--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was this time when I looked at a…" description: "\"“There was this time when I looked at a picture and thought it was a man with horns, but when I stepped up to study it I could see it was actually a bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/melina-marchetta-392_butterfly-wings_there-was-this-time-when-i-looked-at-a-p_219233.png" --- # There was this time when I looked at a picture and thought… ![“There was this time when I looked at a picture and thought it was a man with horns, but when I stepped up to study it I could see it was actually a butterfly with wings standing up straight. That’s what happens when you stop looking at things from far away. My advice… look at whatever you’re…” quote by Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/melina-marchetta-392_butterfly-wings_there-was-this-time-when-i-looked-at-a-p_219233.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/melina-marchetta-392_butterfly-wings_there-was-this-time-when-i-looked-at-a-p_219233.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee6/melina-marchetta-392_butterfly-wings_there-was-this-time-when-i-looked-at-a-p_219233.png) > ““There was this time when I looked at a picture and thought it was a man with horns, but when I stepped up to study it I could see it was actually a butterfly with wings standing up straight. That’s what happens when you stop looking at things from far away. My advice… look at whatever you’re scared of from a different angle. Look at it up really close.”” [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing perspective reveals hidden beauty; examining fears closely can transform anxiety into insight. **In simple terms:** Look closely to see new possibilities. Key Takeaway Shift viewpoint to overcome fear. Themes perspective growth curiosity fear transformation Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - art analysis - personal therapy - problem solving - learning new skills Key Concepts mindfulness observation creative thinking Questions to Reflect On - What fears can you re‑examine today? - How does closeness alter your understanding? A Different Perspective Changing view may not solve underlying problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Butterfly wings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly-wings/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I never stop looking for things to try and make myself better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/i-never-stop-looking-for-things-to-try-and-make-myself-better/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [“Maybe sometimes we don’t do the right thing because the wrong thing looks more dangerous, and we don’t want to look scared, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/maybe-sometimes-we-don-t-do-the-right-thing-because-the-wrong-thing/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Don't look so scared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/don-t-look-so-scared/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“No. Sometimes you can just tell things by looking at people, though. When she looks at you, she’s scared. When you look at her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-harper-hart/no-sometimes-you-can-just-tell-things-by-looking-at-people-though/) [Lily Harper Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-harper-hart/) > [I said, kiss me slowly, why you look so scared?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself/i-said-kiss-me-slowly-why-you-look-so-scared/) Myself > [I'm just scared of crowds. I just think people require things of me whenever there's a screaming crowd, and I always think I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-m-just-scared-of-crowds-i-just-think-people-require-things-of-me/) [Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/) > [When it hurts to look back, and your scared to look ahead, you can look beside you... And your best friend will be right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-it-hurts-to-look-back-and-your-scared-to-look-ahead-you-can-look-2/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [When it hurts to look back and your scared to look ahead you can look beside and know that your best friend is there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-l/when-it-hurts-to-look-back-and-your-scared-to-look-ahead-you-can-look/) Faith L > [“Look at me closely. Ask yourself: Do I look scared?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-hurwitz/look-at-me-closely-ask-yourself-do-i-look-scared/) [Gregg Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-hurwitz/) > [It was a perfectly normal May Day, but Sophie was scared of that too. And when a young man in a fantastical blue-and-silver costume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-wynne-jones/it-was-a-perfectly-normal-may-day-but-sophie-was-scared-of-that-too/) [Diana Wynne Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-wynne-jones/) > [And he left. I watched him walk out – he didn’t say good-bye, he didn’t even look back. It scared me, how easy it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/and-he-left-i-watched-him-walk-out-he-didn-t-say-good-bye-he-didn-t/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you, and your best friend will be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hashem-shatila/when-it-hurts-to-look-back-and-you-re-scared-to-look-ahead-you-can/) [Hashem Shatila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hashem-shatila/) > [If someone's different from you and it scares you or makes you mad, that's God telling you to take a closer look. If you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/if-someone-s-different-from-you-and-it-scares-you-or-makes-you-mad/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) > [I've just been sittin here countin ghosts, and you look scared to death..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syntific/i-ve-just-been-sittin-here-countin-ghosts-and-you-look-scared-to-death/) Syntific > [Imagination is a pretty powerful thing, and when you're in the moment and you're riding a train and you're asked to look scared, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/imagination-is-a-pretty-powerful-thing-and-when-you-re-in-the-moment/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) ## More by Melina Marchetta > [Some of us weren't born for rewards, Froi. We were born for sacrifices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/some-of-us-weren-t-born-for-rewards-froi-we-were-born-for-sacrifices/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I'm very disturbed to find out that the leader of the Townies has a soul and I'm beginning to develop a bit of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-very-disturbed-to-find-out-that-the-leader-of-the-townies-has-a/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [In the games of queens and kings, we leave our dreams at the door and we make do with what we have. Sometimes if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/in-the-games-of-queens-and-kings-we-leave-our-dreams-at-the-door-and/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [And then you came along and you spoke to me and nobody had looked me in the eye for years. (...) But I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/and-then-you-came-along-and-you-spoke-to-me-and-nobody-had-looked-me/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Do you want to know something about tyrants? When faced with death, they weep and they beg just like the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/do-you-want-to-know-something-about-tyrants-when-faced-with-death/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“you do that all the time you know. you ask me questions when you know the answer will piss you off. ask me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-do-that-all-the-time-you-know-you-ask-me-questions-when-you-know/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I need voices of reason and of hysteria and of empathy. I need to have an Alanis moment. I need advice from Elizabeth Bennett.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-need-voices-of-reason-and-of-hysteria-and-of-empathy-i-need-to-have/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“When I saw "Ulysses" on Georgie's bedside table and Tom Finch's name written on it in a scrawl so like my old man's, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/when-i-saw-ulysses-on-georgie-s-bedside-table-and-tom-finch-s-name/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [“Our bodies aren't strangers,' he said, his voice ragged. 'Our spirits aren't strangers'. He held her face in his hands. 'Tell me what part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/our-bodies-aren-t-strangers-he-said-his-voice-ragged-our-spirits-aren/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Phaedra of Alonso’s death was a never-ending pain that gnawed at his insides. It made him a prisoner in his own cottage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/phaedra-of-alonso-s-death-was-a-never-ending-pain-that-gnawed-at-his/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [You know what? You didn't do anything wrong. I did. It's this dumb thing I do. I look into things and see more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/you-know-what-you-didn-t-do-anything-wrong-i-did-it-s-this-dumb-thing/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [Everything's going to be fine. She'll be back at work soon. Let's just keep the house clean." Oh yeah, I want to say, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/everything-s-going-to-be-fine-she-ll-be-back-at-work-soon-let-s-just/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [See them together and you will feel a force that will take your breath away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/see-them-together-and-you-will-feel-a-force-that-will-take-your/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [We don't even love each other. I do a bit, you know. You do what a bit? You know. Like you...whatever...love you a bit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/we-don-t-even-love-each-other-i-do-a-bit-you-know-you-do-what-a-bit/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) > [I’m scared I’m going to spend the rest of my life in a state of yearning, regardless of where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-m-scared-i-m-going-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-in-a-state-of/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) [Explore all 602 Melina Marchetta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## More Butterfly wings quotes > [“Story is a butterfly whose wings transport us to another world where we receive gifts that change who we are and who we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-king/story-is-a-butterfly-whose-wings-transport-us-to-another-world-where/) [Harley King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-king/) > [When, within our souls and psyches we are made aware of a safe but insistent drum beat, repeated like butterfly wings in motion, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-meeker/when-within-our-souls-and-psyches-we-are-made-aware-of-a-safe-but/) [Mary Meeker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-meeker/) > [The air is like a butterfly With frail blue wings. The happy earth looks at the sky And sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-kilmer/the-air-is-like-a-butterfly-with-frail-blue-wings-the-happy-earth/) [Joyce Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-kilmer/) > [“I know you are afraid, mon amour, " he whispered softly, his hands sliding up her rib cage to her breasts. "But I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-feehan/i-know-you-are-afraid-mon-amour-he-whispered-softly-his-hands-sliding/) [Christine Feehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-feehan/) > [“Yes, every evening. Your mother enjoyed it. That evening she chose Inkheart. She always did like tales of adventure – stories full of brightness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/yes-every-evening-your-mother-enjoyed-it-that-evening-she-chose/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [Fractal litigation, whereby the flapping of a butterfly’s wings on one side of the world resulted in a massive compensation claim on the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aylett/fractal-litigation-whereby-the-flapping-of-a-butterfly-s-wings-on-one/) [Steve Aylett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aylett/) > [He is a male butterfly without the wings - the same kind of grace of a very young horse, so angular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/he-is-a-male-butterfly-without-the-wings-the-same-kind-of-grace-of-a/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [“And above it all the butterfly effect. The sure knowledge that the entire life of a human being is like a single day in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/and-above-it-all-the-butterfly-effect-the-sure-knowledge-that-the/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [In the next few galactic seconds, the fate of the universe will be decided. Life - the ultimate experiment - will either explode into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-savage/in-the-next-few-galactic-seconds-the-fate-of-the-universe-will-be/) Marshall Savage > [“It had butterfly wings, like flakes of patterned wax. Under the wings it had a hairy body with tiny horns. Its fur looked very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-shaw/it-had-butterfly-wings-like-flakes-of-patterned-wax-under-the-wings/) [Ali Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-shaw/) > [“Wow," Puck mused, standing beside me. "The River of Dreams." ... Moons, comets and constellations rippled on the surface, and other, stranger things floated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/wow-puck-mused-standing-beside-me-the-river-of-dreams-moons-comets/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“If the butterfly wings its way to the sweet light that attracts it, it's only becasue it doesn't know that the fire can consume…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-harkness/if-the-butterfly-wings-its-way-to-the-sweet-light-that-attracts-it-it/) [Deborah Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-harkness/) > [ ... on these expanded membranes \[butterfly wings\] Nature writes, as on a tablet, the story of the modifications of species, so truly do all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-walter-bates/on-these-expanded-membranes-butterfly-wings-nature-writes-as-on-a/) [Henry Walter Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-walter-bates/) > [“Allison gave the reporters something more stirring to write about. “Scientist Drops A-Bomb: Blasts Army Shackles,” the Chicago Tribune reported about his remarks. “We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lanouette/allison-gave-the-reporters-something-more-stirring-to-write-about/) [William Lanouette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lanouette/) > [“A butterfly's wings grow because a caterpillar dared to believe it could fly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-butterfly-s-wings-grow-because-a-caterpillar-dared-to-believe-it/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) [Browse all 55 Butterfly wings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly-wings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There was this time when I looked at a picture and thought it was a man with horns, but when I stepped up to study it I could see it was actually a butterfly with wings standing up straight. 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