--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why the devil couldn’t it have been…" description: "\"“Why the devil couldn’t it have been blue?” I said to myself. And this thought—one of the most profound ever made since the discovery of butterflies—co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/machado-de-assis-3758_beautiful-morning_why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue_2740444.jpg" --- # Why the devil couldn’t it have been blue?” I said to… ![“Why the devil couldn’t it have been blue?” I said to myself. And this thought—one of the most profound ever made since the discovery of butterflies—consoled me for my misdeed and reconciled me with myself. I stood there, looking at the corpse with, I confess, a certain sympathy. The butterfly had…” quote by Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/machado-de-assis-3758_beautiful-morning_why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue_2740444.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/machado-de-assis-3758_beautiful-morning_why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue_2740444.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/machado-de-assis-3758_beautiful-morning_why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue_2740444.jpg) > ““Why the devil couldn’t it have been blue?” I said to myself. And this thought—one of the most profound ever made since the discovery of butterflies—consoled me for my misdeed and reconciled me with myself. I stood there, looking at the corpse with, I confess, a certain sympathy. The butterfly had probably come out of the woods, well-fed and happy, into the sunlight of a beautiful morning. Modest in its demands on life, it had been content to fly about and exhibit its special beauty under the vast cupola of a blue sky, al sky that is always blue for those that have wings. It flew through my open window, entered by room, and found me there. I suppose it had never seen a man; therefore it did not know what a man was. It described an infinite number of circles about my body and saw that I moved, that I had eyes, arms, legs, a divine aspect, and colossal stature. Then it said to itself, “This is probably the maker of butterflies.” The idea overwhelmed it, terrified it; but fear, which is sometimes stimulating, suggested the best way for it to please its creator was to kiss him on the forehead, and so it kissed me on the forehead. When I brushed it away, it rested on the windowpane, saw from there the portrait of my father, and quite possibly perceived a half-truth, i.e., that the man in the picture was the father of the creator of butterflies, and it flew to beg his mercy. Then a blow from a towel ended the adventure. Neither the blue sky’s immensity, nor the flowers’ joy, nor the green leaves’ splendor could protect the creature against a face towel, a few square inches fo cheap linin. Note how excellent it is to be superior to butterflies! For, even if it had been blue, its life would not have been safe; I might have pierced it with a pin and kept it to delight my eyes. It was not blue. This last thought consoled me again. I placed the nail of my middle finger against my thumb, gave the cadaver a flip, and it fell into the garden. It was high time; the provident ants were already gathering around…Yes, I stand by my first idea: I think that it would have been better for the butterfly if it had been born blue.”” [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A butterfly’s encounter with a human leads to absurd reflections on existence, beauty, and mortality. **In simple terms:** A tiny creature’s perspective highlights life's fragility and wonder. Key Takeaway Find meaning in small, unexpected moments. Themes existence beauty mortality absurdity Mood contemplative whimsical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - garden observation - creative writing - meditation on life Key Concepts philosophy nature symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What does the butterfly symbolize for you? - How do small encounters shift your worldview? 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Frodo woke up first, and found that a tree-root had made a hole in his back, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-morning-came-pale-and-clammy-frodo-woke-up-first-and-found-that-a/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More by Machado de Assis > [“Quem escapa do perigo vive a vida com outra intensidade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/quem-escapa-do-perigo-vive-a-vida-com-outra-intensidade/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“Cotrim, who was present, said: “Those came who had a genuine interest in you and in us. The eighty would have come only as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/cotrim-who-was-present-said-those-came-who-had-a-genuine-interest-in/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“Nada há definitivo no mundo; nem o infortúnio nem a prosperidade. O que a tua imaginação supõe estar perdido, acha-se apenas transviado ou oculto...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/nada-h-definitivo-no-mundo-nem-o-infort-nio-nem-a-prosperidade-o-que/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“Tudo é música, meu amigo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/tudo-m-sica-meu-amigo/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“…like the horse in the old ballads, which Romanticism found in the medieval castle and left in the streets of our own century. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/like-the-horse-in-the-old-ballads-which-romanticism-found-in-the/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“(...) a pior filosofia é a do choramingas que se deita à margem do rio para o fim de lastimar o curso incessante das…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/a-pior-filosofia-a-do-choramingas-que-se-deita-margem-do-rio-para-o/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“O casamento é a pior ou a melhor coisa do mundo; pura questão de temperamento.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/o-casamento-a-pior-ou-a-melhor-coisa-do-mundo-pura-quest-o-de/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“The next day, he read to me a freshly composed dirge in which the circumstances of his wife’s death and burial were commemorated. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/the-next-day-he-read-to-me-a-freshly-composed-dirge-in-which-the/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [The conclusion, therefore, is that there are two major forces in society: love, which multiplies the species, and the nose, which subordinates it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/the-conclusion-therefore-is-that-there-are-two-major-forces-in/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“Prometheus. The truth unknown to man is the madness of him who proclaims it. Proceed, and have done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/prometheus-the-truth-unknown-to-man-is-the-madness-of-him-who/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [To him the stars seemed like so many musical notes affixed to the sky, just waiting for somebody to unfasten them. Someday the sky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/to-him-the-stars-seemed-like-so-many-musical-notes-affixed-to-the-sky/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“...one of the roles of man is to shut his eyes and keep them shut to see if he can continue into the night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/one-of-the-roles-of-man-is-to-shut-his-eyes-and-keep-them-shut-to-see/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“Tijolos que pisei e repisei naquela tarde, colunas amareladas que me passastes à direita ou à esquerda, segundo eu ia ou vinha, em vós…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/tijolos-que-pisei-e-repisei-naquela-tarde-colunas-amareladas-que-me/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [Out of the sighs of one generation are kneaded the hopes of the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/out-of-the-sighs-of-one-generation-are-kneaded-the-hopes-of-the-next/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) > [“He had found in himself the perfect, undeniable case of insanity. He possessed wisdom, patience, tolerance, truthfulness, loyalty, and moral fortitude—all the qualities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/he-had-found-in-himself-the-perfect-undeniable-case-of-insanity-he/) [Machado de Assis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) [Explore all 64 Machado de Assis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machado-de-assis/) ## More Beautiful morning quotes > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“The morning came, pale and clammy. Frodo woke up first, and found that a tree-root had made a hole in his back, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/the-morning-came-pale-and-clammy-frodo-woke-up-first-and-found-that-a/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [LOVING MY GIRL EACH AN EVERYDAY WEN I WAKE UP TO HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE IN THE BEAUTIFUL MORNING SUNLIGHT...LOVE U BABY GIRL!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarrette-djgill-starbwie/loving-my-girl-each-an-everyday-wen-i-wake-up-to-her-beautiful-smile/) [Jarrette Djgill Starbwie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarrette-djgill-starbwie/) > [Before the whole world goes off to sleep again, before the moon makes a re-visit, please get up and at least for once have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-the-whole-world-goes-off-to-sleep-again-before-the-moon-makes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world is new to us every morning - and every man should believe he is reborn each day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baal-shem-tov/the-world-is-new-to-us-every-morning-and-every-man-should-believe-he/) [Baal Shem Tov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baal-shem-tov/) > [Contended In Life. There is a joy in every day's life Beauty every where To appreciate things more Learn to be contended in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/contended-in-life-there-is-a-joy-in-every-day-s-life-beauty-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A beautiful morning is not a guarantee for a beautiful afternoon! Just like a man of desert appreciates water, value well whatever beauty you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-beautiful-morning-is-not-a-guarantee-for-a-beautiful-afternoon-just/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The sun is but a morning star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-sun-is-but-a-morning-star/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [My future starts when I wake up every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/my-future-starts-when-i-wake-up-every-morning/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [The other thing that's useful for me is this notion of the absolute versus the relative:if we walk out and it's a beautiful morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-other-thing-that-s-useful-for-me-is-this-notion-of-the-absolute/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [O how beautiful is morning! How the sunbeams strike the daisies And the kingcups fill the meadow Like a golden-shielded army Marching to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/o-how-beautiful-is-morning-how-the-sunbeams-strike-the-daisies-and/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [I fall asleep feeling beautiful. Then, in the morning, before I leave the house, I say five things I love about myself, like 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-love-hewitt/i-fall-asleep-feeling-beautiful-then-in-the-morning-before-i-leave/) [Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-love-hewitt/) > [It will come sometime. Some beautiful morning she will just wake up and find it is Tomorrow. Not Today but Tomorrow. And then things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-will-come-sometime-some-beautiful-morning-she-will-just-wake-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [WHEN YOUR HEART IS ALIVE, you are always beautiful. Always. Even in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-bradley/when-your-heart-is-alive-you-are-always-beautiful-always-even-in-the/) [Don Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-bradley/) > [“It was shaping up as a beautiful morning. The last thing I wanted to hear about was murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kellerman/it-was-shaping-up-as-a-beautiful-morning-the-last-thing-i-wanted-to/) [Jonathan Kellerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kellerman/) [Browse all 61 Beautiful morning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-morning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why the devil couldn’t it have been blue?” I said to myself. And this thought—one of the most profound ever made since the discovery of butterflies—consoled me for my misdeed and reconciled me with myself. I stood there, looking at the corpse with, I confess, a certain sympathy. The butterfly had probably come out of the woods, well-fed and happy, into the sunlight of a beautiful morning. Modest in its demands on life, it had been content to fly about and exhibit its special beauty under the vast cupola of a blue sky, al sky that is always blue for those that have wings. It flew through my open window, entered by room, and found me there. I suppose it had never seen a man; therefore it did not know what a man was. It described an infinite number of circles about my body and saw that I moved, that I had eyes, arms, legs, a divine aspect, and colossal stature. Then it said to itself, “This is probably the maker of butterflies.” The idea overwhelmed it, terrified it; but fear, which is sometimes stimulating, suggested the best way for it to please its creator was to kiss him on the forehead, and so it kissed me on the forehead. When I brushed it away, it rested on the windowpane, saw from there the portrait of my father, and quite possibly perceived a half-truth, i.e., that the man in the picture was the father of the creator of butterflies, and it flew to beg his mercy. Then a blow from a towel ended the adventure. Neither the blue sky’s immensity, nor the flowers’ joy, nor the green leaves’ splendor could protect the creature against a face towel, a few square inches fo cheap linin. Note how excellent it is to be superior to butterflies! For, even if it had been blue, its life would not have been safe; I might have pierced it with a pin and kept it to delight my eyes. It was not blue. This last thought consoled me again. I placed the nail of my middle finger against my thumb, gave the cadaver a flip, and it fell into the garden. It was high time; the provident ants were already gathering around…Yes, I stand by my first idea: I think that it would have been better for the butterfly if it had been born blue.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Machado de Assis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue-i-said-to-myself-and-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beautiful morning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machado-de-assis/why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue-i-said-to-myself-and-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/machado-de-assis-3758_beautiful-morning_why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue_2740444.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/machado-de-assis-3758_beautiful-morning_why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue_2740444.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/machado-de-assis-3758_beautiful-morning_why-the-devil-couldn-t-it-have-been-blue_2740444.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why the devil couldn’t it have been blue?” I said to myself. 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