--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we have caught and what we have…" description: "\"What we have caught and what we have killed we have left behind, but what has escaped us we bring with us.\" — Heraclitus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/heraclitus-1050_behinds_what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-kil_917242.jpg" --- # What we have caught and what we have killed we have left… ![“What we have caught and what we have killed we have left behind, but what has escaped us we bring with us.” quote by Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/heraclitus-1050_behinds_what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-kil_917242.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/heraclitus-1050_behinds_what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-kil_917242.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/heraclitus-1050_behinds_what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-kil_917242.jpg) > “What we have caught and what we have killed we have left behind, but what has escaped us we bring with us.” [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We leave behind what we kill, but the unresolved follows us, shaping our future. **In simple terms:** Unresolved issues persist beyond actions. Key Takeaway Address unresolved matters before they follow you. Themes consequence legacy unresolved action future Mood thoughtful serious reflective Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - decision making - conflict resolution - personal reflection - project planning Key Concepts philosophy ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - What unresolved issue am I carrying? - How can I resolve it before it impacts me? A Different Perspective Ignoring unresolved issues can cause recurring problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) ## Related quotes > [It is embarrassing to be caught and killed for stupid reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-holzer/it-is-embarrassing-to-be-caught-and-killed-for-stupid-reasons/) [Jenny Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-holzer/) > [“it was like a dream in which one is being pursued, nearly caught and will be killed, and is rooted to the spot and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/it-was-like-a-dream-in-which-one-is-being-pursued-nearly-caught-and/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Don't go!" Rycca said urgently. "It's a trap." Her husband looked down at her with amusement. "Of course it's a trap, sweetling.There are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-litton/don-t-go-rycca-said-urgently-it-s-a-trap-her-husband-looked-down-at/) [Josie Litton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-litton/) > [“I should have left yesterday before I found out how hot you run. But I didn’t. And now I’m fucked.” One hand dropped from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-bailey/i-should-have-left-yesterday-before-i-found-out-how-hot-you-run-but-i/) [Tessa Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-bailey/) > [“Running my fastest not from my past. Running from those who have hurt me in it. And, they can't catch me anymore. 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I've thrown up a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/i-m-scared-of-audiences-one-show-in-amsterdam-i-was-so-nervous-i/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [I'm an escaped car thief. I broke out of prison to see the Cubs in the World Series.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-belushi/i-m-an-escaped-car-thief-i-broke-out-of-prison-to-see-the-cubs-in-the/) [James Belushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-belushi/) > [“and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-i-only-am-escaped-alone-to-tell-thee/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More by Heraclitus > [Learning many things does not teach understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/learning-many-things-does-not-teach-understanding/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Dogs, also, bark at what they do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/dogs-also-bark-at-what-they-do-not-know/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The fairest harmony springs from discord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-fairest-harmony-springs-from-discord/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [“One man is worth thousand if he is extraordinary”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/one-man-is-worth-thousand-if-he-is-extraordinary/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Presumption must be quenched even more than a fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/presumption-must-be-quenched-even-more-than-a-fire/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Those unmindful when they hear, for all they make of their intelligence, may be regarded as the walking dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/those-unmindful-when-they-hear-for-all-they-make-of-their/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Everything is in flux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/everything-is-in-flux/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The Cosmos was not made by gods but always was and is eternal fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-cosmos-was-not-made-by-gods-but-always-was-and-is-eternal-fire/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [ Men who are lovers of wisdom \[i.e., philosophers\] must be inquirers into many things. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/men-who-are-lovers-of-wisdom-i-e-philosophers-must-be-inquirers-into/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [We do not step in the same river twice, for the waters have moved on and we too have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/we-do-not-step-in-the-same-river-twice-for-the-waters-have-moved-on/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [War is the father of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/war-is-the-father-of-all-things/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The fairest order in the world is a heap of random sweepings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-fairest-order-in-the-world-is-a-heap-of-random-sweepings/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The seeing have the world in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-seeing-have-the-world-in-common/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [All men have the capacity of knowing themselves and acting with moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/all-men-have-the-capacity-of-knowing-themselves-and-acting-with/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Those who love wisdom must investigate many things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/those-who-love-wisdom-must-investigate-many-things/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) [Explore all 296 Heraclitus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. 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Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we have caught and what we have killed we have left behind, but what has escaped us we bring with us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Heraclitus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-killed-we-have-left-behind-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-killed-we-have-left-behind-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/heraclitus-1050_behinds_what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-kil_917242.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/heraclitus-1050_behinds_what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-kil_917242.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/586/heraclitus-1050_behinds_what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-kil_917242.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we have caught and what we have killed we have left behind, but what has escaped us we bring with us.” — Heraclitus", "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": "Heraclitus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we have caught and what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-killed-we-have-left-behind-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/what-we-have-caught-and-what-we-have-killed-we-have-left-behind-but/#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 } } ] } ```