--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is an old German fable about…" description: "\"“There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to huddle together for warmth, but are in danger of hurting each other with their spines. When ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/lynne-truss-4153_fable_there-is-an-old-german-fable-about-porcu_865315.jpg" --- # There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to… ![“There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to huddle together for warmth, but are in danger of hurting each other with their spines. When they find the optimum distance to share each other's warmth without putting each other's eyes out, their state of contrived cooperation is called…” quote by Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/lynne-truss-4153_fable_there-is-an-old-german-fable-about-porcu_865315.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/lynne-truss-4153_fable_there-is-an-old-german-fable-about-porcu_865315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b0/lynne-truss-4153_fable_there-is-an-old-german-fable-about-porcu_865315.jpg) > ““There is an old German fable about porcupines who need to huddle together for warmth, but are in danger of hurting each other with their spines. When they find the optimum distance to share each other's warmth without putting each other's eyes out, their state of contrived cooperation is called good manners. Well, those old German fabulists certainly knew a thing or two. When you acknowledge other people politely, the signal goes out, "I'm here. You're there. I'm staying here. You're staying there. Aren't we both glad we sorted that out?" When people don't acknowledge each other politely, the lesson from the porcupine fable is unmistakeable. "Freeze or get stabbed, mate. It's your choice.”” [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Polite acknowledgement creates safe personal space, preventing conflict like porcupines maintaining distance. **In simple terms:** Politeness keeps people apart enough to avoid hurting each other. Key Takeaway Acknowledge others to maintain healthy boundaries. Themes social etiquette boundaries communication conflict avoidance Mood thoughtful calm reflective Type advice observational philosophical When to use this quote - team meetings - customer service - networking events - family gatherings - online discussions Key Concepts interpersonal dynamics social norms psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you signal respect without seeming forced? - What boundaries do you need to set in crowded spaces? A Different Perspective If politeness is insincere, it may mask underlying tension rather than resolve it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fable/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-manners/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Politeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politeness/) [Porcupines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/porcupines/) ## Related quotes > [“There were three of them there, then, and Amabella was introducing Bod and he was shaking hands and saying, "Charmed, I'm sure," because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/there-were-three-of-them-there-then-and-amabella-was-introducing-bod/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Acknowledge people, not their jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-reiman/acknowledge-people-not-their-jobs/) [Joey Reiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-reiman/) > [If You Wish Your Merit To Be Known, Acknowledge That Of Other People...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/if-you-wish-your-merit-to-be-known-acknowledge-that-of-other-people/) Pacifiersucker > [“Western culture does not encourage validating someone’s emotional responses, as emotional awareness of daily interactions is counterintuitive to how we normally react. In today’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-porr-m-a/western-culture-does-not-encourage-validating-someone-s-emotional/) [Valerie Porr M.A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-porr-m-a/) > [Truly good manners are invisible: they ease the way for others, without drawing attention to themselves. It is no accident that the word "punctilious"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/truly-good-manners-are-invisible-they-ease-the-way-for-others-without/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [We're writing a book together. She just finished one. Did you read it? Among the Porcupines?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-matthau/we-re-writing-a-book-together-she-just-finished-one-did-you-read-it/) [Walter Matthau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-matthau/) > [Follow that porcupine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/follow-that-porcupine/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [The porcupine, which one must handle gloved, may be respected, but is never loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-guiterman/the-porcupine-which-one-must-handle-gloved-may-be-respected-but-is/) [Arthur Guiterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-guiterman/) > [You can fight a porcupine and win, but if other folks get a look at you they may think it's a bad idea to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-knox/you-can-fight-a-porcupine-and-win-but-if-other-folks-get-a-look-at/) Neal Knox > [ I read that book How to Hug a Porcupine \[by Julie Ross\] - it's my parenting bible. They say you have to trust your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/i-read-that-book-how-to-hug-a-porcupine-by-julie-ross-it-s-my/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [Rose goblins are built like porcupines - if you rub them the right way, you don't have to worry about the spines. They're sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rose-goblins-are-built-like-porcupines-if-you-rub-them-the-right-way/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pushing a company agenda on social media is like throwing water balloons at a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-qualman/pushing-a-company-agenda-on-social-media-is-like-throwing-water/) [Erik Qualman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-qualman/) > [I'm a little hoarse tonight. I've been living in Chicago for the past two months, and you know how it is, yelling for help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-allen/i-m-a-little-hoarse-tonight-i-ve-been-living-in-chicago-for-the-past/) [Fred Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-allen/) > [The nut of this tree is hung high aloft, wrapped in a silk wrapper, which is enclosed in a case of sole leather, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-de-camoes/the-nut-of-this-tree-is-hung-high-aloft-wrapped-in-a-silk-wrapper/) [Luis de Camoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-de-camoes/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) ## More by Lynne Truss > [Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/punctuation-marks-are-the-traffic-signals-of-language-they-tell-us-to/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [Evidently an A level in English is a sacred trust, like something out of "The Lord of the Rings". You must go forth with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/evidently-an-a-level-in-english-is-a-sacred-trust-like-something-out/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [Texting is a supremely secretive medium of communication - it's like passing a note - and this means we should be very careful what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/texting-is-a-supremely-secretive-medium-of-communication-it-s-like/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [“Part of one's despair, of course, is that the world cares nothing for the little shocks endured by the sensitive stickler. 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Analytically, of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/i-think-about-death-sometimes-analytically-of-course/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [“For the first time since she met him, she asked herself whether mr Dodgson was really the sunny personality she had at first imagined.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/for-the-first-time-since-she-met-him-she-asked-herself-whether-mr/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [“All the important roles shortly boiled down to one: remember your with other people; show some consideration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/all-the-important-roles-shortly-boiled-down-to-one-remember-your-with/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) [Explore all 115 Lynne Truss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) ## More Fable quotes > [In 'Fable III' we have taken away the experience system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/in-fable-iii-we-have-taken-away-the-experience-system/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [Despite the strength of the feminist movement in the 1970s and beyond, a fable has persisted that educated women are rejected as marriage partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/despite-the-strength-of-the-feminist-movement-in-the-1970s-and-beyond/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [“This isn’t a game to me, Fable. 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When they find the optimum distance to share each other's warmth without putting each other's eyes out, their state of contrived cooperation is called good manners. Well, those old German fabulists certainly knew a thing or two. When you acknowledge other people politely, the signal goes out, \"I'm here. You're there. I'm staying here. You're staying there. Aren't we both glad we sorted that out?\" When people don't acknowledge each other politely, the lesson from the porcupine fable is unmistakeable. \"Freeze or get stabbed, mate. 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