--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and…" description: "\"“But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and it stole our attention the way flying things can.”\" — Douglas Coupland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/douglas-coupland-305_bee_but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-an_705734.jpg" --- # But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and it stole our… ![“But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and it stole our attention the way flying things can.” quote by Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/douglas-coupland-305_bee_but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-an_705734.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/douglas-coupland-305_bee_but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-an_705734.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/douglas-coupland-305_bee_but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-an_705734.jpg) > ““But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and it stole our attention the way flying things can.”” [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A small, unexpected event can capture attention more than larger concerns. **In simple terms:** Minor things can shift focus. Key Takeaway Notice and appreciate small moments. Themes attention distraction mindfulness Mood curious lighthearted Type observation philosophical When to use this quote - daily routine - stress - creative work Key Concepts psychology perception Questions to Reflect On - What small detail recently caught your eye? - How do you decide what to focus on? A Different Perspective Focusing on trivialities may distract from important tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bee/) [Bumble bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bumble-bee/) [Bumblebee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bumblebee/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) ## Related quotes > [“But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and it stole our attention the way flying things can. Mom... Dad... I'm okay. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-and-it-stole-our-attention-the-2/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [just then a bee bumbled above us and stole our attention the way flying things can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/just-then-a-bee-bumbled-above-us-and-stole-our-attention-the-way/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I wasn't one of the cool kids by any stretch. I just bumbled along really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-wasn-t-one-of-the-cool-kids-by-any-stretch-i-just-bumbled-along/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [It's kind of strange to be a free soloist when you know so much about flying, because I'm playing two opposite games, or practicing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-potter/it-s-kind-of-strange-to-be-a-free-soloist-when-you-know-so-much-about/) [Dean Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-potter/) > [When poets go off the boil, they sound like bumble bees; when critics do, they sound like sewing machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/when-poets-go-off-the-boil-they-sound-like-bumble-bees-when-critics/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hackett/life-is-full-of-beauty-notice-it-notice-the-bumble-bee-the-small/) Tom Hackett > [Your girlfriend's vagina? Smells like bumble bee tuna.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/your-girlfriend-s-vagina-smells-like-bumble-bee-tuna/) [Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/) > [Through the window I can see Rooks above the cherry-tree, Sparrows in the violet bed, Bramble-bush and bumble-bee, And old red bracken smoulders still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-graves/through-the-window-i-can-see-rooks-above-the-cherry-tree-sparrows-in/) [Robert Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-graves/) > [“I don’t even get the term, “the birds and the bees”. How does that properly teach a kid about sex?  You never see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-sivec/i-don-t-even-get-the-term-the-birds-and-the-bees-how-does-that/) [Tara Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-sivec/) > [“Technology is crucial to civilization why? Because it helps us make our fate. We don't need God or miracles or the flight of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/technology-is-crucial-to-civilization-why-because-it-helps-us-make/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > ['Ms.' is a syllable which sounds like a bumble bee is breaking wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hortense-calisher/ms-is-a-syllable-which-sounds-like-a-bumble-bee-is-breaking-wind/) [Hortense Calisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hortense-calisher/) > [Nature is what we see - the hill, the afternoon, squirrel, eclipse, the bumblebee. Nay, nature is heaven. Nature is what we hear...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/nature-is-what-we-see-the-hill-the-afternoon-squirrel-eclipse-the/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“I had a weird thing happen down at the library today. They don’t have any records for the house on file.” Milo made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-s-donovan/i-had-a-weird-thing-happen-down-at-the-library-today-they-don-t-have/) J.S Donovan > [It was the bumble bee and the butterfly who survived, not the dinosaur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meridel-le-sueur/it-was-the-bumble-bee-and-the-butterfly-who-survived-not-the-dinosaur/) [Meridel Le Sueur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meridel-le-sueur/) > [“It was the small things she took pleasure in. The faint hum of a huge furry bumble bee busily flitting from one flower to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-hughes/it-was-the-small-things-she-took-pleasure-in-the-faint-hum-of-a-huge/) [Kathryn Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-hughes/) ## More by Douglas Coupland > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [A man in a bookstore buys a book on loneliness and every woman in the store hits on him. A woman buys a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/a-man-in-a-bookstore-buys-a-book-on-loneliness-and-every-woman-in-the/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [The future and eternity are two entirely different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/the-future-and-eternity-are-two-entirely-different-things/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Do you remember how you felt at seventeen? I do and I don't (...) Imagine you came from outer space and someone showed you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/do-you-remember-how-you-felt-at-seventeen-i-do-and-i-don-t-imagine/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [You can't fake competence, creativity, or sexual arousal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-can-t-fake-competence-creativity-or-sexual-arousal/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“But Dag, for all of his efforts, might as well have been talking to a cat. Our parents’ generation seems neither able nor interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-dag-for-all-of-his-efforts-might-as-well-have-been-talking-to-a/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Negative? Moi? I think realistic might be a better word. You mean to tell me we can drive all the way here from L.A.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/negative-moi-i-think-realistic-might-be-a-better-word-you-mean-to/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [It was pivotal in making you but you don't remember it. Or do you? Do we understand the events that make us who we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/it-was-pivotal-in-making-you-but-you-don-t-remember-it-or-do-you-do/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Your ability to rationalize your own bad deeds makes you believe that the whole world is as amoral as you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/your-ability-to-rationalize-your-own-bad-deeds-makes-you-believe-that/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“I like to go beach-combing, and I like to find interestingly shaped rocks. When I really get into the groove I start finding beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-like-to-go-beach-combing-and-i-like-to-find-interestingly-shaped/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“You know, Dag and Claire smile a lot, as do many people I know. But I always wondered if there is something either mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/you-know-dag-and-claire-smile-a-lot-as-do-many-people-i-know-but-i/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Brain research tells us that only twenty percent of human beings have a sense of irony, which means that eighty percent of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/brain-research-tells-us-that-only-twenty-percent-of-human-beings-have/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I keep vampire hours, going to bed at 2 A.M. and waking up at about 10:30-11 A.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-keep-vampire-hours-going-to-bed-at-2-a-m-and-waking-up-at-about-10/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Anna-Louise leans over and whispers in my ear. "This is so surreal," she says, "I think I'm turning into a melting clock.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/anna-louise-leans-over-and-whispers-in-my-ear-this-is-so-surreal-she/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [When you grow up these days, you're told you're going to have four or five different careers during your lifetime. But what they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/when-you-grow-up-these-days-you-re-told-you-re-going-to-have-four-or/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) [Explore all 704 Douglas Coupland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More Bee quotes > [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Give me a 15-ft. crocodile any day over a bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/give-me-a-15-ft-crocodile-any-day-over-a-bee/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [You're looking at the Bee Gees right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-gibb/you-re-looking-at-the-bee-gees-right-now/) [Robin Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-gibb/) > [I used to watch old clips of Muhammad Ali, where he'd be talking the jive during interviews, you know, 'Float like a butterfly, sting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/i-used-to-watch-old-clips-of-muhammad-ali-where-he-d-be-talking-the/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [I love the Bee Gees, and I love Barry Gibb and Andy Gibb. I listen to them almost every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-love-the-bee-gees-and-i-love-barry-gibb-and-andy-gibb-i-listen-to/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [While I was writing the songs for 'Fuzz Universe,' I was immersing myself in Bulgarian Female Choir music, Baroque lute and violin pieces, Johnny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/while-i-was-writing-the-songs-for-fuzz-universe-i-was-immersing/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [I love Donna Summer, and I love ABBA. I love late '70s disco. I love the Bee Gees. I just love that period of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hawkins/i-love-donna-summer-and-i-love-abba-i-love-late-70s-disco-i-love-the/) [Taylor Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hawkins/) > [“Your words, your thoughts are deep and intoxicating. Your words mesmerize me and pull me into them as a bee gets pulled into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/your-words-your-thoughts-are-deep-and-intoxicating-your-words/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [When I was a kid, people people would always say, 'Oh you look like Chilli from TLC.' It wasn't until I did 'Akeelah and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/when-i-was-a-kid-people-people-would-always-say-oh-you-look-like/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) > [I really respect Samantha Bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/i-really-respect-samantha-bee/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [I would say things like 'I am the greatest! I'm pretty! If you talk jive, you'll drop in five! I float like a butterfly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-would-say-things-like-i-am-the-greatest-i-m-pretty-if-you-talk-jive/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [How does a queen bee behave? However she wants to. But please don't wait for someone to hold the door open for you when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/how-does-a-queen-bee-behave-however-she-wants-to-but-please-don-t/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [If a queen bee were crossed with a Friesian bull, would not the land flow with milk and honey?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-st-john/if-a-queen-bee-were-crossed-with-a-friesian-bull-would-not-the-land/) Oliver St. John > [I'm a worker bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-a-worker-bee/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I never smoked cigarettes, I never did hard drugs. But I love bee pollen capsules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marky-ramone/i-never-smoked-cigarettes-i-never-did-hard-drugs-but-i-love-bee/) [Marky Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marky-ramone/) [Browse all 94 Bee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bee/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and it stole our attention the way flying things can.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Douglas Coupland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-and-it-stole-our-attention-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bee" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-and-it-stole-our-attention-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/douglas-coupland-305_bee_but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-an_705734.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/douglas-coupland-305_bee_but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-an_705734.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/067/douglas-coupland-305_bee_but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-an_705734.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But then a bumblebee bumbled above us and it stole our attention the way flying things can.” — Douglas Coupland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Douglas Coupland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But then a bumblebee bumbled above...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-and-it-stole-our-attention-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/but-then-a-bumblebee-bumbled-above-us-and-it-stole-our-attention-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```