--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel like the caterpillar that we think…" description: "\"“I feel like the caterpillar that we think is making a choice when he eats or pupates but, in fact, is not. He's ruled by molecular forms of incluence ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/poppy-adams-51395_making-a-choice_i-feel-like-the-caterpillar-that-we-thin_2680612.jpg" --- # I feel like the caterpillar that we think is making a… ![“I feel like the caterpillar that we think is making a choice when he eats or pupates but, in fact, is not. He's ruled by molecular forms of incluence acting on the base components of a moth. Likewise, perhaps I have become a killer through circumstances acting on my biological make-up. Which…” quote by Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/poppy-adams-51395_making-a-choice_i-feel-like-the-caterpillar-that-we-thin_2680612.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/poppy-adams-51395_making-a-choice_i-feel-like-the-caterpillar-that-we-thin_2680612.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12b/poppy-adams-51395_making-a-choice_i-feel-like-the-caterpillar-that-we-thin_2680612.jpg) > ““I feel like the caterpillar that we think is making a choice when he eats or pupates but, in fact, is not. He's ruled by molecular forms of incluence acting on the base components of a moth. Likewise, perhaps I have become a killer through circumstances acting on my biological make-up. Which means, of course, that none of this is my fault and that it's all out of my hands.”” [Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker suggests that human behavior is largely determined by biology and environment, minimizing personal responsibility. **In simple terms:** Our actions are shaped by unseen forces, not free choice. Key Takeaway Recognize external influences on behavior. Themes determinism biology personal responsibility Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - mental health counseling - criminal justice reform - education on bias - personal reflection Key Concepts neuroscience philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How much control do we truly have? - Can awareness of determinants improve accountability? A Different Perspective It may overlook agency and the capacity for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caterpillar Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caterpillar-think-2577642/) [Components Moth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/components-moth-2577646/) [Like Caterpillar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-caterpillar-977215/) [Making a choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-choice/) [Moth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moth/) [Moth Likewise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moth-likewise-2577644/) ## Related quotes > [“Like it or not, a caterpillar must first live as a chrysalis before becoming a butterfly. Maybe I remember those days because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isao-takahata/like-it-or-not-a-caterpillar-must-first-live-as-a-chrysalis-before/) [Isao Takahata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isao-takahata/) > [All human beings have the ability to transform like a caterpillar emerging from its cocoon and taking to the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/all-human-beings-have-the-ability-to-transform-like-a-caterpillar/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I was raised in the home of da Cap Splitters, whip on 24's watch it crawl like a caterpillar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gudda-gudda/i-was-raised-in-the-home-of-da-cap-splitters-whip-on-24-s-watch-it/) [Gudda Gudda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gudda-gudda/) > [We go through these metamorphous just like a caterpillar does before becoming a butterfly and the middle of that metamorphosis it always feels uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-assaraf/we-go-through-these-metamorphous-just-like-a-caterpillar-does-before/) [John Assaraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-assaraf/) > [If we're so smart and so much better than all the animals, and man rules the world, why can't we just change all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/if-we-re-so-smart-and-so-much-better-than-all-the-animals-and-man/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Trust to Transform. LET GO¦like a Caterpillar that eventually turns into a beautiful Butterfly.-RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/trust-to-transform-let-go-like-a-caterpillar-that-eventually-turns-2/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [Trust to Transform. LET GO¦like a Caterpillar that eventually turns into a beautiful Butterfly.-RVM ªInspiration¬ ªstayinspired¬](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/trust-to-transform-let-go-like-a-caterpillar-that-eventually-turns/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [“I think of it like a caterpillar--a wrinkly, ugly worm with traces of dull colors on it. But when the worm metamorphoses, it becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-walter-ellwood/i-think-of-it-like-a-caterpillar-a-wrinkly-ugly-worm-with-traces-of/) [Sara Walter Ellwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-walter-ellwood/) > [“Failure is like a caterpillar before it becomes a butterfly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peta-kelly/failure-is-like-a-caterpillar-before-it-becomes-a-butterfly/) [Peta Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peta-kelly/) > [“The space that I can call mine is so small that my ideas have become small. I am like a caterpillar in a cocoon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/the-space-that-i-can-call-mine-is-so-small-that-my-ideas-have-become-2/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Your beautiful mouth was moving like a caterpillar. I reached out and tried to catch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-christopher/your-beautiful-mouth-was-moving-like-a-caterpillar-i-reached-out-and/) [Lucy Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-christopher/) > [“So butterflies make us remember, don't they...That life is good no matter what. Because just like the caterpillar, the best days are ahead od…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury-ocean-s-apart/so-butterflies-make-us-remember-don-t-they-that-life-is-good-no/) [Karen Kingsbury Ocean's Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury-ocean-s-apart/) > [I would love to have access to a company like Caterpillar. I would make all their stuff remote controlled and work ten times as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hyneman/i-would-love-to-have-access-to-a-company-like-caterpillar-i-would/) [Jamie Hyneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hyneman/) > [“There are responses which originate from joy. Intuition can also mean an instant recognition of a truth, sensing that you are doing the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-clare/there-are-responses-which-originate-from-joy-intuition-can-also-mean/) [Sylvia Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-clare/) > [“When you finally get down to making a choice from your narrowed-down list of alternatives, and you’ve cognitively evaluated the issues, and emotionally and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/when-you-finally-get-down-to-making-a-choice-from-your-narrowed-down/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) ## More by Poppy Adams > [“Once you decide on the best poison for the termination, you must work out the correct concentration. For instance, I know that five milligrams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-adams/once-you-decide-on-the-best-poison-for-the-termination-you-must-work/) [Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) > [“A moth is such a simple machine in the animal world - the go-kart to the modern car - and it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-adams/a-moth-is-such-a-simple-machine-in-the-animal-world-the-go-kart-to/) [Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) > [“I wasn't quick-witted or confident enough to play them at their cruel games. I'd feel the heat rush to my face as I flumbed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-adams/i-wasn-t-quick-witted-or-confident-enough-to-play-them-at-their-cruel/) [Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) > [“Is it really necessary to record your life in order to make it worthwhile or commendable? Is it worthless to die without reference? Surely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-adams/is-it-really-necessary-to-record-your-life-in-order-to-make-it/) [Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) > [“I love her and hate her at the same time. I even love the parts of her that I hate, her vitality and her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-adams/i-love-her-and-hate-her-at-the-same-time-i-even-love-the-parts-of-her/) [Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) > [ “Clive convinced himself that it wouldn’t be long before we’d be able to predict all their \[the moths\] equations of cause and effect, then… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-adams/clive-convinced-himself-that-it-wouldn-t-be-long-before-we-d-be-able/) [Poppy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) [Explore all 7 Poppy Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-adams/) ## More Making a choice quotes > [“When you finally get down to making a choice from your narrowed-down list of alternatives, and you’ve cognitively evaluated the issues, and emotionally and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/when-you-finally-get-down-to-making-a-choice-from-your-narrowed-down/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“There are responses which originate from joy. Intuition can also mean an instant recognition of a truth, sensing that you are doing the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-clare/there-are-responses-which-originate-from-joy-intuition-can-also-mean/) [Sylvia Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-clare/) > [Commitment is not a barrier to freedom. Commitment is the \*exercise\* of freedom, the act of making a choice or decision and meaning it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/commitment-is-not-a-barrier-to-freedom-commitment-is-the-exercise-of/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [You have unlimited potential to bring peace and abundance to the world, and its as simple as making a choice. Perfection is a process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-adams/you-have-unlimited-potential-to-bring-peace-and-abundance-to-the/) [Brandon Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-adams/) > [“She cried, 'No choice! No choice!' She doesn't know. If she doesn't speak, she is making a choice. If she doesn't try, she can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/she-cried-no-choice-no-choice-she-doesn-t-know-if-she-doesn-t-speak/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [I don't think suicide is so terrible. Some rainy winter Sundays when there's a little boredom, you should always carry a gun. Not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-wertmuller/i-don-t-think-suicide-is-so-terrible-some-rainy-winter-sundays-when/) [Lina Wertmuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-wertmuller/) > [You have to continuously make choices throughout your life. Whether it is made consciously or unconsciously, by making a choice means that you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/you-have-to-continuously-make-choices-throughout-your-life-whether-it/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“As Chafer said, long ago, “If men go to perdition it will be because every possible mercy from God has been resisted.”3 I cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/as-chafer-said-long-ago-if-men-go-to-perdition-it-will-be-because/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [There were the physical challenges of hitchhiking across Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as they were quite dangerous areas. I wrote about that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/there-were-the-physical-challenges-of-hitchhiking-across-turkey-iran/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“But today I'm indifferent. And with this comes a glimmer of understanding: I can pick and choose what I absorb and what I deflect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hafner/but-today-i-m-indifferent-and-with-this-comes-a-glimmer-of/) [Katie Hafner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hafner/) > [Anyone that chooses to be an actor or politician is making a choice to lead their life in the public eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/anyone-that-chooses-to-be-an-actor-or-politician-is-making-a-choice/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [Every time you're making a choice, one choice is the safe/comfortable choice - and one choice is the risky/uncomfortable choice. the risky/uncomfortable choice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/every-time-you-re-making-a-choice-one-choice-is-the-safe-comfortable/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [“So few people are really aware of their thoughts. Their minds run all over the place without their permission, and they go along for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-m-sterner/so-few-people-are-really-aware-of-their-thoughts-their-minds-run-all/) [Thomas M. Sterner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-m-sterner/) > [“Making a choice is a powerful privilege. Accepting one is strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/making-a-choice-is-a-powerful-privilege-accepting-one-is-strength/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [If she doesn't speak, she is making a choice. If she doesn't try, she can lose her chance forever. -An-mei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/if-she-doesn-t-speak-she-is-making-a-choice-if-she-doesn-t-try-she/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) [Browse all 72 Making a choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I feel like the caterpillar that we think is making a choice when he eats or pupates but, in fact, is not. He's ruled by molecular forms of incluence acting on the base components of a moth. Likewise, perhaps I have become a killer through circumstances acting on my biological make-up. 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