--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How doth the little crocodile Improve his…" description: "\"“How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale!”\" — Lewis Carroll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/lewis-carroll-324_quote_how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-hi_2022740.jpg" --- # How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail… ![“How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale!” quote by Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/lewis-carroll-324_quote_how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-hi_2022740.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/lewis-carroll-324_quote_how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-hi_2022740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/lewis-carroll-324_quote_how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-hi_2022740.jpg) > ““How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale!”” [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The verse humorously compares a crocodile to a dove, mocking poetic conventions with absurd imagery. **In simple terms:** A crocodile boasts like a dove. Key Takeaway Question poetic seriousness. Themes satire poetry absurdity Mood playful mocking Type poetic literary When to use this quote - creative writing - teaching poetry - literary analysis Key Concepts parody literary critique Questions to Reflect On - How does absurd humor challenge expectations? - What does the crocodile symbolize? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as literal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crocodile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crocodile/) [Crocodile Improve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crocodile-improve-2727580/) [Little Crocodile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-crocodile-2727581/) [Nile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nile/) [Nile Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nile-golden-3672281/) ## Related quotes > [“How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tall, and pour the waters of the Nile on every golden scale.” His eyes flicked meaningfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-sullivan/how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-his-shining-tall-and-pour-the/) [J.M. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-sullivan/) > [How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-his-shining-tail-and-pour-the/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You look at any poetic creature: muslin, ether, demigoddess, millions of delights; then you look into the soul and find the most ordinary crocodile!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/you-look-at-any-poetic-creature-muslin-ether-demigoddess-millions-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“How different this world to the one about which I used to read, and in which I used to live! This is one peopled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wirt-gerrare/how-different-this-world-to-the-one-about-which-i-used-to-read-and-in/) [Wirt Gerrare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wirt-gerrare/) > [Every day, I live a lie But not the crocodile kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/every-day-i-live-a-lie-but-not-the-crocodile-kind/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [Is this how you repay my goodness--with badness?” cried the boy. “Of course,” said the crocodile out of the corner of his mouth. “That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/is-this-how-you-repay-my-goodness-with-badness-cried-the-boy-of/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [To worship a crocodile is better to worship yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/to-worship-a-crocodile-is-better-to-worship-yourself/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Appeasement, said Winston Churchill, consists of being nice to a crocodile in the hope that he will eat you last. At the moment, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naughton/appeasement-said-winston-churchill-consists-of-being-nice-to-a/) [John Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naughton/) > [“Then I’ll go keep our crocodile friends busy.” Niten’s teeth flashed in a smile. “I’ll try to leave a few for you.” He stepped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/then-i-ll-go-keep-our-crocodile-friends-busy-niten-s-teeth-flashed-in/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [Curled up at the base of the scales, fast asleep, was the oddest monster I'd seen yet. It had the head of crocodile with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/curled-up-at-the-base-of-the-scales-fast-asleep-was-the-oddest/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I'm obsessed with crocodiles and getting eaten by one. When I hear that someone's been eaten by a crocodile or shark, I just get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-m-obsessed-with-crocodiles-and-getting-eaten-by-one-when-i-hear/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I've never been impressed by somebody who came in with a crocodile bag, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/i-ve-never-been-impressed-by-somebody-who-came-in-with-a-crocodile/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [Give me a 15-ft. crocodile any day over a bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/give-me-a-15-ft-crocodile-any-day-over-a-bee/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haley/see-you-later-alligator-after-a-while-crocodile/) [Bill Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haley/) ## More by Lewis Carroll > [You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-re-thinking-about-something-my-dear-and-that-makes-you-forget-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-m-afraid-i-can-t-explain-myself-sir-because-i-am-not-myself-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Either it brings tears to their eyes, or else -" "Or else what?" said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause. "Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/either-it-brings-tears-to-their-eyes-or-else-or-else-what-said-alice/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In the midst of the word he was trying to say In the midst of his laughter and glee, He had softly and suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-the-midst-of-the-word-he-was-trying-to-say-in-the-midst-of-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-there-is-a-scylla-before-me/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-sun-was-shining-on-the-sea-shining-with-all-his-might-he-did-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“In vain we roared;in vain we tried To rouse her into laughter: Her pensive glances wandered wide From orchestra to rafter - "TIER UPON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-vain-we-roared-in-vain-we-tried-to-rouse-her-into-laughter-her/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [For the snark was a boojum, you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/for-the-snark-was-a-boojum-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Thanks for your nice little note, though I am sorry to hear you find Through the Looking Glass so uninteresting. You see I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/thanks-for-your-nice-little-note-though-i-am-sorry-to-hear-you-find/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You shouldn't make jokes if it makes you so unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-shouldn-t-make-jokes-if-it-makes-you-so-unhappy/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [We haven't any and you're too young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-haven-t-any-and-you-re-too-young/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Everything is funny, if you can laugh at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/everything-is-funny-if-you-can-laugh-at-it/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I wish I hadn't cried so much!” said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out. I shall be punished for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-wish-i-hadn-t-cried-so-much-said-alice-as-she-swam-about-trying-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) [Explore all 644 Lewis Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## More Crocodile quotes > [See you later, alligator. After a while, crocodile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-haley/see-you-later-alligator-after-a-while-crocodile/) [Bill Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-haley/) > [Give me a 15-ft. crocodile any day over a bee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bindi-irwin/give-me-a-15-ft-crocodile-any-day-over-a-bee/) [Bindi Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bindi-irwin/) > [I've never been impressed by somebody who came in with a crocodile bag, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/i-ve-never-been-impressed-by-somebody-who-came-in-with-a-crocodile/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [I'm obsessed with crocodiles and getting eaten by one. When I hear that someone's been eaten by a crocodile or shark, I just get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-m-obsessed-with-crocodiles-and-getting-eaten-by-one-when-i-hear/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Curled up at the base of the scales, fast asleep, was the oddest monster I'd seen yet. It had the head of crocodile with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/curled-up-at-the-base-of-the-scales-fast-asleep-was-the-oddest/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Then I’ll go keep our crocodile friends busy.” Niten’s teeth flashed in a smile. “I’ll try to leave a few for you.” He stepped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/then-i-ll-go-keep-our-crocodile-friends-busy-niten-s-teeth-flashed-in/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [Appeasement, said Winston Churchill, consists of being nice to a crocodile in the hope that he will eat you last. At the moment, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-naughton/appeasement-said-winston-churchill-consists-of-being-nice-to-a/) [John Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-naughton/) > [To worship a crocodile is better to worship yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/to-worship-a-crocodile-is-better-to-worship-yourself/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Is this how you repay my goodness--with badness?” cried the boy. “Of course,” said the crocodile out of the corner of his mouth. “That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/is-this-how-you-repay-my-goodness-with-badness-cried-the-boy-of/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [Every day, I live a lie But not the crocodile kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/every-day-i-live-a-lie-but-not-the-crocodile-kind/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“How different this world to the one about which I used to read, and in which I used to live! This is one peopled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wirt-gerrare/how-different-this-world-to-the-one-about-which-i-used-to-read-and-in/) [Wirt Gerrare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wirt-gerrare/) > [You look at any poetic creature: muslin, ether, demigoddess, millions of delights; then you look into the soul and find the most ordinary crocodile!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/you-look-at-any-poetic-creature-muslin-ether-demigoddess-millions-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Udah, deh... shut up! You nggak usah crocodile tears!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devania-annesya/udah-deh-shut-up-you-nggak-usah-crocodile-tears/) [Devania Annesya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devania-annesya/) > [Statistically there's only one crocodile-related human fatality per year in the whole of Australia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/statistically-there-s-only-one-crocodile-related-human-fatality-per/) [Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/) [Browse all 73 Crocodile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crocodile/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lewis Carroll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-his-shining-tail-and-pour-the-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crocodile" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-his-shining-tail-and-pour-the-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/lewis-carroll-324_quote_how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-hi_2022740.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/lewis-carroll-324_quote_how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-hi_2022740.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/lewis-carroll-324_quote_how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-hi_2022740.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale!” — Lewis Carroll", "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": "Lewis Carroll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“How doth the little crocodile Improve...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-his-shining-tail-and-pour-the-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/how-doth-the-little-crocodile-improve-his-shining-tail-and-pour-the-2/#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 } } ] } ```