--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to weigh every decision, because…" description: "\"“We have to weigh every decision, because a butterfly flapping its wings in Nova Scotia could cause a hurricane in Guam. Or, as Homer Simpson taught us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/johnny-b-truant-13301_choice_we-have-to-weigh-every-decision-because_3110778.jpg" --- # We have to weigh every decision, because a butterfly… ![“We have to weigh every decision, because a butterfly flapping its wings in Nova Scotia could cause a hurricane in Guam. Or, as Homer Simpson taught us, if you kill a mosquito in dinosaur times, Ned Flanders might become the unquestioned lord and master of the universe.” quote by Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/johnny-b-truant-13301_choice_we-have-to-weigh-every-decision-because_3110778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/johnny-b-truant-13301_choice_we-have-to-weigh-every-decision-because_3110778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/johnny-b-truant-13301_choice_we-have-to-weigh-every-decision-because_3110778.jpg) > ““We have to weigh every decision, because a butterfly flapping its wings in Nova Scotia could cause a hurricane in Guam. Or, as Homer Simpson taught us, if you kill a mosquito in dinosaur times, Ned Flanders might become the unquestioned lord and master of the universe.”” [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Every action, however tiny, may have far‑reaching, unpredictable consequences, so consider impacts before deciding. **In simple terms:** Small actions can cause big effects. Key Takeaway Think before you act. Themes cause and effect uncertainty responsibility Mood thoughtful serious Type cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - environmental policy - personal decisions - technology deployment - global trade Key Concepts butterfly effect interconnectedness Questions to Reflect On - What seemingly minor choice could reshape your life? - How do you assess risk in complex systems? A Different Perspective Predicting outcomes is often impossible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cause Hurricane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cause-hurricane-5363657/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Decision Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-butterfly-5432675/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homer/) [Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homer-simpson/) [Ned Flanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ned-flanders-618367/) [Nova scotia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nova-scotia/) ## Related quotes > [ “\[Ned Flanders\]: Well looks like someone's having a pre-rapture party. \[Homer Simpson\]: No, Flanders. Its a meeting of gay witches for abortion, you wouldn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/ned-flanders-well-looks-like-someone-s-having-a-pre-rapture-party/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [When a butterfly flutters its wings in one part of the world, it can eventually cause a hurricane in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton-lorenz/when-a-butterfly-flutters-its-wings-in-one-part-of-the-world-it-can/) [Edward Norton Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton-lorenz/) > [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Homer Simpson is one of my favorite people, though he's not real. He represents the American who's filled with this 'affluenza.' He's constantly exposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-joachim/homer-simpson-is-one-of-my-favorite-people-though-he-s-not-real-he/) [Mitchell Joachim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-joachim/) > [“Unfortunately, most of us end up with somebody who’s somewhere between Jed Clampett and Homer Simpson.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-andrews/unfortunately-most-of-us-end-up-with-somebody-who-s-somewhere-between/) [Mary Kay Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-andrews/) > ["Let's just say that on this day, a million years ago, a dude was born who most of us think was magic. But others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-simpson/let-s-just-say-that-on-this-day-a-million-years-ago-a-dude-was-born/) [Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-simpson/) > [Homer Simpson has been more inspirational to me than probably any cartoon character. What he represents, I think, there's a part of that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-welch/homer-simpson-has-been-more-inspirational-to-me-than-probably-any/) [Michael Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-welch/) > [“There is no substitute for victory" Oscar Wilde "I didn't say that--wouldn't have. Maybe it was Vince Lombardi" O.W. "Not I, either. Try Count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-j-bloom/there-is-no-substitute-for-victory-oscar-wilde-i-didn-t-say-that/) [James J. Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-j-bloom/) > [I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me, Superman. Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/i-m-normally-not-a-praying-man-but-if-you-re-up-there-please-save-me/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [When will people learn? Democracy doesn't work!" (Homer Simpson)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/when-will-people-learn-democracy-doesn-t-work-homer-simpson/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [I promise I'll do anything for you, especialy if it's easy. Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/i-promise-i-ll-do-anything-for-you-especialy-if-it-s-easy-homer/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [You can't keep blaming yourself. Just blame yourself once, and move on." Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/you-can-t-keep-blaming-yourself-just-blame-yourself-once-and-move-on/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [“Stop thinking about fun and have it” Homer Simpson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/stop-thinking-about-fun-and-have-it-homer-simpson/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [This doesn't happen in America! Maybe Ohio, but not in America!" Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/this-doesn-t-happen-in-america-maybe-ohio-but-not-in-america-homer/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [I didn't lie, I was writing fiction with my mouth." Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/i-didn-t-lie-i-was-writing-fiction-with-my-mouth-homer-simpson/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) ## More by Johnny B. Truant > [“Stop waiting for permission to be epic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/stop-waiting-for-permission-to-be-epic/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“Maurice laid down all of his cards, then said, Gin. Reginald looked up into Maurice's face and said, I thought we were playing poker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/maurice-laid-down-all-of-his-cards-then-said-gin-reginald-looked-up/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“In fact, it should matter to you more than it currently does. If you knew how small you are and how short a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/in-fact-it-should-matter-to-you-more-than-it-currently-does-if-you/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“Nobody's going to give you the gift of awesome. Nobody's going to make you good, or great, or amazing, or epic. Nobody's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/nobody-s-going-to-give-you-the-gift-of-awesome-nobody-s-going-to-make/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“the Universe Works.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/the-universe-works/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“You'd think we're never going to die, the way we cower and second-guess and fret over each little action. We act like what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/you-d-think-we-re-never-going-to-die-the-way-we-cower-and-second/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“Reginald could tell by the way she jumped when anyone dropped anything that she wanted her money back for the broken promises of adulthood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/reginald-could-tell-by-the-way-she-jumped-when-anyone-dropped/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“I think it’s because as our lives become less and less genuine, we require bigger and bigger thrills to scare us, for just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/i-think-it-s-because-as-our-lives-become-less-and-less-genuine-we/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“The man in the black suit grabbed her by the throat in a”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/the-man-in-the-black-suit-grabbed-her-by-the-throat-in-a/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“In it, the currency is time. The more time you have, the longer you live. When you go broke, you don’t move into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/in-it-the-currency-is-time-the-more-time-you-have-the-longer-you-live/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“We’ll never create a utopia, because it’s impossible to define good without having bad to compare it to. There is no pleasure without pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/we-ll-never-create-a-utopia-because-it-s-impossible-to-define-good/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“The more we try to eliminate the negatives in life, the more we consequently eliminate the positives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/the-more-we-try-to-eliminate-the-negatives-in-life-the-more-we/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“I’m considered a health nut amongst vampires. I usually feed only on vegetarians.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/i-m-considered-a-health-nut-amongst-vampires-i-usually-feed-only-on/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“People were arrogant, unable to see things from a point of view other than their own, and hence always saw what they expected to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/people-were-arrogant-unable-to-see-things-from-a-point-of-view-other/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) > [“If you're worried about death and about your own end, don't. It's coming whether you like it or not. You will either arrive at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-b-truant/if-you-re-worried-about-death-and-about-your-own-end-don-t-it-s/) [Johnny B. Truant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) [Explore all 50 Johnny B. Truant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-b-truant/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We have to weigh every decision, because a butterfly flapping its wings in Nova Scotia could cause a hurricane in Guam. 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