickly scrub whose only purpose is to serve as a setting for the majestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/the-desert-seems-to-be-a-brown-wasteland-of-dry-prickly-scrub-whose/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I'm always very interested in breeding. Raising cacti is breeding. My lotus plant collection is breeding. The insects are breeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/i-m-always-very-interested-in-breeding-raising-cacti-is-breeding-my/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [“So I came down here, to breathe dust and walk with the dogs-- to look at a rock or a cactus and know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/so-i-came-down-here-to-breathe-dust-and-walk-with-the-dogs-to-look-at/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I remember very clearly someone saying, 'Don't shake hands with the cactus,' and I thought, 'Well, why not? What could possibly go wrong?' Shaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-remember-very-clearly-someone-saying-don-t-shake-hands-with-the/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [What is the difference between a cactus and a conservative caucus? On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-diefenbaker/what-is-the-difference-between-a-cactus-and-a-conservative-caucus-on/) [John Diefenbaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-diefenbaker/) [Browse all 96 Cactus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cactus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I bought a cactus. A week later it died. And I got depressed, because I thought, Damn. 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