--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's better to be an octopus than a fish…" description: "\"It's better to be an octopus than a fish. If an octopus loses a tentacle to a predator, the octopus will survive with seven tentacles left for itself.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/gene-simmons-2164_fishes_it-s-better-to-be-an-octopus-than-a-fish_2611840.png" --- # It's better to be an octopus than a fish. If an octopus… ![“It's better to be an octopus than a fish. If an octopus loses a tentacle to a predator, the octopus will survive with seven tentacles left for itself.” quote by Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/gene-simmons-2164_fishes_it-s-better-to-be-an-octopus-than-a-fish_2611840.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/gene-simmons-2164_fishes_it-s-better-to-be-an-octopus-than-a-fish_2611840.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/076/gene-simmons-2164_fishes_it-s-better-to-be-an-octopus-than-a-fish_2611840.png) > “It's better to be an octopus than a fish. If an octopus loses a tentacle to a predator, the octopus will survive with seven tentacles left for itself.” [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prefers an octopus over a fish because losing a tentacle still leaves survival chances, unlike a fish’s vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Octopus survives loss better than fish. Key Takeaway Value resilience and adaptability. Themes biology survival adaptability Mood pragmatic inspired Type motivational practical When to use this quote - team building - risk management - personal setbacks Key Concepts resilience redundancy Questions to Reflect On - How can you build redundancy in your life? - What strengths can you develop to survive loss? A Different Perspective Resilience may require sacrifice and effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Octopus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/octopus/) [Predator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predator/) ## Related quotes > [“Men may sail the seas for a lifetime and seldom, if ever, come in contact with the nightmare monsters that inhabit the caves and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-outerson/men-may-sail-the-seas-for-a-lifetime-and-seldom-if-ever-come-in/) William Outerson > [the tentacles of today reach out like an octopus to swallow yesterday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/the-tentacles-of-today-reach-out-like-an-octopus-to-swallow-yesterday/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [“He let his eyes flitter over her. “I don’t see anything ‘precisely.’ I can tell you’re slender. I can see you’re wearing white, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/he-let-his-eyes-flitter-over-her-i-don-t-see-anything-precisely-i-can/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [Every science is a mutilated octopus. If its tentacles were not clipped to stumps, it would feel its way into disturbing contacts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/every-science-is-a-mutilated-octopus-if-its-tentacles-were-not/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [The family - that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/the-family-that-dear-octopus-from-whose-tentacles-we-never-quite-2/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [Crank, You See isn't any ordinary monster. It's like a giant octopus, weaving its tentacles not just around you, but through you, squeezing not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/crank-you-see-isn-t-any-ordinary-monster-it-s-like-a-giant-octopus/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [The family, that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape, nor in our innermost hearts never quite wish to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/the-family-that-dear-octopus-from-whose-tentacles-we-never-quite/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [The monster of advertisement...is a sort of octopus with innumerable tentacles. It throws out to right and left, in front and behind, its clammy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/the-monster-of-advertisement-is-a-sort-of-octopus-with-innumerable/) [Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/) > [Despite a primitive brain, the octopus possesses an intricate system that helps it decide which tentacle to masturbate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/despite-a-primitive-brain-the-octopus-possesses-an-intricate-system/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [A lot of my peer group think I'm an eccentric bisexual, like I may even have an ammonia-filled tentacle somewhere on my body. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/a-lot-of-my-peer-group-think-i-m-an-eccentric-bisexual-like-i-may/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [The fact is that you can be a Nazi living in a little trailer in the middle of Montana and as awful as everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-theroux/the-fact-is-that-you-can-be-a-nazi-living-in-a-little-trailer-in-the/) [Louis Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-theroux/) > [I came," she said, "hoping you could talk me out of a fantasy." Cherish it!" cried Hilarious, fiercely. "What else do any of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pynchon/i-came-she-said-hoping-you-could-talk-me-out-of-a-fantasy-cherish-it/) [Thomas Pynchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pynchon/) > [What you learn about yourself is that you continue to see that you're selfish. It's so easy, in our Laodicean culture with all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kampman/what-you-learn-about-yourself-is-that-you-continue-to-see-that-you-re/) [Aaron Kampman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kampman/) > [ \[The Library of Congress\] is a multimedia encyclopedia. These are the tentacles of a nation. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-library-of-congress-is-a-multimedia-encyclopedia-these-are-the/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [I'm aware that because America is so powerful - with its tentacles reaching out to the world - one doesn't escape it by leaving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/i-m-aware-that-because-america-is-so-powerful-with-its-tentacles/) [Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/) ## More by Gene Simmons > [I've never been high or drunk in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/i-ve-never-been-high-or-drunk-in-my-life/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [I know that you like to see a man in the kitchen, but I'm skeptical of men who cook. A man should be focusing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/i-know-that-you-like-to-see-a-man-in-the-kitchen-but-i-m-skeptical-of/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [I don't wanna go on vacation. There's nothing about it that appeals to me. People look forward to doing that; I look forward to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/i-don-t-wanna-go-on-vacation-there-s-nothing-about-it-that-appeals-to/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Everybody hates critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/everybody-hates-critics/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [I think that Shakespeare is a s\*\*\*. Absolute s\*\*\*! He may have been a genius for his time, but I just can't relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/i-think-that-shakespeare-is-a-s-absolute-s-he-may-have-been-a-genius/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Live well - respire frequently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/live-well-respire-frequently/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [The makeup is simply an extension of the personality and colors, clothing, makeup all express something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/the-makeup-is-simply-an-extension-of-the-personality-and-colors/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Television and comic books are, and continue to be, probably the biggest influence in my life. It's the biggest influence on everybody's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/television-and-comic-books-are-and-continue-to-be-probably-the/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Being a Jew, you realize your strongest weapon is your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/being-a-jew-you-realize-your-strongest-weapon-is-your-mind/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [After 9/11, people all of a sudden became patriotic and showed the colors. Why did it take something bad to happen? It means something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/after-9-11-people-all-of-a-sudden-became-patriotic-and-showed-the/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [You don't need jails, you get put a thousand miles into the middle of Australia, you can go wherever you want, go ahead, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/you-don-t-need-jails-you-get-put-a-thousand-miles-into-the-middle-of/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [If you're building a house, or doing anything, time is what you've got. Well, there's effort, but you need time. The more time you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/if-you-re-building-a-house-or-doing-anything-time-is-what-you-ve-got/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Rock bands are a lot like football teams: If a guy is on drugs and messes up, get someone else who's proud to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/rock-bands-are-a-lot-like-football-teams-if-a-guy-is-on-drugs-and/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Better to discuss everything out in the open while you're in love, then if or when the relationship sadly ends. It's called Full Disclosure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/better-to-discuss-everything-out-in-the-open-while-you-re-in-love/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [The death of rock was not a natural death. Rock did not die of old age. It was murdered,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/the-death-of-rock-was-not-a-natural-death-rock-did-not-die-of-old-age/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) [Explore all 182 Gene Simmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) ## More Fishes 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/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [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/) > [Fly-fishing for wild trout on quiet waters must be one of the toughest and craziest ways to catch fish ever invented by man, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-voelker/fly-fishing-for-wild-trout-on-quiet-waters-must-be-one-of-the/) [John D. Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [My kids all do love to hunt and fish. When they get together, I think that's what they get together more for than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/my-kids-all-do-love-to-hunt-and-fish-when-they-get-together-i-think/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [Something I like to do a lot is just sit by water when there’s a current and just stare into the water. I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/something-i-like-to-do-a-lot-is-just-sit-by-water-when-there-s-a/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The trouble is, you can't properly present something you don't believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcguane/the-trouble-is-you-can-t-properly-present-something-you-don-t-believe/) [Thomas McGuane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcguane/) > [We cannot predict the new forces, powers, and discoveries that will be disclosed to us when we reach the other planets and set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/we-cannot-predict-the-new-forces-powers-and-discoveries-that-will-be/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [and Venus among the fishes skips and is a she-dolphin she is the gay, delighted porpoise sporting with love and the sea she is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/and-venus-among-the-fishes-skips-and-is-a-she-dolphin-she-is-the-gay/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [We're living in a time when parenting is not at all mirroring the way I was parented. For me, I just followed my parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-falco/we-re-living-in-a-time-when-parenting-is-not-at-all-mirroring-the-way/) [Edie Falco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-falco/) Browse all 2,026 Fishes quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's better to be an octopus than a fish. 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