--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Butterflies are not insects,' Captain…" description: "\"Butterflies are not insects,' Captain John Sterling said soberly. 'They are self-propelled flowers.\" — Robert A. Heinlein" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/robert-a-heinlein-209_butterflies_butterflies-are-not-insects-captain-john_714346.jpg" --- # Butterflies are not insects,' Captain John Sterling said… ![“Butterflies are not insects,' Captain John Sterling said soberly. 'They are self-propelled flowers.” quote by Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/robert-a-heinlein-209_butterflies_butterflies-are-not-insects-captain-john_714346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/robert-a-heinlein-209_butterflies_butterflies-are-not-insects-captain-john_714346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ffb/robert-a-heinlein-209_butterflies_butterflies-are-not-insects-captain-john_714346.jpg) > “Butterflies are not insects,' Captain John Sterling said soberly. 'They are self-propelled flowers.” [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Butterflies are likened to moving flowers, emphasizing their beauty and graceful motion rather than their insect nature. **In simple terms:** Butterflies are beautiful, flower‑like creatures. Key Takeaway Appreciate elegance in unexpected forms. Themes beauty perception nature Mood wonderful reflective Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - gardening - artistic inspiration - environmental education Key Concepts metaphor aesthetic appreciation Questions to Reflect On - How does seeing beauty in small things change your view? - What other creatures could be described as living art? A Different Perspective Not all insects are pests; some inspire wonder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Butterflies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterflies/) [Butterflies Insects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterflies-insects-5627658/) [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Captains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captains/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Insects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insects/) [Insects Captain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insects-captain-5627657/) [Propelled Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propelled-flowers-3595350/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Sterling Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sterling-said-5627659/) ## Related quotes > [Butterflies are self propelled flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/butterflies-are-self-propelled-flowers/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Good morning," Owen said pleasantly, glad that he wasn't at all out of breath. "Should I e-mail you my schedule for the week so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-davitt/good-morning-owen-said-pleasantly-glad-that-he-wasn-t-at-all-out-of/) [Jane Davitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-davitt/) > [As I began researching butterflies, however, the monarch stood out among all of them. It's the only butterfly - the only insect - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/as-i-began-researching-butterflies-however-the-monarch-stood-out/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“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/) > [Large flocks of butterflies, all kinds of happy insects, seem to be in a perfect fever of joy and sportive gladness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/large-flocks-of-butterflies-all-kinds-of-happy-insects-seem-to-be-in/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“Cats, like butterflies, need no excuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/cats-like-butterflies-need-no-excuse/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Little girls, like butterflies, need no excuse,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/little-girls-like-butterflies-need-no-excuse/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, (cont. Specialization is for insects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/a-human-being-should-be-able-to-change-a-diaper-plan-an-invasion-cont/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [In handling a stinging insect, move very slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/in-handling-a-stinging-insect-move-very-slowly/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/a-human-being-should-be-able-to-change-a-diaper-plan-an-invasion/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Specialization is for insects... The race of man? He's a whole other creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/specialization-is-for-insects-the-race-of-man-he-s-a-whole-other/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I wish that I could be with you tonight, you give me butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-that-i-could-be-with-you-tonight-you-give-me-butterflies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I look over at the man in question and just the sight of him gives me butterflies.  No, not butterflies.  Butterflies don’t quite do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-herrera/i-look-over-at-the-man-in-question-and-just-the-sight-of-him-gives-me/) [Devon Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-herrera/) > [“When he stops giving you butterflies, Love dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-blanchard/when-he-stops-giving-you-butterflies-love-dies/) [Michelle Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-blanchard/) > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) ## More by Robert A. Heinlein > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [My folks tried to make a preacher of me and missed by a narrow margin… I would have made a good one if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/my-folks-tried-to-make-a-preacher-of-me-and-missed-by-a-narrow-margin/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ninety-percent-of-all-human-wisdom-is-the-ability-to-mind-your-own/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [If we blow ourselves up we will do it by misapplication of science; if we manage to keep from blowing ourselves up, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/if-we-blow-ourselves-up-we-will-do-it-by-misapplication-of-science-if/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Women will forgive anything. Otherwise, the race would have died out long ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/women-will-forgive-anything-otherwise-the-race-would-have-died-out/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/no-statement-should-be-believed-because-it-is-made-by-an-authority/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Some people are ants by nature; they have to work, even when it’s useless. Few people have a talent for constructive laziness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/some-people-are-ants-by-nature-they-have-to-work-even-when-it-s/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“The instinct to survive is human nature itself, and every aspect of our personalities derives from it. Anything that conflicts with the survival instinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-instinct-to-survive-is-human-nature-itself-and-every-aspect-of/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“I tried to dig out of the computer a call directory for Luna. But it was still sulking. I could not get it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-tried-to-dig-out-of-the-computer-a-call-directory-for-luna-but-it/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“this has more aspects than a cat has hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/this-has-more-aspects-than-a-cat-has-hair/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-own-more-than-you-can-carry-in-both-hands-at-a-dead-run/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“In Wilson's scale of evaluations breakfast rated just after life itself and ahead of the chance of immortality." ~ By His Bootstraps / Robert A. Heinlein”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/in-wilson-s-scale-of-evaluations-breakfast-rated-just-after-life/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Ignorance is curable, stupid is forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ignorance-is-curable-stupid-is-forever/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) [Explore all 888 Robert A. Heinlein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More Butterflies quotes > [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [“When he stops giving you butterflies, Love dies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-blanchard/when-he-stops-giving-you-butterflies-love-dies/) [Michelle Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-blanchard/) > [“I look over at the man in question and just the sight of him gives me butterflies.  No, not butterflies.  Butterflies don’t quite do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-herrera/i-look-over-at-the-man-in-question-and-just-the-sight-of-him-gives-me/) [Devon Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-herrera/) > [“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/) > [I wish that I could be with you tonight, you give me butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-that-i-could-be-with-you-tonight-you-give-me-butterflies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everytime I talk to a special person I get butterflies¥~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everytime-i-talk-to-a-special-person-i-get-butterflies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Butterflies don't know the color of their wings, but human eyes know how nice it is... Like wise you don't know 'how good you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thanisha/butterflies-don-t-know-the-color-of-their-wings-but-human-eyes-know/) [Thanisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thanisha/) > [I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. Mankind will surely not deny to Harold Skimpole what it concedes to the butterflies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-only-ask-to-be-free-the-butterflies-are-free-mankind-will-surely/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I've always loved butterflies, because they remind us that it's never too late to transform ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/i-ve-always-loved-butterflies-because-they-remind-us-that-it-s-never/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [“We all get butterflies Peter, it’s just a question of teaching them to fly in formation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-rosengard/we-all-get-butterflies-peter-it-s-just-a-question-of-teaching-them-to/) [Peter Rosengard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-rosengard/) > [I'm not a bug person, but something about butterflies I can handle because they're kind of cute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/i-m-not-a-bug-person-but-something-about-butterflies-i-can-handle/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [“You’re beautiful and charming, and I can’t stop thinking about last night.” No, he didn’t say that. Not exactly, anyway. What Sarah heard was,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-re-beautiful-and-charming-and-i-can-t-stop-thinking-about-last/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Chasing dreams is like chasing butterflies on an open field — the beauty is in the running, not the catching”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-j-forde/chasing-dreams-is-like-chasing-butterflies-on-an-open-field-the/) [Charmaine J Forde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-j-forde/) > [“Drake: "I know it;s love because I think of you night and day. I miss you when you are sitting right next to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-k-lewis/drake-i-know-it-s-love-because-i-think-of-you-night-and-day-i-miss/) [L.K. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-k-lewis/) > [“The most beautiful of butterflies is nothing but a well-dressed caterpillar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corina-abdulahm-negura/the-most-beautiful-of-butterflies-is-nothing-but-a-well-dressed/) [Corina Abdulahm Negura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corina-abdulahm-negura/) [Browse all 423 Butterflies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterflies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Butterflies are not insects,' Captain John Sterling said soberly. 'They are self-propelled flowers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert A. 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