Dominoes Quote by Leonard A. Smith
““Embedded in the mud, glistening green and gold and black, was a butterfly, very beautiful and very dead. It fell to the floor, an exquisite thing, a small thing that could upset balances and knock down a line of small dominoes and then big dominoes and then gigantic dominoes, all down the years across Time. Ray Bradbury (1952)””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Illustrated Man” by Ray Bradbury, 1952
Even a tiny, beautiful thing can trigger far‑reaching consequences over time, like a single butterfly causing a cascade of events.
In simple terms: Small things can cause huge effects.
Key Takeaway
Notice how minor details may shape outcomes.
Themes
causality
fragility
time
beauty
entropy
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- personal decisions
- environmental impact
- technological change
- social movements
Key Concepts
Chaos theory
butterfly effect
interconnectedness
Questions to Reflect On
- What seemingly insignificant detail could alter your future?
- How do you balance appreciation of beauty with awareness of its potential impact?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overstate randomness, ignoring intentional agency.
