--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must honor our dragons, encourage them…" description: "\"We must honor our dragons, encourage them to be worthy destroyers, expect they'll strive to cut us down. It is their duty to ridicule us, it is their j..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/richard-bach-424_being-different_we-must-honor-our-dragons-encourage-them_446514.jpg" --- # We must honor our dragons, encourage them to be worthy… ![“We must honor our dragons, encourage them to be worthy destroyers, expect they'll strive to cut us down. It is their duty to ridicule us, it is their job to demean us, to force us if they can to stop being different! And when we walk our way no matter their fire and their fury, our dragons shrug…” quote by Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/richard-bach-424_being-different_we-must-honor-our-dragons-encourage-them_446514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/richard-bach-424_being-different_we-must-honor-our-dragons-encourage-them_446514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/richard-bach-424_being-different_we-must-honor-our-dragons-encourage-them_446514.jpg) > “We must honor our dragons, encourage them to be worthy destroyers, expect they'll strive to cut us down. It is their duty to ridicule us, it is their job to demean us, to force us if they can to stop being different! And when we walk our way no matter their fire and their fury, our dragons shrug when we're out of sight, return to their card-games philosophical: 'Ah well, we can't toast 'em all...'” [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dragons symbolize critics who challenge us; we must accept their role in testing and shaping us. **In simple terms:** Critics push us to grow; accept their role. Key Takeaway Learn from criticism rather than resist it. Themes growth criticism resilience Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative projects - personal setbacks - team conflicts - public scrutiny - career challenges Key Concepts mythology psychology self‑development Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate constructive feedback from harmful attacks? - What practices help you stay grounded when challenged? A Different Perspective Over‑identifying with criticism can erode self‑esteem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-different/) [Cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cards/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Destroyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyers/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragon/) [Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons/) [Dragons Encourage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons-encourage-3905692/) [Dragons Shrug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dragons-shrug-3905693/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-ridicule-3905694/) [Ems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ems/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Fury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fury/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Honor Dragons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-dragons-3905691/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Toasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toasts/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/) ## Related quotes > [I wish people had half the honor of dragons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/i-wish-people-had-half-the-honor-of-dragons/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [Anarchy wears two faces, both Creator and Destroyer. Thus Destroyers topple empires; make a canvas of clean rubble where creators can then build a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/anarchy-wears-two-faces-both-creator-and-destroyer-thus-destroyers/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [Many people are very, very concerned with the children in India, with the children in Africa where quite a number die, maybe of malnutrition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/many-people-are-very-very-concerned-with-the-children-in-india-with/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [People are eternally divided into two classes, the believer, builder, and praiser...and the unbeliever, destroyer and critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/people-are-eternally-divided-into-two-classes-the-believer-builder/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“It takes no genius to destroy. The creators, the givers, the lovers, the healers - these are the heroes who know - the building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-overmire/it-takes-no-genius-to-destroy-the-creators-the-givers-the-lovers-the/) [Laurence Overmire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-overmire/) > [He who abhors and shuns the light of the Sun,He who refuses to behold with respect the living creation of God,He who leads the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoroaster/he-who-abhors-and-shuns-the-light-of-the-sun-he-who-refuses-to-behold/) [Zoroaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoroaster/) > [The Battle for the Philippines was the greatest naval battle in history, judged in terms of the number of ships taking part, the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hough/the-battle-for-the-philippines-was-the-greatest-naval-battle-in/) [Richard Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hough/) > [Our whole evolution up to this point shows that human groups spontaneously evolve patterns of behavior, as well as patterns of training people for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-simon/our-whole-evolution-up-to-this-point-shows-that-human-groups/) [Julian Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-simon/) > [Those who murder fame Kill more than life destroyers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-savage/those-who-murder-fame-kill-more-than-life-destroyers/) [Richard Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-savage/) > [Marx and Freud are the two great destroyers of Christian civilization, the first replacing the gospel of love by the gospel of hate, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/marx-and-freud-are-the-two-great-destroyers-of-christian-civilization/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [Consistency in opinion is the slow poison of intellectual life, the destroyer of its vividness and energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/consistency-in-opinion-is-the-slow-poison-of-intellectual-life-the/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [Just as Americans have discovered the hidden energy costs in a multitude of products-in refrigerating a steak, for example, on its way to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-adler/just-as-americans-have-discovered-the-hidden-energy-costs-in-a/) [Jerry Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-adler/) > [Prejudices of any kind are the destroyers of human happiness & welfare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/prejudices-of-any-kind-are-the-destroyers-of-human-happiness-welfare/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/) [Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/) ## More by Richard Bach > [“Heaven is not a place, and it's not a time. Heaven is being perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/heaven-is-not-a-place-and-it-s-not-a-time-heaven-is-being-perfect/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [You'd chosen to be an upright biped on the surface of a small planet of a minor sun on the edge of a minor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/you-d-chosen-to-be-an-upright-biped-on-the-surface-of-a-small-planet/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Your harshest truths are dreams, and your gentlest dreams are true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/your-harshest-truths-are-dreams-and-your-gentlest-dreams-are-true/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“Happiness is a choice. It is not always an easy one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/happiness-is-a-choice-it-is-not-always-an-easy-one/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The world is a dream, you say, and it’s lovely, sometimes. Sunset. Clouds. Sky.” “No. The image is a dream. The beauty is real.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-world-is-a-dream-you-say-and-it-s-lovely-sometimes-sunset-clouds/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The original sin is to limit the Is. Don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-original-sin-is-to-limit-the-is-don-t/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Silly ideas, worth the admission price in smiles, but they're true. Is high-energy physics interesting because it's true or because it's crazy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/silly-ideas-worth-the-admission-price-in-smiles-but-they-re-true-is/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-best-way-to-pay-for-a-lovely-moment-is-to-enjoy-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/i-am-tired-of-clinging-though-i-cannot-see-it-with-my-eyes-i-trust/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don't like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/if-you-want-to-meet-someone-who-can-fix-any-situation-you-don-t-like/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The space for what you want is already filled with what you settled for instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-space-for-what-you-want-is-already-filled-with-what-you-settled/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Part of us is always the observer, and no matter what, it observes. It watches us. It does not care if we are happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/part-of-us-is-always-the-observer-and-no-matter-what-it-observes-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Kindle Singles is publishing on skates. It prints like lightning; our book meets readers in hours. I've spent so many years waiting for publishers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/kindle-singles-is-publishing-on-skates-it-prints-like-lightning-our/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Explore all 539 Richard Bach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## More Being different quotes > [You are no mistake. What makes you different is what makes you special, unique, original. You are a MASTERPIECE, a PIECE of the MASTER!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-w-griffin/you-are-no-mistake-what-makes-you-different-is-what-makes-you-special/) [Kenneth W Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-w-griffin/) > [Just because someone is different from yourself does not mean you should treat them badly. What you don't understand is not to be taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-bognar/just-because-someone-is-different-from-yourself-does-not-mean-you/) [Jenna Bognar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-bognar/) > [Not everyone is capable of madness; and of those lucky enough to be capable, not many have the courage for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/not-everyone-is-capable-of-madness-and-of-those-lucky-enough-to-be/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [You're trying too HARD to convince me that you're a TRUE friend & DEEP Down Inside you know you're not but you stick around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nisha-marie/you-re-trying-too-hard-to-convince-me-that-you-re-a-true-friend-deep/) [Ta'Nisha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nisha-marie/) > [I suppose what I look for most in a part, other than it being different than the part before, is: Does he interest me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-fox/i-suppose-what-i-look-for-most-in-a-part-other-than-it-being/) [Freddie Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-fox/) > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/every-one-of-us-is-in-the-cosmic-perspective-precious-if-a-human/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You all laugh because I am different. I laugh because you are all the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-all-laugh-because-i-am-different-i-laugh-because-you-are-all-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we are lucky enough to have something that makes us different from everybody else, dont change. Uniqueness is priceless. In this crazy world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-are-lucky-enough-to-have-something-that-makes-us-different-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always liked the idea of being different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo/i-ve-always-liked-the-idea-of-being-different/) [MO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo/) > [Don't be afraid to be different. Make your differences into advantages. It can and will work for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-to-be-different-make-your-differences-into-advantages/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tomorrow can be better or worse but will never be same as today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/tomorrow-can-be-better-or-worse-but-will-never-be-same-as-today/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [It takes a real man to love you differently from the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lita/it-takes-a-real-man-to-love-you-differently-from-the-rest/) [Lita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lita/) > [Sometimes being different is not going to be the most popular thing. 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