--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If everyone is speaking caterpillar…" description: "\"If everyone is speaking caterpillar, don’t be afraid to speak butterfly. When it’s time to awaken, nothing else will suit you.\" — Tama J. Kieves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/tama-j-kieves-24365_butterfly_if-everyone-is-speaking-caterpillar-don_1039480.jpg" --- # If everyone is speaking caterpillar, don’t be afraid to… ![“If everyone is speaking caterpillar, don’t be afraid to speak butterfly. When it’s time to awaken, nothing else will suit you.” quote by Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/tama-j-kieves-24365_butterfly_if-everyone-is-speaking-caterpillar-don_1039480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/tama-j-kieves-24365_butterfly_if-everyone-is-speaking-caterpillar-don_1039480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/tama-j-kieves-24365_butterfly_if-everyone-is-speaking-caterpillar-don_1039480.jpg) > “If everyone is speaking caterpillar, don’t be afraid to speak butterfly. When it’s time to awaken, nothing else will suit you.” [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourage unique expression; when others conform, choose a bold, transformative voice. **In simple terms:** Be bold and transformative. Key Takeaway Speak your unique truth. Themes creativity individuality transformation Mood inspirational challenging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - artistic projects - personal branding - career pivots Key Concepts personal growth innovation self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - What does your “butterfly” voice sound like? - How can you support others in finding theirs? A Different Perspective Boldness can alienate; not everyone is ready for change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Caterpillar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caterpillar/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Why is Caterpillar bad if we create a new job in India or China to receive U.S. exports? It makes no sense to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/why-is-caterpillar-bad-if-we-create-a-new-job-in-india-or-china-to/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) > [It is in being the caterpillar that you become the butterfly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harricharan/it-is-in-being-the-caterpillar-that-you-become-the-butterfly/) [John Harricharan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harricharan/) > [You cannot direspect the caterpillar and rave about the butterfly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/you-cannot-direspect-the-caterpillar-and-rave-about-the-butterfly/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [“Many caterpillars defend themselves not by striking fear in the hearts of their predators, but rather indifference. The large maple spanworm looks like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leach/many-caterpillars-defend-themselves-not-by-striking-fear-in-the/) [Amy Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leach/) > [Fighting has taught me that the caterpillar takes a while to turn into a majestic butterfly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-taylor/fighting-has-taught-me-that-the-caterpillar-takes-a-while-to-turn/) Jesse Taylor > [Caterpillar was quite important because that was the first manufacturing industry that used Reaganite strike-breaking techniques. They illegally called in scabs to break a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/caterpillar-was-quite-important-because-that-was-the-first/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [A caterpillar who seeks to know himself would never become a butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/a-caterpillar-who-seeks-to-know-himself-would-never-become-a-butterfly/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-caterpillar-and-alice-looked-at-each-other-for-some-time-in/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [The butterfly does not look back upon its caterpillar self, either fondly or wistfully; it simply flies on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/the-butterfly-does-not-look-back-upon-its-caterpillar-self-either/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [If a caterpillar doesn't know its future has wings, it hardly experiences itself as land-bound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/if-a-caterpillar-doesn-t-know-its-future-has-wings-it-hardly/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [Since when does the butterfly ask about the caterpillar?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/since-when-does-the-butterfly-ask-about-the-caterpillar/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [My most interesting memory is of my first real dream. I was a caterpillar, wriggling around in the earth, just the way a caterpillar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/my-most-interesting-memory-is-of-my-first-real-dream-i-was-a/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [I would love to have access to a company like Caterpillar. I would make all their stuff remote controlled and work ten times as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hyneman/i-would-love-to-have-access-to-a-company-like-caterpillar-i-would/) [Jamie Hyneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hyneman/) > [The three states of the caterpillar, larva, and butterfly have, since the time of the Greek poets, been applied to typify the human being,--its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphry-davy/the-three-states-of-the-caterpillar-larva-and-butterfly-have-since/) [Humphry Davy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphry-davy/) > [The butterfly in a caterpillar: the eagle in an egg; the saint in a selfish human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-butterfly-in-a-caterpillar-the-eagle-in-an-egg-the-saint-in-a/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## More by Tama J. Kieves > [It doesn't matter how you begin. Just jump in. Get moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/it-doesn-t-matter-how-you-begin-just-jump-in-get-moving/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [There is no higher qualification than genuine inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/there-is-no-higher-qualification-than-genuine-inspiration/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [What is your real work? Is it that which pays the bills or is it your art? I think your real work is healing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/what-is-your-real-work-is-it-that-which-pays-the-bills-or-is-it-your/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [Give three hundred seconds to your dream. Take a tiny step with big integrity. It takes a step to break to break into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/give-three-hundred-seconds-to-your-dream-take-a-tiny-step-with-big/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [The worship of convention has never yet led to astonishment and a joyous leap in human potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/the-worship-of-convention-has-never-yet-led-to-astonishment-and-a/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [Transformation of any kind always exacts a holy tussle. The newborn butterfly struggles to open its wings so it can conjure up the strength…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/transformation-of-any-kind-always-exacts-a-holy-tussle-the-newborn/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [You can't force yourself to say "yes" to a bigger life. You will do it in your way. You will do it when smallness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/you-can-t-force-yourself-to-say-yes-to-a-bigger-life-you-will-do-it/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [Run, run, run - with everything you have - into everything you are meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/run-run-run-with-everything-you-have-into-everything-you-are-meant-to/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [Who says you can't rock Wall Street and wear purple at the same time? Jennifer Lee opens the door for artists, healers, and brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/who-says-you-can-t-rock-wall-street-and-wear-purple-at-the-same-time/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [When you're in transition, you will need to find a different kind of security. It's not one of labels, guarantees or bank balances. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/when-you-re-in-transition-you-will-need-to-find-a-different-kind-of/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [“We live in a world that worships limitations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/we-live-in-a-world-that-worships-limitations/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [Life just turns deliciously quirky when you stop resisting yourself and, instead, honor the intuition that tugs at you like a puppy on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/life-just-turns-deliciously-quirky-when-you-stop-resisting-yourself/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [I know that when a door closes, it can feel like all doors are closing. A rejection letter can feel like everyone will reject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/i-know-that-when-a-door-closes-it-can-feel-like-all-doors-are-closing/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [You can live a life of either trusting your inner voice or distrusting your inner voice. You can cling to familiar expectations, conventions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/you-can-live-a-life-of-either-trusting-your-inner-voice-or/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) > [You belong in the life of your dreams. And you don't belong anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-j-kieves/you-belong-in-the-life-of-your-dreams-and-you-don-t-belong-anywhere/) [Tama J. Kieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) [Explore all 24 Tama J. Kieves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-j-kieves/) ## More Awaken quotes > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wherever-you-are-is-the-perfect-place-to-awaken-this-moment-is-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“You have to learn where your weaknesses end and your strengths starts or you will spend your life focusing on all that falls apart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/you-have-to-learn-where-your-weaknesses-end-and-your-strengths-starts/) [Nikki rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [“Some days I like to wander to old and warn our places, forests ripped apart by man and streams that carry stagnant water where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/some-days-i-like-to-wander-to-old-and-warn-our-places-forests-ripped/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [“I write to awaken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-menon/i-write-to-awaken/) Becca Menon > [“Once you have woken up from your slumber, help lots more others to be awaken, that is the duty you are here to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/once-you-have-woken-up-from-your-slumber-help-lots-more-others-to-be/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [“Death is the final sleep that you never awaken from.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/death-is-the-final-sleep-that-you-never-awaken-from/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Many spiritual seekers who say their wish is to awaken don't actually want what they believe they do. This becomes clear sometimes at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-frazier/many-spiritual-seekers-who-say-their-wish-is-to-awaken-don-t-actually/) [Jan Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-frazier/) > [Unless you awaken to your own truth, You will continue to live a lie, A life led by the thoughts and demands of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/unless-you-awaken-to-your-own-truth-you-will-continue-to-live-a-lie-a/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [How do we awaken to this true Self? By going within and putting our attention on the silent presence in our heart - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/how-do-we-awaken-to-this-true-self-by-going-within-and-putting-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [When all the Self was conquered and dead, when all passions and desires were silent, then the last must awaken, the innermost of Being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/when-all-the-self-was-conquered-and-dead-when-all-passions-and/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“If you take society’s definition of knowing oneself, you will become lost in the many translations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/if-you-take-society-s-definition-of-knowing-oneself-you-will-become/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [“Everything is simplicity there is nothing to do. There is no place to go. There is no thing to become. You are that, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/everything-is-simplicity-there-is-nothing-to-do-there-is-no-place-to/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [Trust your Heart. Value its intuition. Choose to let go of fear, and to open to the true and you will awaken to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/trust-your-heart-value-its-intuition-choose-to-let-go-of-fear-and-to/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) Browse all 334 Awaken quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If everyone is speaking caterpillar, don’t be afraid to speak butterfly. When it’s time to awaken, nothing else will suit you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tama J. 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