---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I killed a flea this morning. I may have…"
description: "\"“I killed a flea this morning. I may have been a bit overzealous, because I accidentally killed the cat too.”\" — Jarod Kintz"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/jarod-kintz-2_killed-cat_i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have_3053471.jpg"
---

#  I killed a flea this morning. I may have been a bit…

![“I killed a flea this morning. I may have been a bit overzealous, because I accidentally killed the cat too.” quote by Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/jarod-kintz-2_killed-cat_i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have_3053471.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/jarod-kintz-2_killed-cat_i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have_3053471.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/jarod-kintz-2_killed-cat_i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have_3053471.jpg)

> ““I killed a flea this morning. I may have been a bit overzealous, because I accidentally killed the cat too.””

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Accidental overreach leads to unintended harm, highlighting caution.

**In simple terms:** Overzealous actions cause harm.

Key Takeaway

Act with measured intent.

Themes

caution intent consequences

Mood

reflective serious

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- decision making
- personal responsibility
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

Ethics risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you acted too hastily?
- How can you ensure thoughtful actions?

A Different Perspective

Mistakes can have lasting impacts.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Accidentally Killed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidentally-killed-2756919/) [Flea Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flea-morning-5089066/) [Killed Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-cat/) [Killed Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-flea-5089065/) [Overzealous Accidentally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overzealous-accidentally-5089067/)

## Related quotes

> [The year I began to say vahz instead of vase, a man I barely knew nearly accidentally killed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hempel/the-year-i-began-to-say-vahz-instead-of-vase-a-man-i-barely-knew/)

[Amy Hempel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hempel/)

> [“You know what his power was? Calling lightning. Try handling that when you live in water. He accidentally killed his entire family one night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terah-edun/you-know-what-his-power-was-calling-lightning-try-handling-that-when/)

[Terah Edun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terah-edun/)

> [“Curiosity killed the cat, but not before teaching her that honey bees are not sweet, tweeting birds are slow to react, mice can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-not-before-teaching-her-that-honey-bees/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/curiosity-killed-the-cat/)

[Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat because he wanted to know if it really had 9 lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-killed-the-cat-because-he-wanted-to-know-if-it-really-had-9/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“They say curiosity killed the cat but I am unconcerned. I am smarter, though slightly less evil, than any cat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-crewe/they-say-curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-i-am-unconcerned-i-am-smarter/)

[Eliza Crewe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-crewe/)

> [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it was the sausage-maker who disposed of the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-forsyth/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-was-the-sausage-maker-who/)

[Mark Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-forsyth/)

> [“Curiosity killed the cat, you know, but satisfaction brought him back snap-ass happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/curiosity-killed-the-cat-you-know-but-satisfaction-brought-him-back/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [What though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-though-care-killed-a-cat-thou-hast-mettle-enough-in-thee-to-kill/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it saved my ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-saved-my-ass/)

[Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/)

> [Wow," came a familiar voice, "Hypochondriac killed the cat." -Dess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/wow-came-a-familiar-voice-hypochondriac-killed-the-cat-dess/)

[Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-satisfaction-brought-it-back/)

[Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat. I guess it's a good thing I'm not a cat then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-killed-the-cat-i-guess-it-s-a-good-thing-i-m-not-a-cat-then/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“What courage, man! What though care killed a cat? Thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakespeare/what-courage-man-what-though-care-killed-a-cat-thou-hast-mettle/)

[Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakespeare/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat,” Fesgao remarked, his dark eyes unreadable. Aly rolled her eyes. Why did everyone say that to her? “People always forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/curiosity-killed-the-cat-fesgao-remarked-his-dark-eyes-unreadable-aly/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

## More by Jarod Kintz

> [“I notice when you’re gone. Or do I? How can I observe something that isn’t there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-notice-when-you-re-gone-or-do-i-how-can-i-observe-something-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I wouldn’t love you if you were the last Sodomite in Gomorrah.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wouldn-t-love-you-if-you-were-the-last-sodomite-in-gomorrah/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“A blanket could be used to make sweet, sweet music with the love of your life. Hopefully that person is me, because I’ve been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-make-sweet-sweet-music-with-the-love-of/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“A brick could be used to slow down time. Sort of like a camel in a wheelchair pushed by a thirsty Arab. Hey, Khalid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-brick-could-be-used-to-slow-down-time-sort-of-like-a-camel-in-a/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“We have a love so pure that it makes snow seem yellow. (Don’t eat it!)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/we-have-a-love-so-pure-that-it-makes-snow-seem-yellow-don-t-eat-it/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I hid Mrs. Frozenwater’s body in the ice cube trays in my freezer. Better to keep her there than let her memory thaw out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-hid-mrs-frozenwater-s-body-in-the-ice-cube-trays-in-my-freezer/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Two similar words might lead to two similar ideas. They might also lead to the basement, which I recently converted into a dungeon/torture chamber.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/two-similar-words-might-lead-to-two-similar-ideas-they-might-also/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Nothing is and isn’t; nothing is and isn’t—nothing itself is, and at the same time, nothing isn’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-is-and-isn-t-nothing-itself-is-and-at/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Embossed letters represent the topography of typography.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/embossed-letters-represent-the-topography-of-typography/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“There’s only one piece of clothing I could eat fast, and that’s a scarf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/there-s-only-one-piece-of-clothing-i-could-eat-fast-and-that-s-a-scarf/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Dora J. Arod is to Jarod Ora, as yes is to yes. Yes is also the correct answer to “Will you marry me?” Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/dora-j-arod-is-to-jarod-ora-as-yes-is-to-yes-yes-is-also-the-correct/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“The best part about being kidnapped is being blindfolded and getting kicked into the trunk of a car. Boy, normally I have to beg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-best-part-about-being-kidnapped-is-being-blindfolded-and-getting/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“Orafoura once told me that if I were a car, I’d be a Ferrari. One that was scratched smashed, rusted, and stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/orafoura-once-told-me-that-if-i-were-a-car-i-d-be-a-ferrari-one-that/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [“I’d like to file a missing person’s report—on my clone. It’s nearly 2012. He should have been here by now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-d-like-to-file-a-missing-person-s-report-on-my-clone-it-s-nearly/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

[Explore all 6,921 Jarod Kintz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

## More Killed Cat quotes

> [“Curiosity killed the cat, but not before teaching her that honey bees are not sweet, tweeting birds are slow to react, mice can serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-not-before-teaching-her-that-honey-bees/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [“What courage, man! What though care killed a cat? Thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakespeare/what-courage-man-what-though-care-killed-a-cat-thou-hast-mettle/)

[Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakespeare/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat. I guess it's a good thing I'm not a cat then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-killed-the-cat-i-guess-it-s-a-good-thing-i-m-not-a-cat-then/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-satisfaction-brought-it-back/)

[Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/)

> [Wow," came a familiar voice, "Hypochondriac killed the cat." -Dess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/wow-came-a-familiar-voice-hypochondriac-killed-the-cat-dess/)

[Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/)

> [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it saved my ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-fox/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-saved-my-ass/)

[Michael J. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-fox/)

> [What though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-though-care-killed-a-cat-thou-hast-mettle-enough-in-thee-to-kill/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Curiosity killed the cat, you know, but satisfaction brought him back snap-ass happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/curiosity-killed-the-cat-you-know-but-satisfaction-brought-him-back/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it was the sausage-maker who disposed of the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-forsyth/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-was-the-sausage-maker-who/)

[Mark Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-forsyth/)

> [“They say curiosity killed the cat but I am unconcerned. I am smarter, though slightly less evil, than any cat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-crewe/they-say-curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-i-am-unconcerned-i-am-smarter/)

[Eliza Crewe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-crewe/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat because he wanted to know if it really had 9 lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-killed-the-cat-because-he-wanted-to-know-if-it-really-had-9/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/curiosity-killed-the-cat/)

[Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat,” Fesgao remarked, his dark eyes unreadable. Aly rolled her eyes. Why did everyone say that to her? “People always forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/curiosity-killed-the-cat-fesgao-remarked-his-dark-eyes-unreadable-aly/)

[Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/)

> [Curiosity might have killed the cat, but little girls usually fared much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/curiosity-might-have-killed-the-cat-but-little-girls-usually-fared/)

[Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/)

> [Curiosity killed the cat, but where human beings are concerned, the only thing a healthy curiosity can kill is ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-lorayne/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-where-human-beings-are-concerned-the/)

[Harry Lorayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-lorayne/)

[Browse all 43 Killed Cat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killed-cat/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I killed a flea this morning. I may have been a bit overzealous, because I accidentally killed the cat too.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jarod Kintz"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have-been-a-bit-overzealous/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Killed Cat"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have-been-a-bit-overzealous/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/jarod-kintz-2_killed-cat_i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have_3053471.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/jarod-kintz-2_killed-cat_i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have_3053471.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/jarod-kintz-2_killed-cat_i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have_3053471.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I killed a flea this morning. I may have been a bit overzealous, because I accidentally killed the cat too.” — Jarod Kintz",
                "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": "Jarod Kintz",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I killed a flea this morning....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have-been-a-bit-overzealous/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-killed-a-flea-this-morning-i-may-have-been-a-bit-overzealous/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
