--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What joy when the insouciant armadillo…" description: "\"What joy when the insouciant armadillo glances at us and doesn't quicken his trotting across the track into the palm brush. What is this joy? That no a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/denise-levertov-4487_animal_what-joy-when-the-insouciant-armadillo-g_1977178.png" --- # What joy when the insouciant armadillo glances at us and… ![“What joy when the insouciant armadillo glances at us and doesn't quicken his trotting across the track into the palm brush. What is this joy? That no animal falters, but knows what it must do?” quote by Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/denise-levertov-4487_animal_what-joy-when-the-insouciant-armadillo-g_1977178.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/denise-levertov-4487_animal_what-joy-when-the-insouciant-armadillo-g_1977178.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c02/denise-levertov-4487_animal_what-joy-when-the-insouciant-armadillo-g_1977178.png) > “What joy when the insouciant armadillo glances at us and doesn't quicken his trotting across the track into the palm brush. What is this joy? That no animal falters, but knows what it must do?” [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Joy arises from observing an animal’s calm purpose despite uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Joy in calm purpose despite uncertainty. Key Takeaway Observe and emulate calm purpose. Themes joy calm purpose Mood serene contemplative Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - nature walks - creative work - stress relief Key Concepts nature mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What does calm purpose look like for you? - How can you stay steady under pressure? A Different Perspective Not all joy is accessible to humans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal Falters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-falters-3354969/) [Armadillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armadillo-558421/) [Armadillo Glances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armadillo-glances-3354966/) [Armadillos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/armadillos/) [Brushes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brushes/) [Glances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glances/) [Insouciant Armadillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insouciant-armadillo-3354967/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Joy Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy-animal-3354968/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Palms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palms/) [Track](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track/) [Trotting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trotting/) ## Related quotes > [Is God a man or a woman? God could be an armadillo. I have no idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/is-god-a-man-or-a-woman-god-could-be-an-armadillo-i-have-no-idea/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [You know, sometimes you can't just take an armadillo, put it in the barn, light it on fire and expect it to make licorice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/you-know-sometimes-you-can-t-just-take-an-armadillo-put-it-in-the/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [I know I'm smarter than an armadillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/i-know-i-m-smarter-than-an-armadillo/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [You'll be riding by bare back on your armadillo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steely-dan/you-ll-be-riding-by-bare-back-on-your-armadillo/) [Steely Dan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steely-dan/) > [“Armadillo? I’d rather arm civilians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/armadillo-i-d-rather-arm-civilians/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“The plastic-covered notebooks were candy-colored and palm-size, brimming with the characters and arcana of a prosperous and long-standing children's entertainment combine. The creation myth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-plastic-covered-notebooks-were-candy-colored-and-palm-size/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Khufu carefully picked out everything that ended with-o—Doritos, Oreos, and some chunks of meat. Buffalo? Armadillo? I was scared to even ask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/khufu-carefully-picked-out-everything-that-ended-with-o-doritos-oreos/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [...in the woods, if you stopped, if you grew still, you'd hear a whole new set of sounds, wind rasping through silhouetted leaves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-franklin/in-the-woods-if-you-stopped-if-you-grew-still-you-d-hear-a-whole-new/) [Tom Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-franklin/) > [While other guitars may have more twang or an esoteric atmosphere, the Les Paul is like a T-Rex thampling everything in it's path ..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-zuniga/while-other-guitars-may-have-more-twang-or-an-esoteric-atmosphere-the/) [Miles Zuniga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-zuniga/) > [There's nothing in the middle of the road but a yellow stripe and dead armadillos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/there-s-nothing-in-the-middle-of-the-road-but-a-yellow-stripe-and/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [“...avacados, prickly pears and papayas used to be gulped down whole, seeds and all, by fridge-sized armadillos called glyptodonts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-leith-gollner/avacados-prickly-pears-and-papayas-used-to-be-gulped-down-whole-seeds/) [Adam Leith Gollner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-leith-gollner/) > [Without the beat in the background, Jazz basically sounds like an armadillo was let loose on the keyboard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bailey/without-the-beat-in-the-background-jazz-basically-sounds-like-an/) [Bill Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bailey/) > [I do a lot of thrifting, but I don't go shopping in a concerted way very often. I find things by accident that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-davis/i-do-a-lot-of-thrifting-but-i-don-t-go-shopping-in-a-concerted-way/) [Mackenzie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-davis/) > [The middle of the road is for yellow lines and dead armadillos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/the-middle-of-the-road-is-for-yellow-lines-and-dead-armadillos/) [Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/) > [If you ask my dad for help... he'll help. Like a vulture helps an over-run armadillo on a Texas highway. One peck at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/if-you-ask-my-dad-for-help-he-ll-help-like-a-vulture-helps-an-over/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) ## More by Denise Levertov > [Death and pain dominate this world, for though many are cured, they leave still weak, still tremulous, still knowing mortality has whispered to them;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/death-and-pain-dominate-this-world-for-though-many-are-cured-they/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The artist must create himself or be born again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-artist-must-create-himself-or-be-born-again/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I believe every space and comma is a living part of the poem and has its function, just as every muscle and pore of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-believe-every-space-and-comma-is-a-living-part-of-the-poem-and-has/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Each part of speech a spark awaiting redemption, each a virtue, a power in abeyance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/each-part-of-speech-a-spark-awaiting-redemption-each-a-virtue-a-power/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [It is fatal to one's artistic life to talk about something this is in process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/it-is-fatal-to-one-s-artistic-life-to-talk-about-something-this-is-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [If woman is inconstant, good, I am faithful to ebb and flow, I fall in season and now is a time of ripening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/if-woman-is-inconstant-good-i-am-faithful-to-ebb-and-flow-i-fall-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [Putting his hope in certain death, lowering his head again to the grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/putting-his-hope-in-certain-death-lowering-his-head-again-to-the-grass/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [slowly the pale dew-beads of light lapped up from flowers can thicken, darken to gold: honey of the human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/slowly-the-pale-dew-beads-of-light-lapped-up-from-flowers-can-thicken/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [“I am, a shadow that grows longer as the sun moves, drawn out on a thread of wonder. If I bear burdens they begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-am-a-shadow-that-grows-longer-as-the-sun-moves-drawn-out-on-a/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [In city, in suburb, in forest, no way to stretch out the arms - so if you would grow, go straight up or deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/in-city-in-suburb-in-forest-no-way-to-stretch-out-the-arms-so-if-you/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I like to find what's not found at once, but lies within something of another nature, in repose, distinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-like-to-find-what-s-not-found-at-once-but-lies-within-something-of/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [There is no savor more sweet, more salt than to be glad to be what, woman, and who, myself, I am...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/there-is-no-savor-more-sweet-more-salt-than-to-be-glad-to-be-what/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [This wild night, gathering the washing as if it were flowers animal vines twisting over theline and slapping my face lightly, soundless merriment in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/this-wild-night-gathering-the-washing-as-if-it-were-flowers-animal/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [The fire in leaf and grass so green it seems each summer the last summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/the-fire-in-leaf-and-grass-so-green-it-seems-each-summer-the-last/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [I see him across the street, the blind man, and now he says he can find his way. He knows where he is going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/i-see-him-across-the-street-the-blind-man-and-now-he-says-he-can-find/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) [Explore all 110 Denise Levertov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## More Animal 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/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [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/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? 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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/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [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/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What joy when the insouciant armadillo glances at us and doesn't quicken his trotting across the track into the palm brush. What is this joy? 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