--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as bees make honey from thyme, the…" description: "\"Just as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so do the wise profit from the most difficult of experiences.\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/plato-103_bees_just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-s_2408907.jpg" --- # Just as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and… ![“Just as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so do the wise profit from the most difficult of experiences.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/plato-103_bees_just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-s_2408907.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/plato-103_bees_just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-s_2408907.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/plato-103_bees_just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-s_2408907.jpg) > “Just as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so do the wise profit from the most difficult of experiences.” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens wise individuals to bees that turn the toughest herbs into honey, extracting value from hardship. **In simple terms:** Wisdom extracts value from difficult experiences. Key Takeaway Seek growth through challenges. Themes wisdom resilience adversity learning alchemy Mood thoughtful inspirational optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - education - coaching - creative problem solving Key Concepts philosophical transformation mental fortitude value creation Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a specific hardship into growth? - What practices cultivate resilience? A Different Perspective Not all hardships yield positive outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) [Profit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profit/) [Thyme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thyme/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [As bees extract honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so sensible men often get advantage and profit from the most awkward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/as-bees-extract-honey-from-thyme-the-strongest-and-driest-of-herbs-so/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [What kind of bees make milk? BOOBEES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-marbles/what-kind-of-bees-make-milk-boobees/) [Jenna Marbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-marbles/) > [Make yourself honey and the flies will devour you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/make-yourself-honey-and-the-flies-will-devour-you/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“There was an inexhaustible source of clouds in some land far to the north. Decisive people, minds fixed on the task, clothed in thick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-was-an-inexhaustible-source-of-clouds-in-some-land-far-to-the/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Do they know they make the honey for you? Or do they work tirelessly because they think its their own choice?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/do-they-know-they-make-the-honey-for-you-or-do-they-work-tirelessly/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [I go to books and to nature as the bee goes to a flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-go-to-books-and-to-nature-as-the-bee-goes-to-a-flower-for-a-nectar/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [I go to books and to nature as a bee goes to the flower, for a nectar that I can make into my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-go-to-books-and-to-nature-as-a-bee-goes-to-the-flower-for-a-nectar/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [We think we can make honey without sharing in the fate of bees, but we are in truth nothing but poor bees, destined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/we-think-we-can-make-honey-without-sharing-in-the-fate-of-bees-but-we/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [They say that am SWEET but the TRUTH is Bees can't make HONEY without FLOWERS, having her by my side FOR\_EVER I shall ALWAYS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/they-say-that-am-sweet-but-the-truth-is-bees-can-t-make-honey-without/) Junior Dè Rèál Testament > [What kinda bees make milk?.. Boo-bees!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-marbles/what-kinda-bees-make-milk-boo-bees/) [Jenna Marbles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-marbles/) > [I keep bees, I make all my own booze, from cider to beer to elderflower wines and all that, growing our own food, creating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bez/i-keep-bees-i-make-all-my-own-booze-from-cider-to-beer-to-elderflower/) [Bez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bez/) > [I know a place where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-know-a-place-where-the-wild-thyme-blows-where-oxlips-and-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Those herbs which perfume the air most delightfully, not passed by as the rest, but, being trodden upon and crushed, are three; that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/those-herbs-which-perfume-the-air-most-delightfully-not-passed-by-as/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Cold Mountain Buddhas Han Shan Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought: So the darkness shall be the light, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/cold-mountain-buddhas-han-shan-wait-without-thought-for-you-are-not/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [The scent organ was playing a delightfully refreshing Herbal Capriccio - rippling arpeggios of thyme and lavender, of rosemary, basil, myrtle, tarragon; a series…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-scent-organ-was-playing-a-delightfully-refreshing-herbal/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## 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 > [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": "Just as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so do the wise profit from the most difficult of experiences.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-strongest-and-driest-of-herbs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-strongest-and-driest-of-herbs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/plato-103_bees_just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-s_2408907.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/plato-103_bees_just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-s_2408907.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/plato-103_bees_just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-s_2408907.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as bees make honey from thyme, the strongest and driest of herbs, so do the wise profit from the most…” — Plato", "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": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Just as bees make honey from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-strongest-and-driest-of-herbs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/just-as-bees-make-honey-from-thyme-the-strongest-and-driest-of-herbs/#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 } } ] } ```