--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes Alton Darwin would talk to me…" description: "\"“Sometimes Alton Darwin would talk to me about the planet he was on before he was transported in a steel box to Athena. 'Drugs were food,' he said. 'I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/kurt-vonnegut-41_alton-darwin_sometimes-alton-darwin-would-talk-to-me_1521498.jpg" --- # Sometimes Alton Darwin would talk to me about the planet… ![“Sometimes Alton Darwin would talk to me about the planet he was on before he was transported in a steel box to Athena. 'Drugs were food,' he said. 'I was in the food business. Just because people on one planet eat a certain kind of food they're hungry for, that makes them feel better after they…” quote by Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/kurt-vonnegut-41_alton-darwin_sometimes-alton-darwin-would-talk-to-me_1521498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/kurt-vonnegut-41_alton-darwin_sometimes-alton-darwin-would-talk-to-me_1521498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90e/kurt-vonnegut-41_alton-darwin_sometimes-alton-darwin-would-talk-to-me_1521498.jpg) > ““Sometimes Alton Darwin would talk to me about the planet he was on before he was transported in a steel box to Athena. 'Drugs were food,' he said. 'I was in the food business. Just because people on one planet eat a certain kind of food they're hungry for, that makes them feel better after they eat it, that doesn't mean people on other planets shouldn't eat something else. On some planets I'm sure there are people who eat stones, and then feel wonderful for a little while afterwords. Then it's time to eat stones again.”” [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Different cultures have varied needs and comforts; what satisfies one may be harmful to another, highlighting relativism in consumption and well‑being. **In simple terms:** Needs differ across societies; one size does not fit all. Key Takeaway Respect diverse needs and avoid imposing one’s standards. Themes cultural relativism nutrition adaptation ethics diversity Mood thoughtful curious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - dietary choices - cross‑cultural empathy - health policy - personal satisfaction Key Concepts food as metaphor subjective well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How do you determine what is truly beneficial for yourself? - When might you challenge your own assumptions about others’ needs? A Different Perspective Assuming universal solutions can cause harm; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mean people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean-people/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) ## Related quotes > [There isn't enough planet for everyone to eat as much meat as the United States does. 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MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [There's been a greater awareness among people, especially geeks, that the laws of physics don't allow that much wiggle room in terms of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-jane-anders/there-s-been-a-greater-awareness-among-people-especially-geeks-that/) [Charlie Jane Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-jane-anders/) > [The mind can make substance, and people planets of its own with beings brighter than have been, and give a breath to forms which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/the-mind-can-make-substance-and-people-planets-of-its-own-with-beings/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [It is not 'only' food, I said heatedly. There's meaning hidden underneath each dish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/it-is-not-only-food-i-said-heatedly-there-s-meaning-hidden-underneath/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“Who eats whole raw fish?” she inquired aloud. “Kelpies,” said Alec. “Selkies. Maybe the occasional nixie.” “Don’t order any of the faerie food,” said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/who-eats-whole-raw-fish-she-inquired-aloud-kelpies-said-alec-selkies/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [ My mom always says, "Pack your smile," but \[the sound guy\] articulated it beautifully, because he saw me go from Joe Schmo who had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/my-mom-always-says-pack-your-smile-but-the-sound-guy-articulated-it/) [Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/) > [Simon shook his head."Look,do you know what you want to eat,or do you just want me to keep pushing this cart up and down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/simon-shook-his-head-look-do-you-know-what-you-want-to-eat-or-do-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Now, Ron, the Sorting’s much more important than food,” said Nearly Headless Nick as “Madley, Laura!” became a Hufflepuff. “ ’Course it is, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/now-ron-the-sorting-s-much-more-important-than-food-said-nearly/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [Someone said to me, "How's your rabbit food?" I said, "Fine." ... "How's your vulture food?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-graham/someone-said-to-me-how-s-your-rabbit-food-i-said-fine-how-s-your/) Doug Graham > [Oh, womanly sympathy, love AND food?" I said, laughing. "Don't want a lot, do you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/oh-womanly-sympathy-love-and-food-i-said-laughing-don-t-want-a-lot-do/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My father insisted I eat red meat. 'You'll lose your brain without food,' he said. A meal to him without beef was starvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-lillith-assadi/my-father-insisted-i-eat-red-meat-you-ll-lose-your-brain-without-food/) [Hannah Lillith Assadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-lillith-assadi/) > [“She went out with Jacob for five dates, and then they broke up. She came over that night with a tub of ice cream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-crowley/she-went-out-with-jacob-for-five-dates-and-then-they-broke-up-she/) [Cath Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-crowley/) > [My buddy gave good advice though. He has two sons and he said that we should never say, you know, 'don't eat that!' about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-pratt/my-buddy-gave-good-advice-though-he-has-two-sons-and-he-said-that-we/) [Spencer Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-pratt/) > [“The fact that you’re unsure probably means you need food that much more,” he said, which sounded like the weirdest logic I’d ever heard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/the-fact-that-you-re-unsure-probably-means-you-need-food-that-much/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) ## More by Kurt Vonnegut > [“You must bloom as a writer and I must bloom as a painter. Everything else about us is uninteresting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-must-bloom-as-a-writer-and-i-must-bloom-as-a-painter-everything/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“People aren't supposed to look back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-aren-t-supposed-to-look-back/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Have a good nap, did you?” said the porter. “Yes,” said Billy. “Man,” said the porter, “you sure had a hard-on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/have-a-good-nap-did-you-said-the-porter-yes-said-billy-man-said-the/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “Thomas Jefferson High School \[..\] His high school was named after a slave owner who was also one of the world’s greatest theoreticians on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/thomas-jefferson-high-school-his-high-school-was-named-after-a-slave/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I had a certain amount of skill as a dramatist, and Dr. Goebbels wanted me to use it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-had-a-certain-amount-of-skill-as-a-dramatist-and-dr-goebbels-wanted/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I was some of the mud that got to sit up and look around. Lucky me, lucky mud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-was-some-of-the-mud-that-got-to-sit-up-and-look-around-lucky-me/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“The town was Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A., Earth, Solar System, Milky Way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-town-was-newport-rhode-island-u-s-a-earth-solar-system-milky-way/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Her face was one of a kind, a surprising variation that made observers think, Yes--that would be another very nice way for people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/her-face-was-one-of-a-kind-a-surprising-variation-that-made-observers/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Like all Earthlings at the point of death, Mary Young sent faint reminders of herself to those who had known her. 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Morse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-s-b-morse/) > [Raves when it was safe to be free & wave your hands in the air, like you didn't even care! 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Keck Observatory is the only employer that has surprised me during my employment with urine tests for illegal drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-w-m-keck-observatory-is-the-only-employer-that-has-surprised-me/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I think religion is bad and drugs are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-think-religion-is-bad-and-drugs-are-good/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [You're my drugs because you help me see the beauty of life upside down and you help me escape the ugliness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-my-drugs-because-you-help-me-see-the-beauty-of-life-upside/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,085 Drugs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drugs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sometimes Alton Darwin would talk to me about the planet he was on before he was transported in a steel box to Athena. 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