--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: …and I’m thinking how nothing is as…" description: "\"…and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess-not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I got here. But the good part is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_dog_and-i-m-thinking-how-nothing-is-as-simpl_1117427.jpg" --- # …and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you… ![“…and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess-not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I got here. But the good part is I saved Shiloh and opened my eyes some. Now that ain’t bad for eleven.” quote by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_dog_and-i-m-thinking-how-nothing-is-as-simpl_1117427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_dog_and-i-m-thinking-how-nothing-is-as-simpl_1117427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/phyllis-reynolds-naylor-14751_dog_and-i-m-thinking-how-nothing-is-as-simpl_1117427.jpg) > “…and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess-not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I got here. But the good part is I saved Shiloh and opened my eyes some. Now that ain’t bad for eleven.” [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing that simple truths are often complex, the narrator reflects on saving a dog and gaining new insight, finding value in modest achievements. **In simple terms:** Simple actions can reveal deeper truths. Key Takeaway Appreciate small successes. Themes growth humility reflection Mood reflective hopeful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - pet rescue - self‑discovery - daily life challenges Key Concepts ethical dilemmas personal development Questions to Reflect On - What small act changed your perspective? - How do you balance humility with pride? A Different Perspective May overvalue minor wins. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Right or wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-or-wrong/) [Shiloh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shiloh/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We are not saved because we're good. We're good because we're saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/we-are-not-saved-because-we-re-good-we-re-good-because-we-re-saved/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [My second book, Follow Me Down had some success, got good critical notices, went into a second printing and things like that, but Shiloh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/my-second-book-follow-me-down-had-some-success-got-good-critical/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Shiloh is a wonderfully dramatic battle. The leader of one side is killed, and the other one is going on to glory, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/shiloh-is-a-wonderfully-dramatic-battle-the-leader-of-one-side-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“Shiloh had become far too used to it; for all that she paid him no mind, the moment his sharp fangs pierced the skin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-white/shiloh-had-become-far-too-used-to-it-for-all-that-she-paid-him-no/) [Elaine White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-white/) > [France was a land, England was a people, but America, having about it still that quality of the idea, was harder to utter -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/france-was-a-land-england-was-a-people-but-america-having-about-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/and-jeroboam-s-wife-did-so-and-arose-and-went-to-shiloh-and-came-to/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“~ A taste of Heaven on earth!" "THE ENCHANTING LEGENDS OF SHILOH MANSION:The Young King!" ~”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborrah-k-ogans/a-taste-of-heaven-on-earth-the-enchanting-legends-of-shiloh-mansion/) DeBorrah K. Ogans > [“If I think too hard about it, I get lost...He should probably be here instead of me. But the thing is--I'm really glad to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowell-rainbow/if-i-think-too-hard-about-it-i-get-lost-he-should-probably-be-here/) ROWELL RAINBOW > [“...if he were in his right mind. Shiloh knew that his father had taken a left turn at some point, however, and there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrianna-scovill/if-he-were-in-his-right-mind-shiloh-knew-that-his-father-had-taken-a/) Adrianna Scovill > [The industrial way of life leads to the industrial way of death. From Shiloh to Dachau, from Antietam to Stalingrad, from Hiroshima to Vietnam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/the-industrial-way-of-life-leads-to-the-industrial-way-of-death-from/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“The door wasn’t closing. Shiloh’s spirit opened up as she considered the possibilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-hawkins-adams/the-door-wasn-t-closing-shiloh-s-spirit-opened-up-as-she-considered/) [Stacy Hawkins Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-hawkins-adams/) > [“The ground had opened up and spit out hell, Nell thought, and the detritus was Shiloh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-brickl/the-ground-had-opened-up-and-spit-out-hell-nell-thought-and-the/) [Kelsey Brickl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-brickl/) > [Foemen at morn, but friends at eve Fame or country least their care: (What like a bullet can undeceive!) But now they lie low,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/foemen-at-morn-but-friends-at-eve-fame-or-country-least-their-care/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Shiloh had as many casualties as Waterloo, and yet there were another 20 Waterloos to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/shiloh-had-as-many-casualties-as-waterloo-and-yet-there-were-another/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [“Shiloh, but it sorely disappointed the Century editors. Written in Grant’s pithy style, it was arid and compact and read like a bloodless report.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-chernow/shiloh-but-it-sorely-disappointed-the-century-editors-written-in/) [Ron Chernow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-chernow/) ## More by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor > [“Well, the man who first translated the bible into English was burned at the stake, and they've been at it ever since. Must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/well-the-man-who-first-translated-the-bible-into-english-was-burned/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Sexually active? Sexually active ? Patrick and I hadn't even learned the fine points of kissing yet! I marched on down. 'For your information,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/sexually-active-sexually-active-patrick-and-i-hadn-t-even-learned-the/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Just that what happens today or next week or next year isn't necessarily the way things are always going to be. As soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/just-that-what-happens-today-or-next-week-or-next-year-isn-t/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Do we have a hand mirror?' I asked from the kitchen doorway. 'Never use one,' said Lester, examining the date on a carton of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/do-we-have-a-hand-mirror-i-asked-from-the-kitchen-doorway-never-use/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [It's all right to have secrets, ... as long as you don't have any secrets from yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/it-s-all-right-to-have-secrets-as-long-as-you-don-t-have-any-secrets/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Everything can change in an instant. Everything. And then there is only before and after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/everything-can-change-in-an-instant-everything-and-then-there-is-only/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [We all have found ourselves in awkward, embarrassing situations, often brought on by ourselves - thinking we are saying something clever, for example, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/we-all-have-found-ourselves-in-awkward-embarrassing-situations-often/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [When you’ve found the right one - when you see him, when you’re with him - you’ll feel like you’re coming home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/when-you-ve-found-the-right-one-when-you-see-him-when-you-re-with-him/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [Once I have the idea for a story. I start collecting all kinds of helpful information and storing it in three-ring notebooks. For example,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/once-i-have-the-idea-for-a-story-i-start-collecting-all-kinds-of/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [Saying hello to something new means saying good-bye to something old and loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/saying-hello-to-something-new-means-saying-good-bye-to-something-old/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [Writing, for me, is the best occupation I can think of, and there is nothing in the world I would rather do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/writing-for-me-is-the-best-occupation-i-can-think-of-and-there-is/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [I also know that you can lie not only by what you say but what you don't say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/i-also-know-that-you-can-lie-not-only-by-what-you-say-but-what-you/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“If you are embarrassed about your sex, it must mean that you feel there is something demeaning or disgusting about being female. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/if-you-are-embarrassed-about-your-sex-it-must-mean-that-you-feel/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [“Patrick and I were about as different as two people could possibly be. Nothing embarrasses Patrick very much, and everything embarrasses me. Just being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/patrick-and-i-were-about-as-different-as-two-people-could-possibly-be/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) > [I used to think that when I grew up there wouldn't be so many rules. Back in elementary school there were rules about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/i-used-to-think-that-when-i-grew-up-there-wouldn-t-be-so-many-rules/) [Phyllis Reynolds Naylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) [Explore all 45 Phyllis Reynolds Naylor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-reynolds-naylor/) ## More Dog quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/) [Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [It is a fool of a shepherd who culls his dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-smith/it-is-a-fool-of-a-shepherd-who-culls-his-dogs/) [Jefferson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-smith/) > [“Flattery looks like friendship, just like a wolf looks like a dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/flattery-looks-like-friendship-just-like-a-wolf-looks-like-a-dog/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/brothers-and-sisters-i-bid-you-beware-of-giving-your-heart-to-a-dog/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [A shoe dog is somebody that really loves shoes, and that was me. I was a runner... that became important to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/a-shoe-dog-is-somebody-that-really-loves-shoes-and-that-was-me-i-was/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“I rub the ears of my dog, my stupid goddam ruddy great dog that I never wanted but who hung around anyway and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/i-rub-the-ears-of-my-dog-my-stupid-goddam-ruddy-great-dog-that-i/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [ “A hasty dog always burns his mouth. \[192\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-t-plaatje/a-hasty-dog-always-burns-his-mouth-192/) [Sol T. Plaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-t-plaatje/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [“A year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, ending in 2009 and published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science (Elsevier), showed that aggressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-custo/a-year-long-study-by-the-university-of-pennsylvania-ending-in-2009/) Edward Custo [Browse all 6,836 Dog quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "…and I’m thinking how nothing is as simple as you guess-not right or wrong, not Judd Travers, not even me or this dog I got here. But the good part is I saved Shiloh and opened my eyes some. 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