Humor Quote by Flannery O'Connor
““I hope you understand that it is not the tooth of the saber-toothed tiger I want, it is the tiger . I don't care if it's a old toothless tiger or not, just so it's alive. I intend to start a zoo.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Displaced Person”, 1955
Desire for authentic life over symbolic trophies; seeks vitality in the living, not relics.
In simple terms: Want real life, not symbols.
Key Takeaway
Value authentic experiences.
Themes
authenticity
life
symbolism
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- career pursuits
- creative projects
- environmental activism
Key Concepts
existentialism
meaning
vitality
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “alive” mean to you?
- How do you balance symbolism and reality?
A Different Perspective
Idealism can clash with practicality.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
