--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Monster' is a relative term; to a canary…" description: "\"“Monster' is a relative term; to a canary, a cat is a monster. We're just used to being the cat.”\" — Michael Crichton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/michael-crichton-694_science-fiction_monster-is-a-relative-term-to-a-canary-a_994580.jpg" --- # Monster' is a relative term; to a canary, a cat is a… ![“Monster' is a relative term; to a canary, a cat is a monster. We're just used to being the cat.” quote by Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/michael-crichton-694_science-fiction_monster-is-a-relative-term-to-a-canary-a_994580.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/michael-crichton-694_science-fiction_monster-is-a-relative-term-to-a-canary-a_994580.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/michael-crichton-694_science-fiction_monster-is-a-relative-term-to-a-canary-a_994580.jpg) > ““Monster' is a relative term; to a canary, a cat is a monster. We're just used to being the cat.”” [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perspective on fear depends on the observer’s size and power; what seems monstrous to one may be normal to another. **In simple terms:** Monsters are relative to the viewer. Key Takeaway Recognize bias in labeling threats. Themes perception relativity fear power empathy Mood thoughtful critical inquisitive Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - media analysis - environmental policy Key Concepts subjectivity anthropomorphism scale Questions to Reflect On - How does your perspective change the perceived threat? - What determines who is labeled a monster? A Different Perspective Labels can oversimplify complex entities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [Whether you call someone a hero or a monster is all relative to where the focus of your consciousness may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/whether-you-call-someone-a-hero-or-a-monster-is-all-relative-to-where/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“Broke is a relative term, like sister, cousin, or Uncle Sam. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/broke-is-a-relative-term-like-sister-cousin-or-uncle-sam/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Success is a relative term. It brings so many relatives!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/success-is-a-relative-term-it-brings-so-many-relatives/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [“I hate”relative term”, it is everywhere cause even men are relatively pregnant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/i-hate-relative-term-it-is-everywhere-cause-even-men-are-relatively/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I'd love to do a movie where the monster is human, where the issue is not otherworldly, or horror or science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-d-love-to-do-a-movie-where-the-monster-is-human-where-the-issue-is/) [J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/) > [I bought these pink sticker things... and I would write things on them, and I wrote, 'I will write an international smash,' and shortly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-rexha/i-bought-these-pink-sticker-things-and-i-would-write-things-on-them/) [Bebe Rexha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-rexha/) > [“Some days I’m more girl than monster. Some days I wonder what the monster has done with the girl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-kory/some-days-i-m-more-girl-than-monster-some-days-i-wonder-what-the/) Kristin Kory > [In this business, until you're known as a monster you're not a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/in-this-business-until-you-re-known-as-a-monster-you-re-not-a-star/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [“When you’re a monster, she thought, you are thanked and praised for not behaving like a monster. She would like to restrain from cruelty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-you-re-a-monster-she-thought-you-are-thanked-and-praised-for-not/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [It's not a monster movie. It's a supernatural thriller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-wood/it-s-not-a-monster-movie-it-s-a-supernatural-thriller/) [Ed Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-wood/) > [“..the world seems full of good men--even if there are monsters in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/the-world-seems-full-of-good-men-even-if-there-are-monsters-in-it/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [“Monsters are made”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/monsters-are-made/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [“Personally, I’m a mess of conflicting impulses—I’m independent and greedy and I also want to belong and share and be a part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/personally-i-m-a-mess-of-conflicting-impulses-i-m-independent-and/) [Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/) > [“Monsters are divine portents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/monsters-are-divine-portents/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More by Michael Crichton > [They are focused on whether they can do something. They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“it is important to recognize that the behavior of the two antagonists mirrors each other, like a Rorschach inkblot. The value of a Rorschach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/it-is-important-to-recognize-that-the-behavior-of-the-two-antagonists/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Exercise invigorates the body and sharpens the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/exercise-invigorates-the-body-and-sharpens-the-mind/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Social control is best managed through fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/social-control-is-best-managed-through-fear/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [They always say they didn't. I never heard of one who said, 'You know, I deserve this.' Never happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-always-say-they-didn-t-i-never-heard-of-one-who-said-you-know-i/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Friendships are nice. So is competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/friendships-are-nice-so-is-competence/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [I can tell you that second hand smoke is not a health hazard to anyone and never was, and the EPA has always known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/i-can-tell-you-that-second-hand-smoke-is-not-a-health-hazard-to/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [As the practical value of altering consciousness becomes recognized, procedures to effect these alterations will become increasingly ordinary and unremarkable. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/as-the-practical-value-of-altering-consciousness-becomes-recognized/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/books-aren-t-written-they-re-rewritten-including-your-own-it-is-one/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The purpose of life is to stay alive. Watch any animal in nature--all it tries to do is stay alive. It doesn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-stay-alive-watch-any-animal-in-nature-all/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [One of the things that Americans, as a multiracial society, feel is a tremendous sensitivity to racial comments of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-things-that-americans-as-a-multiracial-society-feel-is-a/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This fascination with computer models is something I understand very well. Richard Feynmann called it a disease. I fear he is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-fascination-with-computer-models-is-something-i-understand-very/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) [Explore all 386 Michael Crichton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## More Monster quotes > [Our memory is a monster; you forget it - it does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/our-memory-is-a-monster-you-forget-it-it-does-not/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Monsters are divine portents.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/monsters-are-divine-portents/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [“Personally, I’m a mess of conflicting impulses—I’m independent and greedy and I also want to belong and share and be a part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/personally-i-m-a-mess-of-conflicting-impulses-i-m-independent-and/) [Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/) > [“Monsters are made”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-aveyard/monsters-are-made/) [Victoria Aveyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-aveyard/) > [“..the world seems full of good men--even if there are monsters in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/the-world-seems-full-of-good-men-even-if-there-are-monsters-in-it/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) > [It's not a monster movie. It's a supernatural thriller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-wood/it-s-not-a-monster-movie-it-s-a-supernatural-thriller/) [Ed Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-wood/) > [“When you’re a monster, she thought, you are thanked and praised for not behaving like a monster. She would like to restrain from cruelty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/when-you-re-a-monster-she-thought-you-are-thanked-and-praised-for-not/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [In this business, until you're known as a monster you're not a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/in-this-business-until-you-re-known-as-a-monster-you-re-not-a-star/) [Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [“Some days I’m more girl than monster. Some days I wonder what the monster has done with the girl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-kory/some-days-i-m-more-girl-than-monster-some-days-i-wonder-what-the/) Kristin Kory > [I bought these pink sticker things... and I would write things on them, and I wrote, 'I will write an international smash,' and shortly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-rexha/i-bought-these-pink-sticker-things-and-i-would-write-things-on-them/) [Bebe Rexha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-rexha/) > [“ But what is a dream, Conor O'Malley? the monster said, bending down so it's face was close to Conor's. Who is to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-what-is-a-dream-conor-o-malley-the-monster-said-bending-down-so/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [The monster London laugh at me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-cowley/the-monster-london-laugh-at-me/) [Abraham Cowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-cowley/) > [“Stomach full of jitters, little beasts that were second cousins to guacamolians—little green monsters that wreaked havoc in your stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kely-mcclung/stomach-full-of-jitters-little-beasts-that-were-second-cousins-to/) [William Kely McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kely-mcclung/) > [“Life would be perfect if monster would stop farting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chuka/life-would-be-perfect-if-monster-would-stop-farting/) David Chuka > [“There are many types of monsters that scare me: Monsters who cause trouble without showing themselves, monsters who abduct children, monsters who devour dreams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lawliet/there-are-many-types-of-monsters-that-scare-me-monsters-who-cause/) L Lawliet [Browse all 1,025 Monster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Monster' is a relative term; to a canary, a cat is a monster. 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