---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered…"
description: "\"No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down and landed next to them. “Six minus six is zero. Spears are good for subtraction, yep.\" — Rick Riordan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/rick-riordan-27_down-and_no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-dow_130161.jpg"
---

#  No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down and landed…

![“No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down and landed next to them. “Six minus six is zero. Spears are good for subtraction, yep.” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/rick-riordan-27_down-and_no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-dow_130161.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/rick-riordan-27_down-and_no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-dow_130161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/rick-riordan-27_down-and_no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-dow_130161.jpg)

> “No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down and landed next to them. “Six minus six is zero. Spears are good for subtraction, yep.”

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A playful line that mixes mythic references with a simple math joke, highlighting how tools can be used metaphorically for subtraction.

**In simple terms:** A mythic joke uses spears to illustrate subtraction.

Key Takeaway

Use humor to simplify concepts.

Themes

humor myth education mathematics

Mood

lighthearted playful

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

- teaching kids
- explaining math
- creative writing

Key Concepts

metaphor symbolism learning

Questions to Reflect On

- How does metaphor aid learning?
- What other objects could represent subtraction?

A Different Perspective

May confuse readers unfamiliar with the mythic reference.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Subtraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtraction/)

## Related quotes

> [Six minus six is zero. Spears are good for subtraction Ella said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/six-minus-six-is-zero-spears-are-good-for-subtraction-ella-said/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“With me: one minus one = one; with you: it’s zero. Here lies the only difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/with-me-one-minus-one-one-with-you-it-s-zero-here-lies-the-only/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [With me: one minus one = one; with you: its zero. Here lies the only difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/with-me-one-minus-one-one-with-you-its-zero-here-lies-the-only/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [“Its all about perception in life, For some One minus One = One &amp; for some its Zero.That's the only difference.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhysheq-shukla/its-all-about-perception-in-life-for-some-one-minus-one-one-for-some/)

[Abhysheq Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhysheq-shukla/)

> [My father said, '10 minus one is zero.' It means that even if you do good things 10 times, it is no use when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-bo-gum/my-father-said-10-minus-one-is-zero-it-means-that-even-if-you-do-good/)

[Park Bo-gum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-bo-gum/)

> [I shall argue that it is the capital stock from which we derive satisfaction, not from the additions to it (production) or the subtractions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/i-shall-argue-that-it-is-the-capital-stock-from-which-we-derive/)

[Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/)

> [Since Satan can't destroy the gospel, he has too often neutralized its usefulness by addition, subtraction or substitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/since-satan-can-t-destroy-the-gospel-he-has-too-often-neutralized-its/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [“Addition by subtraction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-fields-millburn/addition-by-subtraction/)

[Joshua Fields Millburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-fields-millburn/)

> [According to the celestial multiplication table, once one is three, and three times one is one, and according to heavenly subtraction if we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/according-to-the-celestial-multiplication-table-once-one-is-three-and-2/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [According to the celestial multiplication table, once one is three, and three times one is one, and according to heavenly subtraction if we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/according-to-the-celestial-multiplication-table-once-one-is-three-and/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [I think as technology and expertise makes possible these sort of amazing levels of fidelity to the real world, a lot of people sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoi-vinh/i-think-as-technology-and-expertise-makes-possible-these-sort-of/)

[Khoi Vinh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoi-vinh/)

> [Mystical additions and subtractions always come out the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/mystical-additions-and-subtractions-always-come-out-the-way-you-want/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [She can't do Subtraction." said the White Queen. "Can you do Division? Divide a loaf by a knife-what's the answer to that?" "I suppose-"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/she-can-t-do-subtraction-said-the-white-queen-can-you-do-division/)

[Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/)

> [It's all very Italian (and decidedly un-American): to insist that doing the right thing is the most pleasurable thing, and that the act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/it-s-all-very-italian-and-decidedly-un-american-to-insist-that-doing/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [Had my life increased, or merely added to itself? There had been addition and subtraction in my life, but how much multiplication?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/had-my-life-increased-or-merely-added-to-itself-there-had-been/)

[Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/)

## More by Rick Riordan

> [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

[Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

## More Down and quotes

> [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/)

[A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/)

> [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/)

[Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/)

> [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/)

[Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/)

> [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/)

[Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/)

> [Music is how I get free. It's a way to shut the rest of the world down and create your own world within it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-of-gab/music-is-how-i-get-free-it-s-a-way-to-shut-the-rest-of-the-world-down/)

Gift of Gab

> [Being funny is one of my greatest strengths. I can make girls smile when they're down, and when they're having a good time, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/being-funny-is-one-of-my-greatest-strengths-i-can-make-girls-smile/)

[John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/)

> [When I look at nature I feel as if I'll be able to paint it all, note it all down, and then you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/when-i-look-at-nature-i-feel-as-if-i-ll-be-able-to-paint-it-all-note/)

[Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/)

> [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [When an angel comes down and takes me away, memories of me and my songs will always stay until the end of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/when-an-angel-comes-down-and-takes-me-away-memories-of-me-and-my/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [I think there's too much mult-tasking going on. I think people need to quiet down and focus and be still more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-there-s-too-much-mult-tasking-going-on-i-think-people-need-to/)

[Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/)

> [I was so drunk last night I fell down and missed the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-martin/i-was-so-drunk-last-night-i-fell-down-and-missed-the-floor/)

[Dean Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-martin/)

> [There was a reason these boys were still alive, though. Something made them stronger than the other kids, the ones who had died in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-higson/there-was-a-reason-these-boys-were-still-alive-though-something-made/)

[Charlie Higson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-higson/)

Browse all 2,527 Down and quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down and landed next to them. “Six minus six is zero. Spears are good for subtraction, yep.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rick Riordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-down-and-landed-next-to-them-six/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Down and"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-down-and-landed-next-to-them-six/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/rick-riordan-27_down-and_no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-dow_130161.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/rick-riordan-27_down-and_no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-dow_130161.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e13/rick-riordan-27_down-and_no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-dow_130161.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down and landed next to them. “Six minus six is zero. Spears are good…” — Rick Riordan",
                "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": "Rick Riordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-down-and-landed-next-to-them-six/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-down-and-landed-next-to-them-six/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
