--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is more useful than fire? Yet if any…" description: "\"What is more useful than fire? Yet if any one prepares to burn a house, it is with fire that he arms his daring hands.\" — Ovid" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/ovid-276_arms_what-is-more-useful-than-fire-yet-if-any_2138534.png" --- # What is more useful than fire? Yet if any one prepares to… ![“What is more useful than fire? Yet if any one prepares to burn a house, it is with fire that he arms his daring hands.” quote by Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/ovid-276_arms_what-is-more-useful-than-fire-yet-if-any_2138534.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/ovid-276_arms_what-is-more-useful-than-fire-yet-if-any_2138534.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/ovid-276_arms_what-is-more-useful-than-fire-yet-if-any_2138534.png) > “What is more useful than fire? Yet if any one prepares to burn a house, it is with fire that he arms his daring hands.” [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fire is a tool of creation and destruction; its usefulness lies in controlled, purposeful use. **In simple terms:** Fire is useful when controlled. Key Takeaway Use powerful tools wisely. Themes creation destruction control Mood cautious inquisitive Type mythological practical When to use this quote - cooking - industrial processes - emergency response Key Concepts technology power risk management Questions to Reflect On - When have you harnessed a dangerous tool for good? - What safeguards do you need? A Different Perspective Misusing fire leads to disaster. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) ## Related quotes > [“If she tried to leave without him he would burn her house down, plain and simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/if-she-tried-to-leave-without-him-he-would-burn-her-house-down-plain/) [R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/) > [If you want to hurt me, fine. Take my books. Burn down my house. Shave my head while I am sleeping. But nobody, nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/if-you-want-to-hurt-me-fine-take-my-books-burn-down-my-house-shave-my/) [Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/) > [I'm not senile," I snapped. "If I burn the house down it will be on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-m-not-senile-i-snapped-if-i-burn-the-house-down-it-will-be-on/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I've burned my own house down, the torch is in my hand.Now I'll burn down the house of anyone who wants to follow me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/i-ve-burned-my-own-house-down-the-torch-is-in-my-hand-now-i-ll-burn/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [Love is fire, but whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-fire-but-whether-it-is-going-to-warm-your-heart-or-burn-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We do not need to burn down the house to kill the rats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/we-do-not-need-to-burn-down-the-house-to-kill-the-rats/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [“I will never understand a desire for a reckoning so strong that you burn down your own house to get it,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-deleon/i-will-never-understand-a-desire-for-a-reckoning-so-strong-that-you/) [Jana Deleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-deleon/) > [Love is fire. But whether it's gonna warm your heart or burn your house down you can never tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-fire-but-whether-it-s-gonna-warm-your-heart-or-burn-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Win," Leo said, "you'll burn the house down, just after it's been rebuilt. Give me the bloody matchbox." She shook her head resolutely. Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/win-leo-said-you-ll-burn-the-house-down-just-after-it-s-been-rebuilt/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [It is easier for a man to burn down his own house than to get rid of his prejudices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/it-is-easier-for-a-man-to-burn-down-his-own-house-than-to-get-rid-of/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [“and what sunshine are you going to bring into our lives today? Shall we poison the well or burn the house down?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-what-sunshine-are-you-going-to-bring-into-our-lives-today-shall/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“O burn the house! You've murdered the husband, slaughtered the cattle, poisoned the well, raped the mother, killed the child - you must burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bond/o-burn-the-house-you-ve-murdered-the-husband-slaughtered-the-cattle/) [Edward Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bond/) > [Daring is not safe against daring men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/daring-is-not-safe-against-daring-men/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) ## More by Ovid > [Every woman thinks herself attractive; even the plainest is satisfied with the charms she deems that she possesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/every-woman-thinks-herself-attractive-even-the-plainest-is-satisfied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [ A mind conscious of right laughs at the falsehoods of rumour. \[Lat., Conscia mens recti famae mendacia risit.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/a-mind-conscious-of-right-laughs-at-the-falsehoods-of-rumour-lat/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Time is generally the best doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/time-is-generally-the-best-doctor/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [It is convenient that there be gods, and, as it is convenient, let us believe there are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-convenient-that-there-be-gods-and-as-it-is-convenient-let-us/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [I hate a woman who offers herself because she ought to do so, and cold and dry thinks of her sewing when making love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-hate-a-woman-who-offers-herself-because-she-ought-to-do-so-and-cold/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The sea's vast depths lie open to the fish; Wherever the breezes blow the bird may fly; So to the brave man every land's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/the-sea-s-vast-depths-lie-open-to-the-fish-wherever-the-breezes-blow/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Rare is the virtue that's not ruled by Fortune, That stands unshaken even when Fortune flees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/rare-is-the-virtue-that-s-not-ruled-by-fortune-that-stands-unshaken/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Thus all things altered. Nothing dies. And here and there the unbodied spirit flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/thus-all-things-altered-nothing-dies-and-here-and-there-the-unbodied/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [How little is the promise of the child fulfilled in the man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/how-little-is-the-promise-of-the-child-fulfilled-in-the-man/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Judgement of beauty can err, what with the wine and the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/judgement-of-beauty-can-err-what-with-the-wine-and-the-dark/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Leave war to others; 'tis Protesilaus' part of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/leave-war-to-others-tis-protesilaus-part-of-love/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Remove but the temptations of leisure, and the bow of Cupid will lose its effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/remove-but-the-temptations-of-leisure-and-the-bow-of-cupid-will-lose/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Explore all 771 Ovid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is more useful than fire? 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