--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The word pierced him like a mouse fang." description: "\"“The word pierced him like a mouse fang.”\" — Samuel R. Delany" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/samuel-r-delany-2591_fang_the-word-pierced-him-like-a-mouse-fang-1_1157634.png" --- # The word pierced him like a mouse fang. ![“The word pierced him like a mouse fang.” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/samuel-r-delany-2591_fang_the-word-pierced-him-like-a-mouse-fang-1_1157634.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/samuel-r-delany-2591_fang_the-word-pierced-him-like-a-mouse-fang-1_1157634.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/samuel-r-delany-2591_fang_the-word-pierced-him-like-a-mouse-fang-1_1157634.png) > ““The word pierced him like a mouse fang.”” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A simple word can cause deep, unexpected pain, akin to a tiny but sharp injury **In simple terms:** Words can wound sharply, like a tiny fang Key Takeaway Choose words carefully to avoid hidden harm Themes communication pain precision Mood thoughtful somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - public speaking - written criticism - media messaging Key Concepts linguistic impact emotional injury Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your words heal rather than hurt? - When have you felt a word cut deeply? A Different Perspective May overstate metaphorical impact of language ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fang/) [Fangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fangs/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Like Mouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-mouse-940550/) [Mice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mice/) [Mouse Fang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouse-fang-3300105/) [Pierced Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pierced-like-3300107/) [Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shock/) [Word Pierced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-pierced-3300106/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > ['know what? I am going to do something today. I'm not just gonna sit around like some old lady. I'm gonna get something pierced.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-green/know-what-i-am-going-to-do-something-today-i-m-not-just-gonna-sit/) [Rachel Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-green/) > [Fang and I are always fighting. When we get up in the morning, we don't kiss; we touch gloves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/fang-and-i-are-always-fighting-when-we-get-up-in-the-morning-we-don-t/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [For Fang, getting out of bed in the morning is a career move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/for-fang-getting-out-of-bed-in-the-morning-is-a-career-move/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [Man, you weigh a freaking ton. What have you been eating, rocks?" \* Max: "Why, is your head missing some?" o Chapter 68 p.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/man-you-weigh-a-freaking-ton-what-have-you-been-eating-rocks-max-why/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“There is one bright side to this," said Fang. Yeah? What's that?" The new and improved Erasers would mutilate us before they killed us?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-is-one-bright-side-to-this-said-fang-yeah-what-s-that-the-new/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [It's true Fang and I fight, but we've never gone to bed mad. Of course, one year we were up for three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/it-s-true-fang-and-i-fight-but-we-ve-never-gone-to-bed-mad-of-course/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [Peer pressure is like a mouse, it gnaws though the door till it finds its way through, only if we kill it before its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awele-emili/peer-pressure-is-like-a-mouse-it-gnaws-though-the-door-till-it-finds/) [Awele Emili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awele-emili/) > [“I'll be damned if I act like a mouse, you overgrown tomcat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-daniels/i-ll-be-damned-if-i-act-like-a-mouse-you-overgrown-tomcat/) [J.C. Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-daniels/) > [“I felt like a mouse running through one of those cardboard mazes. I didn't have to think about anything I did. My body just...went.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-k-leppert/i-felt-like-a-mouse-running-through-one-of-those-cardboard-mazes-i/) [Alicia K. Leppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-k-leppert/) > [“His gaze made her feel like a mouse in owl-country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/his-gaze-made-her-feel-like-a-mouse-in-owl-country/) [Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/) > [“A pink razor is like a mouse, where ever it is the pussy will follow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-ellis/a-pink-razor-is-like-a-mouse-where-ever-it-is-the-pussy-will-follow/) [Helen Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-ellis/) > [He raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. "You need to relax a bit, dove. Like Mouse over there. You trust me, don't you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-raised-his-hand-in-a-peaceful-gesture-you-need-to-relax-a-bit-dove/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [And I like a mouse who has taken a cat for its tutor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-grahame-smith/and-i-like-a-mouse-who-has-taken-a-cat-for-its-tutor/) [Seth Grahame-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-grahame-smith/) > [Fang swerved closer to me, big and supremely graceful, like a black panther with wings. Oh, God. I'm so stupid. Forget I just said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/fang-swerved-closer-to-me-big-and-supremely-graceful-like-a-black/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“My dear Lady Kroesig, I have only read one book in my life, and that is ‘White Fang.’ It’s so frightfully good I’ve never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/my-dear-lady-kroesig-i-have-only-read-one-book-in-my-life-and-that-is/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) ## More by Samuel R. Delany > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > ['You spin in the sky, the world spins under you, and you step from land to land, while we . . .' She turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/you-spin-in-the-sky-the-world-spins-under-you-and-you-step-from-land/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [What you are will make you what you will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/what-you-are-will-make-you-what-you-will-become/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“People probably do hear watches go tic-tok. But I’m sure my childhood clock went tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic…Why”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/people-probably-do-hear-watches-go-tic-tok-but-i-m-sure-my-childhood/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“I wanted to get out, Vyme, to keep going and not be trapped, to be free… only I was cruel. I had the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-wanted-to-get-out-vyme-to-keep-going-and-not-be-trapped-to-be-free/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [A number of things in 'Dhalgren' are just meant to function as mysteries. They're mysteries when the book begins, and they're mysteries when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-number-of-things-in-dhalgren-are-just-meant-to-function-as/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [The pulp hero, though he may be a renegade, is a guy who doesn't feel. Anything. Ever. And for the adolescent male - pummeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/the-pulp-hero-though-he-may-be-a-renegade-is-a-guy-who-doesn-t-feel/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. When what is and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/when-what-is-is-congruent-to-what-is-supposed-the-reaction-is/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Since I spent eighteen years of my life as a child, and nine years of that life as a pretty sexually active gay child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/since-i-spent-eighteen-years-of-my-life-as-a-child-and-nine-years-of/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) [Explore all 158 Samuel R. Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## More Fang quotes > [“My dear Lady Kroesig, I have only read one book in my life, and that is ‘White Fang.’ It’s so frightfully good I’ve never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mitford/my-dear-lady-kroesig-i-have-only-read-one-book-in-my-life-and-that-is/) [Nancy Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mitford/) > [Fang swerved closer to me, big and supremely graceful, like a black panther with wings. Oh, God. I'm so stupid. Forget I just said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/fang-swerved-closer-to-me-big-and-supremely-graceful-like-a-black/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [The house was on fire," i greeted them tersely. "In case you're interested." they both glanced up overhead as if to make sure the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-house-was-on-fire-i-greeted-them-tersely-in-case-you-re/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“Maybe it was because of Fang’s genderfluidity that compartmentalisation of her Vigilante self came so easily to her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kan/maybe-it-was-because-of-fang-s-genderfluidity-that/) [Michelle Kan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kan/) > [Fang, fang. I love you. I looooove you. I love you thiiiiiiiiiis much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/fang-fang-i-love-you-i-looooove-you-i-love-you-thiiiiiiiiiis-much/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [“Don’t you growl at me White Fang, I’ll have you neutered and de-clawed so fast you won’t know what hit you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/don-t-you-growl-at-me-white-fang-i-ll-have-you-neutered-and-de-clawed/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [“White Fang was glad to acknowledge his lordship, but it was lordship based upon superior intelligence and brute strength...There were deeps in his nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/white-fang-was-glad-to-acknowledge-his-lordship-but-it-was-lordship/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [“Tro ikke mørket når lyset går ned i skumringens fang. Alltid er det på jorden et sted soloppgang.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-bjerke/tro-ikke-m-rket-n-r-lyset-g-r-ned-i-skumringens-fang-alltid-er-det-p/) [André Bjerke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-bjerke/) > [For Fang, getting out of bed in the morning is a career move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/for-fang-getting-out-of-bed-in-the-morning-is-a-career-move/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [You looove me. (holds out arms) You love me this much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/you-looove-me-holds-out-arms-you-love-me-this-much/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I hate you!” I screamed at Fang. Tucking my wings in, I aimed downward, diving toward the ground at more than two hundred miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-hate-you-i-screamed-at-fang-tucking-my-wings-in-i-aimed-downward/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [It's okay, Ig." said Fang. "Just give it your best shot." Sometimes the Fangster is incredibly supportive, just not with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-s-okay-ig-said-fang-just-give-it-your-best-shot-sometimes-the/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [What are you, Zen Master Fang?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/what-are-you-zen-master-fang/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Well, well, what have we here? A piece of Katagari trash that’s taken up refuge with the bears? (Stone) No, just a wolf who’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/well-well-what-have-we-here-a-piece-of-katagari-trash-that-s-taken-up/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I see time away hasn’t made you any more charming. (Fang) Oh, I can be charming. I just choose not to. People start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-see-time-away-hasn-t-made-you-any-more-charming-fang-oh-i-can-be/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) [Browse all 105 Fang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fang/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The word pierced him like a mouse fang.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel R. 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