--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They strain over gnats and swallow…" description: "\"“They strain over gnats and swallow camels. They also cannibalize each other for power.”\" — Mike Duran" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/mike-duran-66872_camels_they-strain-over-gnats-and-swallow-camel_470458.jpg" --- # They strain over gnats and swallow camels. They also… ![“They strain over gnats and swallow camels. They also cannibalize each other for power.” quote by Mike Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/mike-duran-66872_camels_they-strain-over-gnats-and-swallow-camel_470458.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/mike-duran-66872_camels_they-strain-over-gnats-and-swallow-camel_470458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/mike-duran-66872_camels_they-strain-over-gnats-and-swallow-camel_470458.jpg) > ““They strain over gnats and swallow camels. They also cannibalize each other for power.”” [Mike Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People focus on trivial issues while ignoring massive problems, and also turn on each other for control. **In simple terms:** People argue over small things and ignore big ones, then fight for power. Key Takeaway Beware of petty conflicts and power struggles. Themes triviality power conflict Mood critical reflective Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - workplace meetings - political debates - family arguments Key Concepts human nature politics group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What " issues are being overlooked? - How does power drive conflict? A Different Perspective Solutions often require addressing both minor and major issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Camels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camels/) [Camels Cannibalize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camels-cannibalize-4067566/) [Gnats Swallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gnats-swallow-4067568/) [Self righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) [Strain Gnats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strain-gnats-4067569/) [Swallow Camels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swallow-camels-4067567/) ## Related quotes > [My people take themselves too seriously...they strain at gnats and swallow camels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus/my-people-take-themselves-too-seriously-they-strain-at-gnats-and/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus/) > [On horseback you feel as if you're moving in time to classical music; a camel seems to progress to the beat of a drum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-moers/on-horseback-you-feel-as-if-you-re-moving-in-time-to-classical-music/) [Walter Moers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-moers/) > [Our camels plodded along. Katrina tried to kiss, or possibly spit on Hindenburg, and Hindenburg farted in response. I found this a depressing commentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/our-camels-plodded-along-katrina-tried-to-kiss-or-possibly-spit-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Sybil's female forebears had valiantly backed up their husbands as distant embassies were besieged, had given birth on a camel or in the shade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sybil-s-female-forebears-had-valiantly-backed-up-their-husbands-as/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Don't you think it's strange that life, described as so rich and full, a camel-trail of adventure, should shrink to this coin-sized world? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/don-t-you-think-it-s-strange-that-life-described-as-so-rich-and-full/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [You'd think that would have been forgotten long ago. But no, no sooner has a little grass grown over it than some clumsy camel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/you-d-think-that-would-have-been-forgotten-long-ago-but-no-no-sooner/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [It's the camel's nose in the tent. Look at Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin--every one of these monsters, on seizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/it-s-the-camel-s-nose-in-the-tent-look-at-stalin-mussolini-hitler-mao/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [“I want to spit back at a camel and ask him what he's so sour about. Maybe camels are the real 'Old Ones' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-want-to-spit-back-at-a-camel-and-ask-him-what-he-s-so-sour-about/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [My heart has become capable of every form: It is a pasture for gazelles And a monastery for Christian monks, And the pilgrim's Ka'ba,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-arabi/my-heart-has-become-capable-of-every-form-it-is-a-pasture-for/) [Ibn Arabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-arabi/) > [Camels are snobbish and sheep, unintelligent; water buffaloes, neurasthenic-- even murderous. Reindeer seem over-serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/camels-are-snobbish-and-sheep-unintelligent-water-buffaloes/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Death is a black camel, which kneels at the gates of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdelkader-el-djezairi/death-is-a-black-camel-which-kneels-at-the-gates-of-all/) [Abdelkader El Djezairi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdelkader-el-djezairi/) > [Rich folks may ride on camels, but it ain't so easy for 'em to see out of a needle's eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/rich-folks-may-ride-on-camels-but-it-ain-t-so-easy-for-em-to-see-out/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Astride a horse I am not, nor camel-like carry a load, Subjects I have none, nor follow any sultan's code; I worry not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/astride-a-horse-i-am-not-nor-camel-like-carry-a-load-subjects-i-have/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [In cities it is useless to look at the stars or to describe them, worship them, or seek direction from them. When lost, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/in-cities-it-is-useless-to-look-at-the-stars-or-to-describe-them/) [Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/) ## More by Mike Duran > [“People are like germs, only bigger. That bit of wisdom has proven true, for the most part. Humans are little more than highly evolved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duran/people-are-like-germs-only-bigger-that-bit-of-wisdom-has-proven-true/) [Mike Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duran/) > [Truth be told, there wasn't a single one of them who didn't deserve a lightning bolt from the Almighty. Everything else was straight mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duran/truth-be-told-there-wasn-t-a-single-one-of-them-who-didn-t-deserve-a/) [Mike Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duran/) > [“So many questions. So much pain. I felt like someone had ripped open my chest only to discover a dark, rotting cavity. Nevertheless, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-duran/so-many-questions-so-much-pain-i-felt-like-someone-had-ripped-open-my/) [Mike Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duran/) [Explore all 4 Mike Duran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-duran/) ## More Camels quotes > [In cities it is useless to look at the stars or to describe them, worship them, or seek direction from them. When lost, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/in-cities-it-is-useless-to-look-at-the-stars-or-to-describe-them/) [Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/) > [Expediency is a law of nature. The camel is a wonderful animal, but the desert made the camel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/expediency-is-a-law-of-nature-the-camel-is-a-wonderful-animal-but-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Astride a horse I am not, nor camel-like carry a load, Subjects I have none, nor follow any sultan's code; I worry not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saadi/astride-a-horse-i-am-not-nor-camel-like-carry-a-load-subjects-i-have/) [Saadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saadi/) > [Rich folks may ride on camels, but it ain't so easy for 'em to see out of a needle's eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/rich-folks-may-ride-on-camels-but-it-ain-t-so-easy-for-em-to-see-out/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Death is a black camel, which kneels at the gates of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdelkader-el-djezairi/death-is-a-black-camel-which-kneels-at-the-gates-of-all/) [Abdelkader El Djezairi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdelkader-el-djezairi/) > [Camels are snobbish and sheep, unintelligent; water buffaloes, neurasthenic-- even murderous. Reindeer seem over-serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/camels-are-snobbish-and-sheep-unintelligent-water-buffaloes/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [My heart has become capable of every form: It is a pasture for gazelles And a monastery for Christian monks, And the pilgrim's Ka'ba,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-arabi/my-heart-has-become-capable-of-every-form-it-is-a-pasture-for/) [Ibn Arabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-arabi/) > [“I want to spit back at a camel and ask him what he's so sour about. Maybe camels are the real 'Old Ones' on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-want-to-spit-back-at-a-camel-and-ask-him-what-he-s-so-sour-about/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [It's the camel's nose in the tent. Look at Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Idi Amin--every one of these monsters, on seizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/it-s-the-camel-s-nose-in-the-tent-look-at-stalin-mussolini-hitler-mao/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [You'd think that would have been forgotten long ago. But no, no sooner has a little grass grown over it than some clumsy camel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/you-d-think-that-would-have-been-forgotten-long-ago-but-no-no-sooner/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [Don't you think it's strange that life, described as so rich and full, a camel-trail of adventure, should shrink to this coin-sized world? A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/don-t-you-think-it-s-strange-that-life-described-as-so-rich-and-full/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Sybil's female forebears had valiantly backed up their husbands as distant embassies were besieged, had given birth on a camel or in the shade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sybil-s-female-forebears-had-valiantly-backed-up-their-husbands-as/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Our camels plodded along. Katrina tried to kiss, or possibly spit on Hindenburg, and Hindenburg farted in response. I found this a depressing commentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/our-camels-plodded-along-katrina-tried-to-kiss-or-possibly-spit-on/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On horseback you feel as if you're moving in time to classical music; a camel seems to progress to the beat of a drum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-moers/on-horseback-you-feel-as-if-you-re-moving-in-time-to-classical-music/) [Walter Moers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-moers/) > [He spent more time on the road to Damascus than a Syrian camel driver. And we thought nobody could fill John Kerry's flip-flops! ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/he-spent-more-time-on-the-road-to-damascus-than-a-syrian-camel-driver/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) [Browse all 187 Camels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“They strain over gnats and swallow camels. 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