--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't go chasing after butterflies, when…" description: "\"Don't go chasing after butterflies, when everything you want is right by your side.\" — Norah Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/norah-jones-2918_butterflies_don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when_881429.png" --- # Don't go chasing after butterflies, when everything you… ![“Don't go chasing after butterflies, when everything you want is right by your side.” quote by Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/norah-jones-2918_butterflies_don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when_881429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/norah-jones-2918_butterflies_don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when_881429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/norah-jones-2918_butterflies_don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when_881429.png) > “Don't go chasing after butterflies, when everything you want is right by your side.” [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She advises appreciating what’s already present instead of chasing distant, fleeting desires. **In simple terms:** Value what you have now, don’t chase distant fantasies. Key Takeaway Focus on present blessings. Themes contentment relationships mindfulness gratitude Mood calm inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily life - relationships - career decisions Key Concepts psychology spirituality personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What “butterflies” are you overlooking? - How can you cultivate present‑moment awareness? A Different Perspective Chasing novelty can cause unnecessary dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Butterflies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterflies/) [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Chasing butterflies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chasing-butterflies/) ## Related quotes > [Don't waste your time chasing butterflies. Mend your garden, and the butterflies will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-quintana/don-t-waste-your-time-chasing-butterflies-mend-your-garden-and-the/) [Mario Quintana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-quintana/) > [You know those adages about smelling the roses and chasing butterflies? The markets are my butterflies and my roses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gross/you-know-those-adages-about-smelling-the-roses-and-chasing/) [Bill Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gross/) > [“Chasing dreams is like chasing butterflies on an open field — the beauty is in the running, not the catching”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-j-forde/chasing-dreams-is-like-chasing-butterflies-on-an-open-field-the/) [Charmaine J Forde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-j-forde/) > [I want it to be my fault when your phone dies. I want to be responsible for those butterflies. I want to hug you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilia/i-want-it-to-be-my-fault-when-your-phone-dies-i-want-to-be/) [Camilia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilia/) > [I saw a poet chase a butterfly in a meadow. He put his net on a bench where a boy sat reading a book.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/i-saw-a-poet-chase-a-butterfly-in-a-meadow-he-put-his-net-on-a-bench/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [In the early morning hours, Hannah read at the table by the dim light of dawn. She leaned in close to the pages, chin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-j-kirby/in-the-early-morning-hours-hannah-read-at-the-table-by-the-dim-light/) [Matthew J. Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-j-kirby/) > [Success is not a doing process, it is a becoming process. What you do, what you pursue, will elude youit can be like chasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/success-is-not-a-doing-process-it-is-a-becoming-process-what-you-do/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Besides the practical knowledge which defeat offers, there are important personality profits to be taken. Defeat strips away false values and makes you realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-moulton-marston/besides-the-practical-knowledge-which-defeat-offers-there-are/) [William Moulton Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-moulton-marston/) > [Realize what you really want. It stops you from chasing butterflies and puts you to work digging gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-moulton-marston/realize-what-you-really-want-it-stops-you-from-chasing-butterflies/) [William Moulton Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-moulton-marston/) > [“The joy about chasing butterflies, is not the satisfaction that comes at the end, but the path that takes you there; The irony about chasing butterflies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-singh/the-joy-about-chasing-butterflies-is-not-the-satisfaction-that-comes/) [Richie singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-singh/) > [“We all get butterflies Peter, it’s just a question of teaching them to fly in formation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-rosengard/we-all-get-butterflies-peter-it-s-just-a-question-of-teaching-them-to/) Peter Rosengard > [I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-only-ask-to-be-free-the-butterflies-are-free-mankind-will-surely/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“The most beautiful of butterflies is nothing but a well-dressed caterpillar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corina-abdulahm-negura/the-most-beautiful-of-butterflies-is-nothing-but-a-well-dressed/) Corina Abdulahm Negura > [I've always loved butterflies, because they remind us that it's never too late to transform ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-always-loved-butterflies-because-they-remind-us-that-it-s-never/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) ## More by Norah Jones > [I don't want to be singing my diary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-don-t-want-to-be-singing-my-diary/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [The pop world is cool, but I never really thought of myself as part of it or wanting to be a part of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/the-pop-world-is-cool-but-i-never-really-thought-of-myself-as-part-of/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [That's been the coolest thing about all this, I get to meet people that I worship!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/that-s-been-the-coolest-thing-about-all-this-i-get-to-meet-people/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I remember early on, for instance, having to play wedding gigs, that I hated playing the music. Now I don't have to play music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-remember-early-on-for-instance-having-to-play-wedding-gigs-that-i/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I'm happy. I feel good about music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-m-happy-i-feel-good-about-music/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I love eggs so much. I feel like my day hasn't started until I've had eggs. I'm probably gonna die from high cholesterol!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-love-eggs-so-much-i-feel-like-my-day-hasn-t-started-until-i-ve-had/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I make a good fried chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-make-a-good-fried-chicken/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [It's not like once you achieve success, you're done, you know. It's like, still enjoy doing what you're doing, that's the key for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/it-s-not-like-once-you-achieve-success-you-re-done-you-know-it-s-like/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Music is fun. It should be fun. And that's the key, I think. Keep it as the thing you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/music-is-fun-it-should-be-fun-and-that-s-the-key-i-think-keep-it-as/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Come away with me and we'll kiss. On a mountaintop. Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/come-away-with-me-and-we-ll-kiss-on-a-mountaintop-come-away-with-me/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I love my dad and we have a very good relationship now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-love-my-dad-and-we-have-a-very-good-relationship-now/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Without a piano I don't know how to stand, don't know what to do with my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/without-a-piano-i-don-t-know-how-to-stand-don-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I'm always going to do that - record and make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-m-always-going-to-do-that-record-and-make-music/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Come away with me on a bus. Come away where they can't tempt us. With their lies...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/come-away-with-me-on-a-bus-come-away-where-they-can-t-tempt-us-with/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I, don't know how, to slow it down. My mind's racing from chasing pirates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-don-t-know-how-to-slow-it-down-my-mind-s-racing-from-chasing-pirates/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) [Explore all 145 Norah Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) ## More Butterflies quotes > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“When he stops giving you butterflies, Love dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-blanchard/when-he-stops-giving-you-butterflies-love-dies/) Michelle Blanchard > [“I look over at the man in question and just the sight of him gives me butterflies.  No, not butterflies.  Butterflies don’t quite do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-herrera/i-look-over-at-the-man-in-question-and-just-the-sight-of-him-gives-me/) [Devon Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-herrera/) > [“This time of year, the purple blooms were busy with life- not just the bees, but butterflies and ladybugs, skippers and emerald-toned beetles, flitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wiggs/this-time-of-year-the-purple-blooms-were-busy-with-life-not-just-the/) [Susan Wiggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wiggs/) > [I wish that I could be with you tonight, you give me butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-that-i-could-be-with-you-tonight-you-give-me-butterflies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everytime I talk to a special person I get butterflies¥~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everytime-i-talk-to-a-special-person-i-get-butterflies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Butterflies don't know the color of their wings, but human eyes know how nice it is... Like wise you don't know 'how good you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thanisha/butterflies-don-t-know-the-color-of-their-wings-but-human-eyes-know/) Thanisha > [I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-only-ask-to-be-free-the-butterflies-are-free-mankind-will-surely/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I've always loved butterflies, because they remind us that it's never too late to transform ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-always-loved-butterflies-because-they-remind-us-that-it-s-never/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [“We all get butterflies Peter, it’s just a question of teaching them to fly in formation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-rosengard/we-all-get-butterflies-peter-it-s-just-a-question-of-teaching-them-to/) Peter Rosengard > [I'm not a bug person, but something about butterflies I can handle because they're kind of cute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/i-m-not-a-bug-person-but-something-about-butterflies-i-can-handle/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [“You’re beautiful and charming, and I can’t stop thinking about last night.” No, he didn’t say that. Not exactly, anyway. What Sarah heard was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-re-beautiful-and-charming-and-i-can-t-stop-thinking-about-last/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Chasing dreams is like chasing butterflies on an open field — the beauty is in the running, not the catching”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-j-forde/chasing-dreams-is-like-chasing-butterflies-on-an-open-field-the/) [Charmaine J Forde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-j-forde/) > [“Drake: "I know it;s love because I think of you night and day. I miss you when you are sitting right next to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-k-lewis/drake-i-know-it-s-love-because-i-think-of-you-night-and-day-i-miss/) L.K. Lewis > [“The most beautiful of butterflies is nothing but a well-dressed caterpillar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corina-abdulahm-negura/the-most-beautiful-of-butterflies-is-nothing-but-a-well-dressed/) Corina Abdulahm Negura [Browse all 423 Butterflies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterflies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't go chasing after butterflies, when everything you want is right by your side.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norah Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when-everything-you-want-is-right/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Butterflies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when-everything-you-want-is-right/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/norah-jones-2918_butterflies_don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when_881429.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/norah-jones-2918_butterflies_don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when_881429.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/691/norah-jones-2918_butterflies_don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when_881429.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't go chasing after butterflies, when everything you want is right by your side.” — Norah Jones", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norah Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't go chasing after butterflies, when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when-everything-you-want-is-right/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/don-t-go-chasing-after-butterflies-when-everything-you-want-is-right/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```