--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree…" description: "\"A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree, the more they're beaten the better they be.\" — John Ray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/john-ray-7515_animal_a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the_3210821.png" --- # A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree, the more they're… ![“A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree, the more they're beaten the better they be.” quote by John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/john-ray-7515_animal_a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the_3210821.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/john-ray-7515_animal_a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the_3210821.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/john-ray-7515_animal_a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the_3210821.png) > “A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree, the more they're beaten the better they be.” [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A saying that hardship can improve something or someone over time. **In simple terms:** Hardship can make things better. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges for growth. Themes resilience hardship improvement Mood determined reflective Type proverbial motivational When to use this quote - personal development - training - cooking - gardening - team building Key Concepts adaptation strengthening survival Questions to Reflect On - What hardships have truly helped you grow? - How do you balance endurance and self‑care? A Different Perspective If the beating is excessive, it may cause damage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Spaniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spaniels/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [“A dog, a woman, an’ a walnut tree, Th’ more yeh beat ’em, th’ better they be! That’s like us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-dog-a-woman-an-a-walnut-tree-th-more-yeh-beat-em-th-better-they-be/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [Every time I told my cocker spaniel, Taffy, my very first dog, that we were going for a walk, she would launch into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson/every-time-i-told-my-cocker-spaniel-taffy-my-very-first-dog-that-we/) [Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-moussaieff-masson/) > [Men know no medium: They will either, spaniel-like, fawn at your feet, or be ready to leap into your lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/men-know-no-medium-they-will-either-spaniel-like-fawn-at-your-feet-or/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The dear, stupid body is as easily satisfied as a spaniel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-dear-stupid-body-is-as-easily-satisfied-as-a-spaniel/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [A woman, a dog and a walnut tree, the more you beat them, the better they be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-fuller/a-woman-a-dog-and-a-walnut-tree-the-more-you-beat-them-the-better/) [Thomas Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-fuller/) > [When a cocker spaniel bites, it does so as a member of its species; it is never anything but a dog. When a pit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-junod/when-a-cocker-spaniel-bites-it-does-so-as-a-member-of-its-species-it/) [Tom Junod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-junod/) > [“Rafe and Richard say that when my education is sufficient you mean to marry me to some old dowager with a great settlement and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/rafe-and-richard-say-that-when-my-education-is-sufficient-you-mean-to/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, The more you beat me, I will fawn on you: Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakespeare/i-am-your-spaniel-and-demetrius-the-more-you-beat-me-i-will-fawn-on/) [shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakespeare/) > [I have two dogs, a springer spaniel and a German shepherd. One of them's name is Nolan Arenado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-posey/i-have-two-dogs-a-springer-spaniel-and-a-german-shepherd-one-of-them/) [Buster Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-posey/) > [“The spaniel came up to me, sniffing at my legs, and I bent down and stroked his ears. “Well, Micky,” I said, “you surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/the-spaniel-came-up-to-me-sniffing-at-my-legs-and-i-bent-down-and/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cockier spaniel chasing a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-remember-the-first-time-i-saw-him-he-was-13-and-just-floated-over/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The mind wants to live forever, or to learn a very good reason why not. The mind wants the world to return its love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-mind-wants-to-live-forever-or-to-learn-a-very-good-reason-why-not/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I've fostered five dogs for the Best Friends Program, which is an amazing no-kill sanctuary for animals, as well as a greyhound named Natasha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olesya-rulin/i-ve-fostered-five-dogs-for-the-best-friends-program-which-is-an/) [Olesya Rulin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olesya-rulin/) > [Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men; As hounds, and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs, Shoughs, water-rugs, and demi-wolves, are 'clept All by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ay-in-the-catalogue-ye-go-for-men-as-hounds-and-greyhounds-mongrels/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A good recipe for a human reducing breakfast is a lot of good things to eat, and three spaniels and two cats to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/a-good-recipe-for-a-human-reducing-breakfast-is-a-lot-of-good-things/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) ## More by John Ray > [He that preaches war is the devil's chaplain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/he-that-preaches-war-is-the-devil-s-chaplain/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Children pick up words as pigeons peas And utter them again as God shall please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/children-pick-up-words-as-pigeons-peas-and-utter-them-again-as-god/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Guilt is always jealous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/guilt-is-always-jealous/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [He who pays the piper can call the tunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/he-who-pays-the-piper-can-call-the-tunes/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [The heart is the first part that quickens, and the last that dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/the-heart-is-the-first-part-that-quickens-and-the-last-that-dies/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [One means very effectual for the preservation of health is a quiet and cheerful mind, not afflicted with violent passions or distracted with immoderate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/one-means-very-effectual-for-the-preservation-of-health-is-a-quiet/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Love thy neighbor, but pull not down thy hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/love-thy-neighbor-but-pull-not-down-thy-hedge/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [They love too much that die for love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/they-love-too-much-that-die-for-love/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [“Love you Neighbor; yet don't pull down your Hedge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/love-you-neighbor-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Fish must swim thrice--once is the water, a second time in the sauce, and a third time in wine in the stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/fish-must-swim-thrice-once-is-the-water-a-second-time-in-the-sauce/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [To go like a cat upon a hot bakestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/to-go-like-a-cat-upon-a-hot-bakestone/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Man does what he can, and God what he will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/man-does-what-he-can-and-god-what-he-will/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Who depends upon another man's table often dines late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/who-depends-upon-another-man-s-table-often-dines-late/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Every man praises his own wares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/every-man-praises-his-own-wares/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Where love fails we espy all faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/where-love-fails-we-espy-all-faults/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) [Explore all 90 John Ray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) ## More Animal 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/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [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/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree, the more they're beaten the better they be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ray" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the-more-they-re-beaten-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the-more-they-re-beaten-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/john-ray-7515_animal_a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the_3210821.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/john-ray-7515_animal_a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the_3210821.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c62/john-ray-7515_animal_a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the_3210821.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A spaniel, a woman, and a walnut tree, the more they're beaten the better they be.” — John Ray", "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": "John Ray", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A spaniel, a woman, and a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the-more-they-re-beaten-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/a-spaniel-a-woman-and-a-walnut-tree-the-more-they-re-beaten-the/#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 } } ] } ```