--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lillian Hellman wrote a play called The…" description: "\"“Lillian Hellman wrote a play called The Little Foxes. In it a young girl tells her mother that some people eat the earth, like locusts, and others sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-reynard-765_nature_lillian-hellman-wrote-a-play-called-the_1851669.jpg" --- # Lillian Hellman wrote a play called The Little Foxes. In… ![“Lillian Hellman wrote a play called The Little Foxes. In it a young girl tells her mother that some people eat the earth, like locusts, and others stand around and watch them do it.” quote by Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-reynard-765_nature_lillian-hellman-wrote-a-play-called-the_1851669.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-reynard-765_nature_lillian-hellman-wrote-a-play-called-the_1851669.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ea/sylvain-reynard-765_nature_lillian-hellman-wrote-a-play-called-the_1851669.jpg) > ““Lillian Hellman wrote a play called The Little Foxes. In it a young girl tells her mother that some people eat the earth, like locusts, and others stand around and watch them do it.”” [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage uses a metaphor of locusts to illustrate how some people exploit resources while others are passive observers, highlighting moral responsibility and complicity. **In simple terms:** Some exploit, some watch. Key Takeaway Act responsibly, don’t be a bystander. Themes morality exploitation responsibility passivity Mood concerned reflective Type critical philosophical When to use this quote - environmental activism - business ethics - community leadership - personal decision making Key Concepts ethical critique metaphor social commentary Questions to Reflect On - What role do you play in harmful systems? - How can you shift from watching to acting? A Different Perspective It may oversimplify complex systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [There are people who eat the earth and eat all the people on it like in the Bible with the locusts. And other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/there-are-people-who-eat-the-earth-and-eat-all-the-people-on-it-like/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [Once upon a time there were three little foxes Who didn't wear stockings, and they didn't wear sockses, But they all had handkerchiefs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/once-upon-a-time-there-were-three-little-foxes-who-didn-t-wear/) [A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/) > [When I shop for fruit & melons I like to hold a grape next to a cantaloupe & think of Earth next to Jupiter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-i-shop-for-fruit-melons-i-like-to-hold-a-grape-next-to-a/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [One of my favorite movies is The Little Foxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-mills/one-of-my-favorite-movies-is-the-little-foxes/) [Donna Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-mills/) > [Many eat that on earth that they digest in hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/many-eat-that-on-earth-that-they-digest-in-hell/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [I'm one of the little foxes that spoil the grapes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-one-of-the-little-foxes-that-spoil-the-grapes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Every word she writes is a lie, including ‘and’ and ‘the’." (on Lillian Hellman)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/every-word-she-writes-is-a-lie-including-and-and-the-on-lillian/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [I don't need to be married to Georgia O'Keeffe or Lillian Hellman, but I like being with a woman I can look up to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/i-don-t-need-to-be-married-to-georgia-o-keeffe-or-lillian-hellman-but/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [ “Are you still as angry as you used to be?' Julia, the World War II resistance fighter, asked Lillian Hellman in the biographical \[movie\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-faludi/are-you-still-as-angry-as-you-used-to-be-julia-the-world-war-ii/) [Susan Faludi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-faludi/) > [I grew up watching a lot of old movies, so getting to ask about making movies in the '70s and people he was friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alden-ehrenreich/i-grew-up-watching-a-lot-of-old-movies-so-getting-to-ask-about-making/) [Alden Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alden-ehrenreich/) > [I wanted Lillian Hellman to be perfect because I wasn't perfect myself. I really wanted a mentor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/i-wanted-lillian-hellman-to-be-perfect-because-i-wasn-t-perfect/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) > [If someone had told me, don't say anything about Lillian Hellman because she'll sue you, it wouldn't have stopped me. It might have spurred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/if-someone-had-told-me-don-t-say-anything-about-lillian-hellman/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [If I wrote a play with four characters every single one of them would talk like me regardless of age or sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-maccaig/if-i-wrote-a-play-with-four-characters-every-single-one-of-them-would/) [Norman MacCaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-maccaig/) > [I wrote a play that I directed and I was in, and I paid for the sets and the costumes and to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailey-gates/i-wrote-a-play-that-i-directed-and-i-was-in-and-i-paid-for-the-sets/) [Hailey Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailey-gates/) > [I wrote my first play when I was eight. It was about a queen, and I - of course! - was the queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-king/i-wrote-my-first-play-when-i-was-eight-it-was-about-a-queen-and-i-of/) [Yolanda King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolanda-king/) ## More by Sylvain Reynard > [“She knew that upon closer inspection Gabriel would make a lousy poker player. He had too many tells, too many ways he revealed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-knew-that-upon-closer-inspection-gabriel-would-make-a-lousy-poker/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Then you’re going to take off your suit and show me just how much you missed your phone cord.” “And the attachment.” “And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/then-you-re-going-to-take-off-your-suit-and-show-me-just-how-much-you/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Don't wait too long. Life takes unexpected turns, and we don't always have the time we think we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/don-t-wait-too-long-life-takes-unexpected-turns-and-we-don-t-always/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“She just wanted to be left alone to lick her wounds, like a puppy that had been kicked repeatedly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-just-wanted-to-be-left-alone-to-lick-her-wounds-like-a-puppy-that/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I'm sorry you don't want to know me anymore. I will spend the rest of my life regretting the fact that I wasted my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-m-sorry-you-don-t-want-to-know-me-anymore-i-will-spend-the-rest-of/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“This was the joy that the world sought--sacred and pagan all at once. A union between two dissimilars into a seamless one. A picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/this-was-the-joy-that-the-world-sought-sacred-and-pagan-all-at-once-a/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“He was distressed to learn that the Pottery Barn Kids gift registry did not extend to children's books in Italian or Yiddish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/he-was-distressed-to-learn-that-the-pottery-barn-kids-gift-registry/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“She’d made her choice when he asked for her hand and she’d offered it without question. Once he touched her, she knew she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/she-d-made-her-choice-when-he-asked-for-her-hand-and-she-d-offered-it/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Like they’d never seen a hot professor before. You made quite an impression in your turtleneck.” “Ah, yes, the turtleneck. Turtles have that effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/like-they-d-never-seen-a-hot-professor-before-you-made-quite-an/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“I don’t know how to love you any other way, either,” she whispered back. “Then God have mercy on us both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-don-t-know-how-to-love-you-any-other-way-either-she-whispered-back/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“You toyed with her heart. I know what that’s like. I can have compassion for her because of that.” “I met you first,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/you-toyed-with-her-heart-i-know-what-that-s-like-i-can-have/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Apparuit iam beatitudo vestra' That is, "Now your blessedness appears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/apparuit-iam-beatitudo-vestra-that-is-now-your-blessedness-appears/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“You tell him that — tell him he fucks with the angel at his peril.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/you-tell-him-that-tell-him-he-fucks-with-the-angel-at-his-peril/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Ever had a beer before?" Gabriel grinned. She shook her head. "Then I'm glad I'm your first." "Have you ever held a boy's hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/ever-had-a-beer-before-gabriel-grinned-she-shook-her-head-then-i-m/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [“Chivalry in academia is dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/chivalry-in-academia-is-dead/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) [Explore all 332 Sylvain Reynard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) ## More Nature quotes > [It is indeed a surprising and fortunate fact that nature can be expressed by relatively low-order mathematical functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/it-is-indeed-a-surprising-and-fortunate-fact-that-nature-can-be/) [Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Borrow trouble for yourself, if that's your nature, but don't lend it to your neighbours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/borrow-trouble-for-yourself-if-that-s-your-nature-but-don-t-lend-it/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [There is no human nature, since there is no god to conceive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/there-is-no-human-nature-since-there-is-no-god-to-conceive-it/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“Men mistook measurement for understanding. And they always had to put themselves at the center of everything. That was their greatest conceit. The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/men-mistook-measurement-for-understanding-and-they-always-had-to-put/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“She was, he knew- and had known very early, he supposed- one of those rare and always lovely humans whose moral nature was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/she-was-he-knew-and-had-known-very-early-he-supposed-one-of-those/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“When the water covers the earth the sun will vanish the darkess and the cold will come.When the last dragon and the last Elf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvana-de-mari/when-the-water-covers-the-earth-the-sun-will-vanish-the-darkess-and/) [Silvana de Mari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvana-de-mari/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) [Browse all 47,383 Nature quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Lillian Hellman wrote a play called The Little Foxes. 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