--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From somewhere above me, there was an…" description: "\"“From somewhere above me, there was an irritated hiss. ‘Food.’ I strained my head upwards. ‘Hi, Brutus.’ His yellow eyes stared down at me, unblinking...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/helen-harper-29706_brutus_from-somewhere-above-me-there-was-an-irr_45465.jpg" --- # From somewhere above me, there was an irritated hiss… ![“From somewhere above me, there was an irritated hiss. ‘Food.’ I strained my head upwards. ‘Hi, Brutus.’ His yellow eyes stared down at me, unblinking. ‘Food, bitch.’ I sighed. ‘I’ve told you time and time again. If you call me that, I’m not going to feed you.’ ‘Food.’ ‘Give me a minute.’ ‘Food.’…” quote by Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/helen-harper-29706_brutus_from-somewhere-above-me-there-was-an-irr_45465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/helen-harper-29706_brutus_from-somewhere-above-me-there-was-an-irr_45465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/214/helen-harper-29706_brutus_from-somewhere-above-me-there-was-an-irr_45465.jpg) > ““From somewhere above me, there was an irritated hiss. ‘Food.’ I strained my head upwards. ‘Hi, Brutus.’ His yellow eyes stared down at me, unblinking. ‘Food, bitch.’ I sighed. ‘I’ve told you time and time again. If you call me that, I’m not going to feed you.’ ‘Food.’ ‘Give me a minute.’ ‘Food.’ ‘I’d like the chance to get a cup of tea first.’ ‘Food.’ ‘Piss off.’ ‘Food.”” [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dialogue reveals a power imbalance where a demanding entity (the 'Food') repeatedly insists, while the speaker resists, highlighting frustration and the struggle for autonomy. **In simple terms:** Power dynamics and resistance Key Takeaway Demand vs. autonomy Themes Power Resistance Frustration Authority Communication Mood Irritated Defiant Exasperated Type Dialogue Monologue Narrative When to use this quote - Dealing with a demanding boss - Facing relentless customer complaints - Negotiating with an insistent partner - Managing a persistent internal critic Key Concepts Demand Autonomy Boundaries Negotiation Practical Applications - Setting clear boundaries - Developing assertive communication Questions to Reflect On - How can you assert boundaries without escalating conflict? - What strategies help maintain composure under repeated demands? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cup of tea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cup-of-tea/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I abandoned the plan to make millions from the spell when I realised that people would finally realise their cats are selfish little bastards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/i-abandoned-the-plan-to-make-millions-from-the-spell-when-i-realised/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Pet,’ Brutus repeated. ‘Bitch.’ ‘Don’t be offended,’ I said. ‘He calls everyone that.’ I winked at Brutus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/pet-brutus-repeated-bitch-don-t-be-offended-i-said-he-calls-everyone/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Ayo Jah bring yo greedy ass on nigga! I’m tryin to get up with this chick tonight.” Jah was down stairs raiding the refrigerator.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivory-b/ayo-jah-bring-yo-greedy-ass-on-nigga-i-m-tryin-to-get-up-with-this/) Ivory B ## More by Helen Harper > [“Death is quick. It’s the end. And everyone dies. It’s not punishment because it’s inevitable.’ Bob”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/death-is-quick-it-s-the-end-and-everyone-dies-it-s-not-punishment/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Afford me a very enjoyable view of his arse, which was a particularly tight and well-rounded specimen. He might have had a rod jammed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/afford-me-a-very-enjoyable-view-of-his-arse-which-was-a-particularly/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“There was a brief mutter from underneath the table. ‘Thank fuck,’ Brutus said. ‘We need to depart this hellhole tout suite.’ I started and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/there-was-a-brief-mutter-from-underneath-the-table-thank-fuck-brutus/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“I abandoned the plan to make millions from the spell when I realised that people would finally realise their cats are selfish little bastards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/i-abandoned-the-plan-to-make-millions-from-the-spell-when-i-realised/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“soft and sweet to look at with a prickly personality and a streak of defiant personality. I smirked. Kitten. It suited her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/soft-and-sweet-to-look-at-with-a-prickly-personality-and-a-streak-of/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“I pulled out, making the driver in the battered BMW coming up behind me gesture in my direction with an angry scowl. Now, now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/i-pulled-out-making-the-driver-in-the-battered-bmw-coming-up-behind/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“I don't think I'm in love with you; I know I'm in love with you. We have nothing in common, but I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/i-don-t-think-i-m-in-love-with-you-i-know-i-m-in-love-with-you-we/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“You should count yourself lucky,’ she grinned. ‘I’m far too much like hard work.’ It was on the tip of Winter’s tongue to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/you-should-count-yourself-lucky-she-grinned-i-m-far-too-much-like/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Thank fuck,’ Brutus said. ‘We need to depart this hellhole tout suite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/thank-fuck-brutus-said-we-need-to-depart-this-hellhole-tout-suite/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Harold,’ I called. ‘Harold! It’s Ivy from down the hall.’ The cat didn’t answer. Perhaps I was being too familiar with the familiar. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/harold-i-called-harold-it-s-ivy-from-down-the-hall-the-cat-didn-t/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Herblorists enjoyed long-winded arguments about which type of salt was most effective. I had heard that the Order even employed a selmelier, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/herblorists-enjoyed-long-winded-arguments-about-which-type-of-salt/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“I order three martinis and down them in quick succession, shuddering at the strength of the alcohol. When they don’t immediately work, I order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/i-order-three-martinis-and-down-them-in-quick-succession-shuddering/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Pet,’ Brutus repeated. ‘Bitch.’ ‘Don’t be offended,’ I said. ‘He calls everyone that.’ I winked at Brutus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/pet-brutus-repeated-bitch-don-t-be-offended-i-said-he-calls-everyone/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“What drives society forward is having a strong backbone of people willing to do the jobs that their leaders don’t want to dirty their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/what-drives-society-forward-is-having-a-strong-backbone-of-people/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [“Probably look like fucking Captain Hook.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/probably-look-like-fucking-captain-hook/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) [Explore all 17 Helen Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) ## More Brutus quotes > [Et tu Brute! (You too, Brutus!)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/et-tu-brute-you-too-brutus/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Et tu, Brute?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/et-tu-brute/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Fates, we will know your pleasures: That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time And drawing days out, that men stand upon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/fates-we-will-know-your-pleasures-that-we-shall-die-we-know-tis-but/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel: Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! This was the most unkindest cut of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/for-brutus-as-you-know-was-caesar-s-angel-judge-o-you-gods-how-dearly/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in our stars, that we are underlinings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-fault-dear-brutus-is-not-in-our-stars-but-in-our-stars-that-we/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Like every man who appears at an epoch which is historical and rendered famous by his works, Jesus Christ has a history, a history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-henri-lacordaire/like-every-man-who-appears-at-an-epoch-which-is-historical-and/) [Jean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-henri-lacordaire/) > [“Caesar, Now be still, I killed not thee with half so good a will"?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/caesar-now-be-still-i-killed-not-thee-with-half-so-good-a-will/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A dagger is the noble weapon of Brutus. Everyone understands that tyrants fall to daggers. A bomb is a sordid modern device with many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-sterling/a-dagger-is-the-noble-weapon-of-brutus-everyone-understands-that/) [Bruce Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-sterling/) > [When your living like Ceasar, you better watch out for Brutus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bizzy-crook/when-your-living-like-ceasar-you-better-watch-out-for-brutus/) Bizzy Crook > [Hamlet is the result of Shakespeare's work on Brutus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dakin-matthews/hamlet-is-the-result-of-shakespeare-s-work-on-brutus/) [Dakin Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dakin-matthews/) > [“There was a brief mutter from underneath the table. ‘Thank fuck,’ Brutus said. ‘We need to depart this hellhole tout suite.’ I started and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-harper/there-was-a-brief-mutter-from-underneath-the-table-thank-fuck-brutus/) [Helen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-harper/) > [Let's be honest, the cards' on the table: Jealousy's a sin, Cain killed Abel. Backstabber...Caesar had Brutus. It's hard to weed 'em out, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pusha-t/let-s-be-honest-the-cards-on-the-table-jealousy-s-a-sin-cain-killed/) [Pusha T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pusha-t/) > [I've been on a ranch. I've been in outer space. For a short, unhappy period I was a detective. I've also played Brutus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorne-greene/i-ve-been-on-a-ranch-i-ve-been-in-outer-space-for-a-short-unhappy/) [Lorne Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorne-greene/) > [I picture several reviewers of my own books as passing a long future lodged between Brutus and Judas in the jaws of Satan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-picture-several-reviewers-of-my-own-books-as-passing-a-long-future/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [But it is the nature of stars to cross, and never was Shakespeare more wrong than when he has Cassius note, ‘The fault, dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/but-it-is-the-nature-of-stars-to-cross-and-never-was-shakespeare-more/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) Browse all 43 Brutus quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“From somewhere above me, there was an irritated hiss. ‘Food.’ I strained my head upwards. ‘Hi, Brutus.’ His yellow eyes stared down at me, unblinking. ‘Food, bitch.’ I sighed. ‘I’ve told you time and time again. 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