--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If dandelions were rare and fragile…" description: "\"If dandelions were rare and fragile, people would knock themselves out to pay $14.95 a plant, raise them by hand in greenhouses, and form dandelion soc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/robert-fulghum-1807_dandelions_if-dandelions-were-rare-and-fragile-peop_2553488.png" --- # If dandelions were rare and fragile, people would knock… ![“If dandelions were rare and fragile, people would knock themselves out to pay $14.95 a plant, raise them by hand in greenhouses, and form dandelion societies and all that. But, they are everywhere and don't need us and kind of do what they please. So we call them weeds and murder them at every…” quote by Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/robert-fulghum-1807_dandelions_if-dandelions-were-rare-and-fragile-peop_2553488.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/robert-fulghum-1807_dandelions_if-dandelions-were-rare-and-fragile-peop_2553488.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44a/robert-fulghum-1807_dandelions_if-dandelions-were-rare-and-fragile-peop_2553488.png) > “If dandelions were rare and fragile, people would knock themselves out to pay $14.95 a plant, raise them by hand in greenhouses, and form dandelion societies and all that. But, they are everywhere and don't need us and kind of do what they please. So we call them weeds and murder them at every opportunity” [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We value scarcity, so we overprice and protect things that are abundant and self-sufficient, while neglecting them. **In simple terms:** We overvalue rare things and ignore common ones. Key Takeaway Recognize true worth beyond rarity. Themes value rarity human behavior environment economics Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - marketing - product pricing - conservation - gardening - policy making Key Concepts scarcity mindset consumerism ecology Questions to Reflect On - How does scarcity bias affect your decisions? - What would change if you valued common things? A Different Perspective Abundance can be taken for granted, leading to wasteful practices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dandelions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dandelions/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Fragile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fragile/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Weeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weeds/) ## Related quotes > [When you look at a field of dandelions you can either see a hundred weeds or a hundred wishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-look-at-a-field-of-dandelions-you-can-either-see-a-hundred/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world. If dandelions were hard to grow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mason/flowers-are-a-proud-assertion-that-a-ray-of-beauty-out-values-all-the/) [Andrew Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mason/) > [Never overlook wallflower at dance; may be dandelion in grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/never-overlook-wallflower-at-dance-may-be-dandelion-in-grass/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“The interruption did nothing but earn her a similar slap, as I’m sure she knew it would. Sometimes I wondered if my mother spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-interruption-did-nothing-but-earn-her-a-similar-slap-as-i-m-sure/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [She spotted a lone dandelion,and it crossed her mind that a younger Luce would have pounced on it and then made a wish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/she-spotted-a-lone-dandelion-and-it-crossed-her-mind-that-a-younger/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [“Have you ever felt as if your dreams were more memorable, more alive, than what you knew to be reality? Have your dreams ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/have-you-ever-felt-as-if-your-dreams-were-more-memorable-more-alive/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Just as doubt, despair, and desensitization go together, so do faith, hope, and charity. The latter, however, must be carefully and constantly nurtured, whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/just-as-doubt-despair-and-desensitization-go-together-so-do-faith/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [And there, row upon row, with the soft gleam of flowers opened at morning, with the light of this June sun glowing through a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/and-there-row-upon-row-with-the-soft-gleam-of-flowers-opened-at/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Dandelions are just friendly little weeds who only want to be loved like flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-babcock/dandelions-are-just-friendly-little-weeds-who-only-want-to-be-loved/) [Heather Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-babcock/) > [“The Bond Between Cousins Cannot Be Broken!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-howe/the-bond-between-cousins-cannot-be-broken/) Lydia Howe > [I am not a lover of lawns. Rather would I see daisies in their thousands, ground ivy, hawkweed, and even the hated plantain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-hudson/i-am-not-a-lover-of-lawns-rather-would-i-see-daisies-in-their/) [William Henry Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-hudson/) > [So much love, too much love, it is our madness, it is rotting us out, exploding us like dandelion polls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/so-much-love-too-much-love-it-is-our-madness-it-is-rotting-us-out/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“My fingers combed through my dark hair, short and straight, landing in choppy, uneven ends nearly level with my chin. The color reminded me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/my-fingers-combed-through-my-dark-hair-short-and-straight-landing-in/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I wish I could close my eyes and be blown into dust and nothingness, feel all my thoughts disperse like dandelion fluff drifting off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wish-i-could-close-my-eyes-and-be-blown-into-dust-and-nothingness-2/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Dandelion wine. The words were summer on the tongue. The wine was summer caught and stoppered...sealed away for opening on a January day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/dandelion-wine-the-words-were-summer-on-the-tongue-the-wine-was/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by Robert Fulghum > [to understand our love they'd have to turn the world upside down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/to-understand-our-love-they-d-have-to-turn-the-world-upside-down/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/what-does-it-profit-a-man-if-he-gains-the-whole-world-and-loses-his/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-words-will-break-our-hearts/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Life is. I am. Anything might happen. And I believe I may invest my life with meaning. The uncertainty is a blessing in disguise.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/life-is-i-am-anything-might-happen-and-i-believe-i-may-invest-my-life/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Weddings seem to be magnets for mishap and for whatever craziness lurks in family closets. In more ways than one, weddings bring out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/weddings-seem-to-be-magnets-for-mishap-and-for-whatever-craziness/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [I don't think there is a hidden purpose to the universe that you have to puzzle out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/i-don-t-think-there-is-a-hidden-purpose-to-the-universe-that-you-have/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [The name is not important anymore - it's the tone that counts. I feel like an old dog I know. He will come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/the-name-is-not-important-anymore-it-s-the-tone-that-counts-i-feel/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“Nobody goes "AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" when they sing it. Maybe because it puts the life adventure in such clear and simple terms. The small creature is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/nobody-goes-aaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhh-when-they-sing-it-maybe-because/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there at the sandpile at Sunday School.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/wisdom-was-not-at-the-top-of-the-graduate-school-mountain-but-there/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [You are free to give life meaning, whatever meaning you want to give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/you-are-free-to-give-life-meaning-whatever-meaning-you-want-to-give-it/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [If we could just figure out how to have more fun at it, maybe more of us would join the ranks of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/if-we-could-just-figure-out-how-to-have-more-fun-at-it-maybe-more-of/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Sometimes during the day, I consciously focus on some ordinary object and allow myself a momentary "paying-attention." This paying-attention gives meaning to my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sometimes-during-the-day-i-consciously-focus-on-some-ordinary-object/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [All I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten. Share everything ... Don't hit people ... Clean up your own mess ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/all-i-ever-needed-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten-share-everything/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [No. I was an only child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/no-i-was-an-only-child/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [You feel like an ant contemplating Chicago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/you-feel-like-an-ant-contemplating-chicago/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) [Explore all 206 Robert Fulghum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) ## More Dandelions quotes > [Dandelion wine. The words were summer on the tongue. The wine was summer caught and stoppered...sealed away for opening on a January day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/dandelion-wine-the-words-were-summer-on-the-tongue-the-wine-was/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I wish I could close my eyes and be blown into dust and nothingness, feel all my thoughts disperse like dandelion fluff drifting off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wish-i-could-close-my-eyes-and-be-blown-into-dust-and-nothingness-2/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“My fingers combed through my dark hair, short and straight, landing in choppy, uneven ends nearly level with my chin. The color reminded me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/my-fingers-combed-through-my-dark-hair-short-and-straight-landing-in/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [So much love, too much love, it is our madness, it is rotting us out, exploding us like dandelion polls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/so-much-love-too-much-love-it-is-our-madness-it-is-rotting-us-out/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I am not a lover of lawns. Rather would I see daisies in their thousands, ground ivy, hawkweed, and even the hated plantain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-hudson/i-am-not-a-lover-of-lawns-rather-would-i-see-daisies-in-their/) [William Henry Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-hudson/) > [“The Bond Between Cousins Cannot Be Broken!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-howe/the-bond-between-cousins-cannot-be-broken/) Lydia Howe > [“Dandelions are just friendly little weeds who only want to be loved like flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-babcock/dandelions-are-just-friendly-little-weeds-who-only-want-to-be-loved/) [Heather Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-babcock/) > [And there, row upon row, with the soft gleam of flowers opened at morning, with the light of this June sun glowing through a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/and-there-row-upon-row-with-the-soft-gleam-of-flowers-opened-at/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Just as doubt, despair, and desensitization go together, so do faith, hope, and charity. The latter, however, must be carefully and constantly nurtured, whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/just-as-doubt-despair-and-desensitization-go-together-so-do-faith/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“Have you ever felt as if your dreams were more memorable, more alive, than what you knew to be reality? Have your dreams ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/have-you-ever-felt-as-if-your-dreams-were-more-memorable-more-alive/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [She spotted a lone dandelion,and it crossed her mind that a younger Luce would have pounced on it and then made a wish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/she-spotted-a-lone-dandelion-and-it-crossed-her-mind-that-a-younger/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [“The interruption did nothing but earn her a similar slap, as I’m sure she knew it would. Sometimes I wondered if my mother spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-interruption-did-nothing-but-earn-her-a-similar-slap-as-i-m-sure/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Never overlook wallflower at dance; may be dandelion in grass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/never-overlook-wallflower-at-dance-may-be-dandelion-in-grass/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Flowers are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world. If dandelions were hard to grow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mason/flowers-are-a-proud-assertion-that-a-ray-of-beauty-out-values-all-the/) [Andrew Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mason/) > [I'm allergic to family occasions. Sometimes I think we'd do better as dandelion seeds-no family, no history, just floating off into the world, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-m-allergic-to-family-occasions-sometimes-i-think-we-d-do-better-as/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) [Browse all 98 Dandelions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dandelions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If dandelions were rare and fragile, people would knock themselves out to pay $14.95 a plant, raise them by hand in greenhouses, and form dandelion societies and all that. But, they are everywhere and don't need us and kind of do what they please. 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