--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant…" description: "\"Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant and disturbing.\" — Sarah Zettel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/sarah-zettel-12795_brilliant_octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-an_2969596.png" --- # Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant and disturbing. ![“Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant and disturbing.” quote by Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/sarah-zettel-12795_brilliant_octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-an_2969596.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/sarah-zettel-12795_brilliant_octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-an_2969596.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/sarah-zettel-12795_brilliant_octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-an_2969596.png) > “Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant and disturbing.” [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Octavia Butler is praised for her brilliance and unsettling themes, highlighting her impact on speculative fiction. **In simple terms:** Butler is brilliant and unsettling. Key Takeaway Recognize and explore challenging ideas. Themes literature speculative fiction author influence Mood thoughtful intrigued Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - reading Butler's works - discussing her themes in class - writing inspired by her style Key Concepts brilliance disturbance cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - How does unsettling content affect readers? - What makes brilliance unsettling? A Different Perspective May overlook her broader social commentary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Brilliant Disturbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant-disturbing-4564466/) [Butlers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butlers/) [Course Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/course-brilliant-4564467/) [Disturbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disturbing/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/octavia-butler-230020/) ## Related quotes > [I already optioned a book called The Personal History of Rachel DuPree. I also like The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-already-optioned-a-book-called-the-personal-history-of-rachel/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [I like to read Octavia E. Butler's 'Wild Seed' over and over again. And J. California Cooper's 'The Wake of the Wind.' That one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-like-to-read-octavia-e-butler-s-wild-seed-over-and-over-again-and-j/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genna-rulon/sometimes-being-a-friend-means-mastering-the-art-of-timing-there-is-a/) [Genna Rulon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genna-rulon/) > [As far as I'm concerned, 'whom' is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/as-far-as-i-m-concerned-whom-is-a-word-that-was-invented-to-make/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [In the end I came to see that the true prophet of the modern world was Samuel Butler: when he suggested that the machine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aickman/in-the-end-i-came-to-see-that-the-true-prophet-of-the-modern-world/) [Robert Aickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aickman/) > [over protective? a butler in a grade- B movie? someones jewish mother? you got it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/over-protective-a-butler-in-a-grade-b-movie-someones-jewish-mother/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [Butler is branded a felon, an outlaw, an enemy of Mankind, and so ordered that in the event of his capture, the officer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-davis/butler-is-branded-a-felon-an-outlaw-an-enemy-of-mankind-and-so/) [Jefferson Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-davis/) > [During a mock battle attended by President Warren Harding in 1921, Marine Corps General Smedley D. Butler exhumed the arm \[of Stonewall Jackson; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-horwitz/during-a-mock-battle-attended-by-president-warren-harding-in-1921/) [Tony Horwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-horwitz/) > [Perriwickturned to Penelope as he set the tray down on a table. "If I might be so bold, my lady-" "Perriwick!" Blake roared. "If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/perriwickturned-to-penelope-as-he-set-the-tray-down-on-a-table-if-i/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? Wise men never say anything else apparently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/why-does-samuel-butler-say-wise-men-never-say-what-they-think-of/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) ## More by Sarah Zettel > [Then, I realized that there is an indigenous presence in the Solar System. It's us. So, then, I got to wondering what would happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/then-i-realized-that-there-is-an-indigenous-presence-in-the-solar/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [When I'm not at the keyboard, I'm generally reading, practicing tai chi or middle eastern dance, or cooking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/when-i-m-not-at-the-keyboard-i-m-generally-reading-practicing-tai-chi/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“What's it like where they live?" "It's everything you want it to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/what-s-it-like-where-they-live-it-s-everything-you-want-it-to-be/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [So, one of the things I was doing with the aliens in The Quiet Invasion was creating that advanced society which had ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/so-one-of-the-things-i-was-doing-with-the-aliens-in-the-quiet/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“Sometimes it's not good for people to find out who you really are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/sometimes-it-s-not-good-for-people-to-find-out-who-you-really-are/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I have to do more close research and fact checking for the science fiction. This is not however to say that writing good fantasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-have-to-do-more-close-research-and-fact-checking-for-the-science/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I feel SF is going through an experimental phase right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-feel-sf-is-going-through-an-experimental-phase-right-now/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [When I was in college, I spent a summer working in London. I'd enjoyed tea before that, but then I got actual, really good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/when-i-was-in-college-i-spent-a-summer-working-in-london-i-d-enjoyed/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“They were beautiful beyond words, beautiful beyond understanding. So beautiful, I wanted to tear out my heart and hand it over, because after seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/they-were-beautiful-beyond-words-beautiful-beyond-understanding-so/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [Now, Venus is an extremely hostile environment, and as such presents a lot of challenges for a science fiction author who wants to create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/now-venus-is-an-extremely-hostile-environment-and-as-such-presents-a/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [First and foremost, The Quiet Invasion is a first contact story. What would we do if we actually found evidence of alien life out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/first-and-foremost-the-quiet-invasion-is-a-first-contact-story-what/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [Becoming a mother cannot help but change things. An author's life is reflected in their writing, whether they want it to be or not,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/becoming-a-mother-cannot-help-but-change-things-an-author-s-life-is/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“But art is supposed to enlighten, isn’t it? Not just reflect? It’s to show us the best of the present modeled in the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/but-art-is-supposed-to-enlighten-isn-t-it-not-just-reflect-it-s-to/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [I think the diversity of authors and readers is expanding, which is wonderful, because it means the type of story being told is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-think-the-diversity-of-authors-and-readers-is-expanding-which-is/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) > [“I'd never have gotten this far without you," I said. Jack tipped his cap to me. My heart squirmed around to find a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/i-d-never-have-gotten-this-far-without-you-i-said-jack-tipped-his-cap/) [Sarah Zettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) [Explore all 53 Sarah Zettel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/) ## More Brilliant quotes > [And you can't complain about kissing Emma Watson. Isn't that what everyone in the world wants to do? I've known Emma for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-redmayne/and-you-can-t-complain-about-kissing-emma-watson-isn-t-that-what/) [Eddie Redmayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-redmayne/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Bruce Katz is a spectacular talent! He's a brilliant composer and arranger who uses uncommon and unique musical intelligence to redefine jazz and blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coryell/bruce-katz-is-a-spectacular-talent-he-s-a-brilliant-composer-and/) [Larry Coryell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coryell/) > [No matter how brilliant an actor is, there's always a point where they let you down, but that's all part of their journey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hale/no-matter-how-brilliant-an-actor-is-there-s-always-a-point-where-they/) [Amanda Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hale/) > [I enjoy working with Deborah Ann, I think she's brilliant. It's been a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutina-wesley/i-enjoy-working-with-deborah-ann-i-think-she-s-brilliant-it-s-been-a/) [Rutina Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutina-wesley/) > [Gravity Falls' didn't just appear overnight - every spooky cave and moss covered tree was created by a team of brilliant artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-hirsch/gravity-falls-didn-t-just-appear-overnight-every-spooky-cave-and-moss/) [Alex Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-hirsch/) > [I like men who are very cool but who are also so brilliant that they are almost insane. Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Bob Dylan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jolene-blalock/i-like-men-who-are-very-cool-but-who-are-also-so-brilliant-that-they/) [Jolene Blalock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jolene-blalock/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. 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He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) [Browse all 2,403 Brilliant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant and disturbing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Zettel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-and-disturbing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brilliant" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-and-disturbing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/sarah-zettel-12795_brilliant_octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-an_2969596.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/sarah-zettel-12795_brilliant_octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-an_2969596.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/sarah-zettel-12795_brilliant_octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-an_2969596.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant and disturbing.” — Sarah Zettel", "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": "Sarah Zettel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-zettel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Octavia Butler, of course, is brilliant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-and-disturbing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-zettel/octavia-butler-of-course-is-brilliant-and-disturbing/#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 } } ] } ```