--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Machines were mice and men were lions…" description: "\"Machines were mice and men were lions once upon a time. But now that it's the opposite it's twice upon a time.\" — Moondog" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/moondog-58327_computers_machines-were-mice-and-men-were-lions-on_3144902.jpg" --- # Machines were mice and men were lions once upon a time… ![“Machines were mice and men were lions once upon a time. But now that it's the opposite it's twice upon a time.” quote by Moondog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/moondog-58327_computers_machines-were-mice-and-men-were-lions-on_3144902.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/moondog-58327_computers_machines-were-mice-and-men-were-lions-on_3144902.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/553/moondog-58327_computers_machines-were-mice-and-men-were-lions-on_3144902.jpg) > “Machines were mice and men were lions once upon a time. But now that it's the opposite it's twice upon a time.” [Moondog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moondog/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement flips a metaphor about power dynamics, suggesting a reversal where the meek become dominant and the strong become vulnerable. **In simple terms:** Roles of power can reverse over time. Key Takeaway Stay adaptable to shifting power structures. Themes power dynamics role reversal humility Mood intrigued cautious Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - business leadership - personal relationships - political strategy - historical analysis Key Concepts metaphor social hierarchy change management Questions to Reflect On - When have you seen power roles flip? - How can one prepare for unexpected reversals? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex social changes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Fairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy/) [Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lions/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mice And Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mice-and-men/) [Once upon a time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once-upon-a-time/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, "It might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/of-all-the-words-of-mice-and-men-the-saddest-are-it-might-have-been/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [But little Mouse, you are not alone, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often askew,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/but-little-mouse-you-are-not-alone-in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Of mice and men shirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/of-mice-and-men-shirt/) Patience > [In 'Of Mice And Men' I play a straight dramatic role and I'm the only female in the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-heatherton/in-of-mice-and-men-i-play-a-straight-dramatic-role-and-i-m-the-only/) [Joey Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-heatherton/) > [I loved working on Of Mice and Men. It was a wonderful group of people. John Malkovich is to me one of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-loved-working-on-of-mice-and-men-it-was-a-wonderful-group-of-people/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-plans-of-mice-and-men-often-go-awry/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [I've often wondered, when they've done Of Mice And Men on stage, and I've seen it, how they did that gun thing. I've watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-walston/i-ve-often-wondered-when-they-ve-done-of-mice-and-men-on-stage-and-i/) [Ray Walston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-walston/) > [OF MICE AND MEN! They r so hot!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn/of-mice-and-men-they-r-so-hot/) [Kaitlyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn/) > [You know, the best-laid plans of mice and men... I like playing bad guys, and I don't have a problem doing that. They're interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobin-bell/you-know-the-best-laid-plans-of-mice-and-men-i-like-playing-bad-guys/) [Tobin Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobin-bell/) > [Just so you know, when they say "once upon a time"…they're lying. It's not once upon a time. Its not even twice upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/just-so-you-know-when-they-say-once-upon-a-time-they-re-lying-it-s/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-agle/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-agley/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley. An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy! (To A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-agley-an-lea-e-us-nought/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Pikachuu and Of Mice&Men. o:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pikachuu-and-of-mice-men-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Is it dangerous to plan too much? Yes, we all need to plan, to have a plan, but life goes on regardless of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-w-p-garland/is-it-dangerous-to-plan-too-much-yes-we-all-need-to-plan-to-have-a/) [Leslie W.P. Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-w-p-garland/) ## More by Moondog > [I'm not gonna die in 4/4 time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moondog/i-m-not-gonna-die-in-4-4-time/) [Moondog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moondog/) > [Each Today is Yesterday's Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moondog/each-today-is-yesterday-s-tomorrow/) [Moondog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moondog/) > [I am an observer of life, a non-participant who takes no sides. I am in the regimented society, but not of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moondog/i-am-an-observer-of-life-a-non-participant-who-takes-no-sides-i-am-in/) [Moondog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moondog/) > [The only one who knows this ounce of words is just a token, is he who has a ton to tell that must remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moondog/the-only-one-who-knows-this-ounce-of-words-is-just-a-token-is-he-who/) [Moondog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moondog/) [Explore all 5 Moondog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moondog/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. 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They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. 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In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Machines were mice and men were lions once upon a time. 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