--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Extremes meet', as the whiting said with…" description: "\"Extremes meet', as the whiting said with its tail in its mouth.\" — Thomas Hood" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/thomas-hood-7160_extremes_extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-i_674124.png" --- # Extremes meet', as the whiting said with its tail in its… ![“Extremes meet', as the whiting said with its tail in its mouth.” quote by Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/thomas-hood-7160_extremes_extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-i_674124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/thomas-hood-7160_extremes_extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-i_674124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/thomas-hood-7160_extremes_extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-i_674124.png) > “Extremes meet', as the whiting said with its tail in its mouth.” [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Extreme conditions are often described with vivid, paradoxical imagery. **In simple terms:** Extreme meets extreme in vivid metaphor. Key Takeaway Use striking images to convey intensity. Themes extremes metaphor contrast literature Mood poetic inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing - public speaking - advertising - educational lessons Key Concepts poetics symbolism Questions to Reflect On - What image best captures your struggle? - How can you balance vividness with clarity? A Different Perspective Overly dramatic language may alienate some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Extremes Meet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes-meet-2844506/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Meet Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meet-whiting-5346560/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Tail Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tail-mouth-2452389/) [Whiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiting-5346559/) [Whiting Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whiting-said-5346558/) ## Related quotes > [“A pointed illustration indeed of the old adage that "extremes meet".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/a-pointed-illustration-indeed-of-the-old-adage-that-extremes-meet/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Extremes meet, and there is no better example than the naughtiness of humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/extremes-meet-and-there-is-no-better-example-than-the-naughtiness-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [One way of ending the poem is to turn it back on itself, like a serpent with its tail in its mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-kumin/one-way-of-ending-the-poem-is-to-turn-it-back-on-itself-like-a/) [Maxine Kumin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-kumin/) > [As I get older I perceive Life has its tail in its mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/as-i-get-older-i-perceive-life-has-its-tail-in-its-mouth/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [An excessive preponderance of an idealistic mood is harmful to society: it creates daydreaming, political Don Quixotism, hope for heavenly intervention. This is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henryk-sienkiewicz/an-excessive-preponderance-of-an-idealistic-mood-is-harmful-to/) [Henryk Sienkiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henryk-sienkiewicz/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [My childhood was extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/my-childhood-was-extreme/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I strongly reject any conceptual scheme that places our options on a line, and holds that the only alternative to a pair of extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-strongly-reject-any-conceptual-scheme-that-places-our-options-on-a/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [One should try to locate power at the extreme of its exercise, where it is always less legal in character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/one-should-try-to-locate-power-at-the-extreme-of-its-exercise-where/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) ## More by Thomas Hood > [Peace and rest at length have come, All the day's long toil is past; And each heart is whispering, "Home, Home at last!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/peace-and-rest-at-length-have-come-all-the-day-s-long-toil-is-past/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [He lies like a hedgehog rolled up the wrong way, Tormenting himself with his prickles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/he-lies-like-a-hedgehog-rolled-up-the-wrong-way-tormenting-himself/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [I love thee - I love thee, 'Tis all that I can say, It is my vision in the night, My dreaming in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/i-love-thee-i-love-thee-tis-all-that-i-can-say-it-is-my-vision-in-the/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [There are three things which the public will always clamour for, sooner or later; namely: novelty, novelty, novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/there-are-three-things-which-the-public-will-always-clamour-for/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Half of the failures in life come from pulling one's horse when he is leaping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/half-of-the-failures-in-life-come-from-pulling-one-s-horse-when-he-is/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [What is mind? No matter. What is matter? Never mind. What is the soul? It is immaterial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/what-is-mind-no-matter-what-is-matter-never-mind-what-is-the-soul-it/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [What joy have I in June's return? My feet are parched-my eyeballs burn, I scent no flowery gust; But faint the flagging zephyr springs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/what-joy-have-i-in-june-s-return-my-feet-are-parched-my-eyeballs-burn/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [It was not in the winter Our loving lot was cast! It was the time of roses, We plucked them as we passed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/it-was-not-in-the-winter-our-loving-lot-was-cast-it-was-the-time-of/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [When he is forsaken, Withered and shaken, What can an old man do but die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/when-he-is-forsaken-withered-and-shaken-what-can-an-old-man-do-but-die/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Well for the drones of the social hive that there are bees of an industrious turn, willing, for an infinitesimal share of the honey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/well-for-the-drones-of-the-social-hive-that-there-are-bees-of-an/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [I saw old autumn in the misty morn Stand shadowless like silence, listening To silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/i-saw-old-autumn-in-the-misty-morn-stand-shadowless-like-silence/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Comfort and indolence are cronies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/comfort-and-indolence-are-cronies/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Mother of light! how fairly dost thou go Over those hoary crests, divinely led! Art thou that huntress of the silver bow Fabled of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/mother-of-light-how-fairly-dost-thou-go-over-those-hoary-crests/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [Sweet are the little brooks that run O'er pebbles glancing in the sun, Singing in soothing tones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/sweet-are-the-little-brooks-that-run-o-er-pebbles-glancing-in-the-sun/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) > [How widely its agencies vary,- To save, to ruin, to curse, to bless,- As even its minted coins express, Now stamp'd with the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/how-widely-its-agencies-vary-to-save-to-ruin-to-curse-to-bless-as/) [Thomas Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) [Explore all 94 Thomas Hood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/) ## More Extremes quotes > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [One should try to locate power at the extreme of its exercise, where it is always less legal in character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/one-should-try-to-locate-power-at-the-extreme-of-its-exercise-where/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [I strongly reject any conceptual scheme that places our options on a line, and holds that the only alternative to a pair of extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/i-strongly-reject-any-conceptual-scheme-that-places-our-options-on-a/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [My childhood was extreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/my-childhood-was-extreme/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [An excessive preponderance of an idealistic mood is harmful to society: it creates daydreaming, political Don Quixotism, hope for heavenly intervention. This is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henryk-sienkiewicz/an-excessive-preponderance-of-an-idealistic-mood-is-harmful-to/) [Henryk Sienkiewicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henryk-sienkiewicz/) > [I think that for thousands of years people have made the observation that there are certain kinds of extreme depressive states that seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-think-that-for-thousands-of-years-people-have-made-the-observation/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [I find that Americans are all in the middle somewhere, except for the extreme nuts, and extreme nuts on both sides are the loudest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-find-that-americans-are-all-in-the-middle-somewhere-except-for-the/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [I have what I call an iron prescription that helps me keep sane when I naturally drift toward preferring one ideology over another and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/i-have-what-i-call-an-iron-prescription-that-helps-me-keep-sane-when/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [I think the only real referent for anybody writing drama is probably Hamlet. You have the most extreme tragic drama, this sort of blood-boltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-think-the-only-real-referent-for-anybody-writing-drama-is-probably/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) [Browse all 1,963 Extremes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Extremes meet', as the whiting said with its tail in its mouth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Hood" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-its-tail-in-its-mouth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Extremes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-its-tail-in-its-mouth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/thomas-hood-7160_extremes_extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-i_674124.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/thomas-hood-7160_extremes_extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-i_674124.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/thomas-hood-7160_extremes_extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-i_674124.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Extremes meet', as the whiting said with its tail in its mouth.” — Thomas Hood", "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": "Thomas Hood", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hood/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Extremes meet', as the whiting said...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-its-tail-in-its-mouth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hood/extremes-meet-as-the-whiting-said-with-its-tail-in-its-mouth/#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 } } ] } ```