--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bee and the serpent often sip from…" description: "\"The bee and the serpent often sip from the selfsame flower.\" — Pietro Metastasio" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/pietro-metastasio-24319_bees_the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-t_1610641.jpg" --- # The bee and the serpent often sip from the selfsame flower. ![“The bee and the serpent often sip from the selfsame flower.” quote by Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/pietro-metastasio-24319_bees_the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-t_1610641.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/pietro-metastasio-24319_bees_the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-t_1610641.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/pietro-metastasio-24319_bees_the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-t_1610641.jpg) > “The bee and the serpent often sip from the selfsame flower.” [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Both the bee and the serpent share the same source, symbolizing unity despite differences. **In simple terms:** Opposites share common origins. Key Takeaway Seek common ground. Themes unity nature duality Mood thoughtful hopeful Type metaphorical spiritual When to use this quote - environmental stewardship - conflict resolution - ecology - mythology Key Concepts symbolism interconnectedness Questions to Reflect On - What shared values bridge your conflicts? - How can you honor diverse perspectives? A Different Perspective Differences may still cause tension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bee Serpent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bee-serpent-6142139/) [Bees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) [Comparison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comparison/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Honey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honey/) [Selfsame Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfsame-flower-6142141/) [Serpent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serpent/) [Serpent Sip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serpent-sip-6142140/) ## Related quotes > [The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting, For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. And the touch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-very-serpents-bite-their-tails-the-bees-forget-to-sting-for-a/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [“Intellectualism is a poor master over passion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twe-stephens/intellectualism-is-a-poor-master-over-passion/) [Twe Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twe-stephens/) > [And hence one master-passion in the breast, Like Aaron's serpent, swallows up the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/and-hence-one-master-passion-in-the-breast-like-aaron-s-serpent/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The afrit batted his eyelashes with a ostentatious lack of concern. "Indeed? Have you a name?" "A name?" I cried. "I have MANY names!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/the-afrit-batted-his-eyelashes-with-a-ostentatious-lack-of-concern/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Spiritual wisdom consists in finding out the subtleties, policies, and depths of any indwelling sin... to trace this serpent in all its turnings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/spiritual-wisdom-consists-in-finding-out-the-subtleties-policies-and/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“The Serpent raises its head from the water and slides onto the ice, the stars blazing above in the night sky. The Turtle sinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-chan/the-serpent-raises-its-head-from-the-water-and-slides-onto-the-ice/) [Kylie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-chan/) > [In Egypt the staff was rendered as a shepherd's crook that was a symbol for the pharaohs, the Druids of Egypt. The pharaohs wore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tsarion/in-egypt-the-staff-was-rendered-as-a-shepherd-s-crook-that-was-a/) [Michael Tsarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tsarion/) > [“When we see this worldwide occurrence of the Goddess and her Serpent, and then recall the ancient African Black Goddess, the Black Witch, imaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-sj/when-we-see-this-worldwide-occurrence-of-the-goddess-and-her-serpent/) [Monica Sjöö](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-sj/) > [Like the ocean is your god-self; It remains for ever undefiled. And like the ether it lifts but the winged. Even like the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/like-the-ocean-is-your-god-self-it-remains-for-ever-undefiled-and/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [LAOCOON, n. A famous piece of antique scripture representing a priest of that name and his two sons in the folds of two enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/laocoon-n-a-famous-piece-of-antique-scripture-representing-a-priest/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [An arrow may fly through the air and leave no trace; but an ill thought leaves a trail like a serpent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mackay/an-arrow-may-fly-through-the-air-and-leave-no-trace-but-an-ill/) [Charles Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mackay/) > [Let me explain: there are dragons, and then there are drakons. Drakons are several millennia older than dragons, andmuch larger. They look like giant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/let-me-explain-there-are-dragons-and-then-there-are-drakons-drakons/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When you favour a woman, she will want to return the favour in so many means, but its better to rupidiate such offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-favour-a-woman-she-will-want-to-return-the-favour-in-so-many/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [The serpent, the king, the tiger, the stinging wasp, the small child, the dog owned by other people, and the fool: these seven ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-serpent-the-king-the-tiger-the-stinging-wasp-the-small-child-the/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [“Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tis-given-out-that-sleeping-in-my-orchard-a-serpent-stung-me-so-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Pietro Metastasio > [High birth is an accident, not a virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/high-birth-is-an-accident-not-a-virtue/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The pilot who is always dreading a rock or a tempest must not complain if he remain a poor fisherman. We must at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-pilot-who-is-always-dreading-a-rock-or-a-tempest-must-not/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The canker which the trunk conceals is revealed by the leaves, the fruit, or the flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-canker-which-the-trunk-conceals-is-revealed-by-the-leaves-the/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [An old warrior is never in haste to strike the blow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/an-old-warrior-is-never-in-haste-to-strike-the-blow/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The aged oak upon the steep stands more firm and secure if assailed by angry winds; for if the winter bares its head, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-aged-oak-upon-the-steep-stands-more-firm-and-secure-if-assailed/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [The eye that gazes upon the sun sees not the orb it looks upon, confounded by the excess of its brightness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-eye-that-gazes-upon-the-sun-sees-not-the-orb-it-looks-upon/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [We are like vessels tossed on the bosom of the deep; our passions are the winds that sweep us impetuously forward; each pleasure is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/we-are-like-vessels-tossed-on-the-bosom-of-the-deep-our-passions-are/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Cowards' weapons neither cut nor pierce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/cowards-weapons-neither-cut-nor-pierce/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [It is the just decree of Heaven that a traitor never sees his danger till his ruin is at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/it-is-the-just-decree-of-heaven-that-a-traitor-never-sees-his-danger/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [If the internal griefs of every man could be read, written on his forehead, how many who now excite envy would appear to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-the-internal-griefs-of-every-man-could-be-read-written-on-his/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [It is by no means a fact that death is the worst of all evils; when it comes it is an alleviation to mortals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/it-is-by-no-means-a-fact-that-death-is-the-worst-of-all-evils-when-it/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Love is a feeling that comes into our hearts of our own choice for neither force nor harshness can limit the heart's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/love-is-a-feeling-that-comes-into-our-hearts-of-our-own-choice-for/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [How full of error is the judgment of mankind! They wonder at results when they are ignorant of the reasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/how-full-of-error-is-the-judgment-of-mankind-they-wonder-at-results/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) > [Every noble acquisition is attended with its risks; he who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/every-noble-acquisition-is-attended-with-its-risks-he-who-fears-to/) [Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) [Explore all 24 Pietro Metastasio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/) ## More Bees quotes > [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/) [Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [As the bee collecteth honey with great zest, so the fool collecteth wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/as-the-bee-collecteth-honey-with-great-zest-so-the-fool-collecteth/) [Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/) > [It is hard to imagine a world without bees. It would be even harder to live in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/it-is-hard-to-imagine-a-world-without-bees-it-would-be-even-harder-to/) [Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/) > [When I heard that the bees were in trouble, the fact that they're disappearing and not coming back to the hive, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-schwartzberg/when-i-heard-that-the-bees-were-in-trouble-the-fact-that-they-re/) [Louie Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-schwartzberg/) > [Precise, graceful, and generous, the poems in SuperLoop, seem to be born out of a deep, careful attention and a profound compassion. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-limon/precise-graceful-and-generous-the-poems-in-superloop-seem-to-be-born/) [Ada Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-limon/) > [The little bee returns with evening's gloom, To join her comrades in the braided hive, Where, housed beside their might honey-comb, They dream their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tennyson-turner/the-little-bee-returns-with-evening-s-gloom-to-join-her-comrades-in/) [Charles Tennyson Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tennyson-turner/) > [“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/) > [“Bees chase flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-l-shreve/bees-chase-flowers/) [Tracy L. Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-l-shreve/) > [My banks they are furnish'd with bees, Whose murmur invites one to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/my-banks-they-are-furnish-d-with-bees-whose-murmur-invites-one-to/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) > [There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-are-certain-pursuits-which-if-not-wholly-poetic-and-true-do-at/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Bee Gees are a fly-by-night sort of group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gibb/the-bee-gees-are-a-fly-by-night-sort-of-group/) [Barry Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gibb/) > [“I don't like to hear cut and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-to-hear-cut-and-dried-sermons-no-when-i-hear-a-man/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) [Browse all 770 Bees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The bee and the serpent often sip from the selfsame flower.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pietro Metastasio" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-the-selfsame-flower/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-the-selfsame-flower/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/pietro-metastasio-24319_bees_the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-t_1610641.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/pietro-metastasio-24319_bees_the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-t_1610641.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/331/pietro-metastasio-24319_bees_the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-t_1610641.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The bee and the serpent often sip from the selfsame flower.” — Pietro Metastasio", "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": "Pietro Metastasio", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The bee and the serpent often...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-the-selfsame-flower/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/the-bee-and-the-serpent-often-sip-from-the-selfsame-flower/#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 } } ] } ```