---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No small thing, a bee's sting When it…"
description: "\"No small thing, a bee's sting When it enters the heart Not so benign, the growing vine When it tears stone apart\" — Shannon Hale"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/shannon-hale-827_bees_no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-ent_2783252.png"
---

#  No small thing, a bee's sting When it enters the heart Not…

![“No small thing, a bee's sting When it enters the heart Not so benign, the growing vine When it tears stone apart” quote by Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/shannon-hale-827_bees_no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-ent_2783252.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/shannon-hale-827_bees_no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-ent_2783252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/shannon-hale-827_bees_no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-ent_2783252.png)

> “No small thing, a bee's sting When it enters the heart Not so benign, the growing vine When it tears stone apart”

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

## About This Quote

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

A bee’s sting, though small, can cause profound internal damage, likened to a vine tearing stone, symbolizing hidden pain.

**In simple terms:** Small hurts can cause deep internal damage.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge and heal hidden wounds.

Themes

pain vulnerability inner strength

Mood

emotional reflective

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

- mental health counseling
- self‑care
- support groups

Key Concepts

poetry metaphor

Questions to Reflect On

- What hidden pains do you carry?
- How can you nurture inner healing?

A Different Perspective

Pain may be invisible to others.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/)

## Related quotes

> [It is in the area of feeling that religion enters the heart and is expressed by man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-magnin/it-is-in-the-area-of-feeling-that-religion-enters-the-heart-and-is/)

Edgar Magnin

> [Love enters the heart unawares: takes precedence of all the emotions--or, at least, will be second to none--and even reflection becomes its accomplice. While…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/love-enters-the-heart-unawares-takes-precedence-of-all-the-emotions/)

[Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/)

> [The object of our serch is the fire of grace which enters into the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophan-the-recluse/the-object-of-our-serch-is-the-fire-of-grace-which-enters-into-the/)

[Theophan the Recluse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophan-the-recluse/)

> [“ڪُل آلأصَوآتْ ♪ تَدخّل إلىْ آذنيَ ،،،إلآ صَوتڪّ يدخلْ إلىَ قّلبيْ ♥~ All voices enter into my ears except your voice, it enters my heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amany-al-hallaq/all-voices-enter-into-my-ears-except-your-voice-it-enters-my-heart/)

[Amany Al-Hallaq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amany-al-hallaq/)

> [“What comes from the heart enters the heart.” What doesn’t come from your heart will never enter someone else’s heart. It takes caring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-l-friedman/what-comes-from-the-heart-enters-the-heart-what-doesn-t-come-from/)

[Thomas L. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-l-friedman/)

> [What is the difference between blood and you? Blood enters the heart and flows out but you entered the heart and stayed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-is-the-difference-between-blood-and-you-blood-enters-the-heart/)

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

> [“A bee's sting is sweet if all you are thinking about is getting honey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-bee-s-sting-is-sweet-if-all-you-are-thinking-about-is-getting-honey/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“O, to be stung by an errant bee. O, to sting. O, to see you again. Covered in spring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olena-kalytiak-davis/o-to-be-stung-by-an-errant-bee-o-to-sting-o-to-see-you-again-covered/)

[Olena Kalytiak Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olena-kalytiak-davis/)

> [Every epigram should resemble a bee; it should have sting, honey, and brevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/every-epigram-should-resemble-a-bee-it-should-have-sting-honey-and/)

[Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/)

> [“some people bounced back from a train wreck and some people couldn’t get over a bee sting. They”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-bounced-back-from-a-train-wreck-and-some-people-couldn-t/)

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

> [Some guys like to undermine a girl's self-esteem with little verbal jabs. Eventually it all adds up. One bee sting doesn't hurt a horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-gaspirtz/some-guys-like-to-undermine-a-girl-s-self-esteem-with-little-verbal/)

[Oliver Gaspirtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-gaspirtz/)

> [“Little known fact: One bee sting begets others. When a honeybee stings you it simultaneously releases a pheromone cocktail that lets the hive know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-cassidy/little-known-fact-one-bee-sting-begets-others-when-a-honeybee-stings/)

Cody Cassidy

> [The Honey is sweet, but the Bee has a Sting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-honey-is-sweet-but-the-bee-has-a-sting/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Like the bee its sting, the promiscuous leave behind them in each encounter something of themselves by which they are made to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/like-the-bee-its-sting-the-promiscuous-leave-behind-them-in-each/)

[Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/)

> [The plausible outcomes range from the gradual and benign to the more precipitous and damaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-geithner/the-plausible-outcomes-range-from-the-gradual-and-benign-to-the-more/)

[Timothy Geithner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-geithner/)

## More by Shannon Hale

> [“Well, write me into the list of Those Who Don’t Mind a Bit,” said Cupid, eyeing his perfectly toned arms and chest. “My, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/well-write-me-into-the-list-of-those-who-don-t-mind-a-bit-said-cupid/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [“Sometimes instinct isn't fancy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-instinct-isn-t-fancy/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [Enna leaned back her head and laughed at the sky. 'Of course he wasn't! Who could kill Razo?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/enna-leaned-back-her-head-and-laughed-at-the-sky-of-course-he-wasn-t/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [“Um… I guess that’s that,” said Cerise. “That?” said Maddie. “That is never that. This is that. Or else that is this. And this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/um-i-guess-that-s-that-said-cerise-that-said-maddie-that-is-never/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [The book smelled dusty and old but also carried a sweet tang, a hint of something inviting. She opened to the first page and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/the-book-smelled-dusty-and-old-but-also-carried-a-sweet-tang-a-hint/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [Geric," she called. He turned back around. "What kind of flowers were they?" "I don't rightly know," he said. He made faltering gestures with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/geric-she-called-he-turned-back-around-what-kind-of-flowers-were-they/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [How I keep trying to force our story into a fairy tale, but from the beginning, it's been more like a nursery rhyme." "Bizarre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/how-i-keep-trying-to-force-our-story-into-a-fairy-tale-but-from-the/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [“He wildly combed his hair with his fingers. “I can’t bear to be out there with you right now, all those indifferent people watching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/he-wildly-combed-his-hair-with-his-fingers-i-can-t-bear-to-be-out/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [But, how do you know if an ending is truly good for the characters unless you've traveled with them through every page?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/but-how-do-you-know-if-an-ending-is-truly-good-for-the-characters/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [“Sometimes it seems my identity’s a matter of opinion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-it-seems-my-identity-s-a-matter-of-opinion/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [The snow was too light to stay, the ground too warm to keep it. And the strange spring snow fell only in that golden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/the-snow-was-too-light-to-stay-the-ground-too-warm-to-keep-it-and-the/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [Even the jerks earn some of our affection. We can be glad they're gone and yet still mourn the good parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/even-the-jerks-earn-some-of-our-affection-we-can-be-glad-they-re-gone/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [Smell is the voice of the soul...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/smell-is-the-voice-of-the-soul/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [“It was my jewelry!” Briar shouted after his father because he’d forgotten to ask what was stolen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/it-was-my-jewelry-briar-shouted-after-his-father-because-he-d/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

> [Oh, but I like my geese. Like cats, they can't be told what to do, and like dogs, they're loyal, and like people, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/oh-but-i-like-my-geese-like-cats-they-can-t-be-told-what-to-do-and/)

[Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

[Explore all 358 Shannon Hale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/)

## More Bees quotes

> [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/)

[Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/)

> [Arouse a bee and it will come at you with the force of a dragon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeda-shingen/arouse-a-bee-and-it-will-come-at-you-with-the-force-of-a-dragon/)

[Takeda Shingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeda-shingen/)

> [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [You see, years ago I was just an ordinary bee minding my own business, smelling flowers all day, and occasionally picking up part-time work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/you-see-years-ago-i-was-just-an-ordinary-bee-minding-my-own-business/)

[Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/)

> [As the bee collecteth honey with great zest, so the fool collecteth wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir/as-the-bee-collecteth-honey-with-great-zest-so-the-fool-collecteth/)

[Kabir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir/)

> [It is hard to imagine a world without bees. It would be even harder to live in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/it-is-hard-to-imagine-a-world-without-bees-it-would-be-even-harder-to/)

[Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/)

> [When I heard that the bees were in trouble, the fact that they're disappearing and not coming back to the hive, which is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-schwartzberg/when-i-heard-that-the-bees-were-in-trouble-the-fact-that-they-re/)

[Louie Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-schwartzberg/)

> [Precise, graceful, and generous, the poems in SuperLoop, seem to be born out of a deep, careful attention and a profound compassion. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-limon/precise-graceful-and-generous-the-poems-in-superloop-seem-to-be-born/)

[Ada Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-limon/)

> [The little bee returns with evening's gloom, To join her comrades in the braided hive, Where, housed beside their might honey-comb, They dream their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tennyson-turner/the-little-bee-returns-with-evening-s-gloom-to-join-her-comrades-in/)

[Charles Tennyson Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tennyson-turner/)

> [“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/)

> [“Bees chase flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-l-shreve/bees-chase-flowers/)

Tracy L. Shreve

> [My banks they are furnish'd with bees, Whose murmur invites one to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/my-banks-they-are-furnish-d-with-bees-whose-murmur-invites-one-to/)

[William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/)

> [There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-are-certain-pursuits-which-if-not-wholly-poetic-and-true-do-at/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The Bee Gees are a fly-by-night sort of group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gibb/the-bee-gees-are-a-fly-by-night-sort-of-group/)

[Barry Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gibb/)

> [“I don't like to hear cut and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-don-t-like-to-hear-cut-and-dried-sermons-no-when-i-hear-a-man/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

[Browse all 770 Bees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bees/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "No small thing, a bee's sting When it enters the heart Not so benign, the growing vine When it tears stone apart",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shannon Hale"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-enters-the-heart-not-so-benign/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bees"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-enters-the-heart-not-so-benign/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/shannon-hale-827_bees_no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-ent_2783252.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/shannon-hale-827_bees_no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-ent_2783252.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/shannon-hale-827_bees_no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-ent_2783252.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No small thing, a bee's sting When it enters the heart Not so benign, the growing vine When it tears stone…” — Shannon Hale",
                "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": "Shannon Hale",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "No small thing, a bee's sting...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-enters-the-heart-not-so-benign/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/no-small-thing-a-bee-s-sting-when-it-enters-the-heart-not-so-benign/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
