--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody thinks of giving an immortal soul…" description: "\"“Nobody thinks of giving an immortal soul to a flea.”\" — Voltaire" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/voltaire-173_flea_nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul_2649741.png" --- # Nobody thinks of giving an immortal soul to a flea. ![“Nobody thinks of giving an immortal soul to a flea.” quote by Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/voltaire-173_flea_nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul_2649741.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/voltaire-173_flea_nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul_2649741.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/voltaire-173_flea_nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul_2649741.png) > ““Nobody thinks of giving an immortal soul to a flea.”” [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critique of assigning eternal significance to trivial beings, highlighting absurdity **In simple terms:** Don’t overvalue insignificant things Key Takeaway Focus on meaningful rather than trivial matters Themes philosophy satire meaninglessness Mood witty critical Type satirical philosophical When to use this quote - literary criticism - education - cultural commentary - personal reflection - policy analysis Key Concepts ethics existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What modern “fleas” dominate our attention? - How to prioritize significance over novelty? A Different Perspective Trivial concerns can distract from real issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Immortal soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal-soul/) ## Related quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [This is what is sad when one contemplates human life, that so many live out their lives in quiet lostness... they live, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/this-is-what-is-sad-when-one-contemplates-human-life-that-so-many/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Oh! if you could only hear Intemperance with drunkards' bones drumming on the top of the wine cask the Dead March of immortal souls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-witt-talmage/oh-if-you-could-only-hear-intemperance-with-drunkards-bones-drumming/) [Thomas De Witt Talmage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-witt-talmage/) > [There is no doubt that I have discovered the ultimate in stagnant human societies. The Bikura have realized the human dream of immortality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/there-is-no-doubt-that-i-have-discovered-the-ultimate-in-stagnant/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [Never trample on any soul though it may be lying in the veriest mire; for that last spark of self-respect is its only hope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/never-trample-on-any-soul-though-it-may-be-lying-in-the-veriest-mire/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Whatever their failings as a class may be, and however likely to lose their immortal souls, lawyers do not generally lose papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-cheney-train/whatever-their-failings-as-a-class-may-be-and-however-likely-to-lose/) Arthur Cheney Train > [People are fretful about lifestyle retailing because the idea that anyone's immortal soul and deepest longings can be quite so readily anticipated and consolidated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-york/people-are-fretful-about-lifestyle-retailing-because-the-idea-that/) [Peter York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-york/) > [For the people who ostensibly wish me well or are worried about my immortal soul, I say I take it kindly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/for-the-people-who-ostensibly-wish-me-well-or-are-worried-about-my/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [That intense faith in another world, that intense hatred for this world, that intense power of renunciation, that intense faith in God, that intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/that-intense-faith-in-another-world-that-intense-hatred-for-this/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Affirm the body, beautiful and whole, The earth-expression of immortal soul. 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For self-protection man has created God, on whom he depends for his own protection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walpola-rahula/two-ideas-are-psychologically-deep-rooted-in-man-self-protection-and/) [Walpola Rahula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walpola-rahula/) > [“I will never remember anything I know how to forget and forgive Life has turned into miracle,now I know, when I am dead Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/i-will-never-remember-anything-i-know-how-to-forget-and-forgive-life/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) ## More by Voltaire > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Fanaticism, to which men are so much inclined, has always served not only to render them more brutalized but more wicked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/fanaticism-to-which-men-are-so-much-inclined-has-always-served-not/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [We’re neither pure, nor wise, nor good; we do the best we know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/we-re-neither-pure-nor-wise-nor-good-we-do-the-best-we-know/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part, the rest are lost in the multitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-with-books-as-with-men-a-very-small-number-play-a-great-part/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Meslier was the most singular phenomenon ever seen among all the meteors fatal to the Christian religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/meslier-was-the-most-singular-phenomenon-ever-seen-among-all-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Being unable to make people more reasonable, I preferred to be happy away from them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/being-unable-to-make-people-more-reasonable-i-preferred-to-be-happy/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Madness is to think of too many things in succession too fast, or of one thing too exclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/madness-is-to-think-of-too-many-things-in-succession-too-fast-or-of/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/god-gave-us-the-gift-of-life-it-is-up-to-us-to-give-ourselves-the/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is not inequality which is the real misfortune, it is dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/it-is-not-inequality-which-is-the-real-misfortune-it-is-dependence/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Men use thought only to justify their wrong doings, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/men-use-thought-only-to-justify-their-wrong-doings-and-employ-speech/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/work-spares-us-from-three-evils-boredom-vice-and-need/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) [Explore all 934 Voltaire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More Flea quotes > [When I find something at a flea market or an antique store, it feels more special and I'm more inclined to want to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-wasson/when-i-find-something-at-a-flea-market-or-an-antique-store-it-feels/) [Erin Wasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-wasson/) > [I've had 'Spanish Flea' stuck in my head since 1998, so in a subjective sense, that is the song that's playing whenever I enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rex/i-ve-had-spanish-flea-stuck-in-my-head-since-1998-so-in-a-subjective/) [Adam Rex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rex/) > [I think when you get interested in antiques, the most frustrating thing is that books don't have enough photos. When you go to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-miller/i-think-when-you-get-interested-in-antiques-the-most-frustrating/) [Judith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-miller/) > [Keep your paws off my fiancèe, you flea-ridden stray!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/keep-your-paws-off-my-fianc-e-you-flea-ridden-stray/) [Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/) > ['Priced to sell' - just the phrase makes me smile. When a dealer says all the items in his booth are priced to sell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/priced-to-sell-just-the-phrase-makes-me-smile-when-a-dealer-says-all/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I was a flea on a dog. I was just hopping between bands. It was valuable to learn that way, the tours in transit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ryder/i-was-a-flea-on-a-dog-i-was-just-hopping-between-bands-it-was/) [Sam Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ryder/) > [I like Flea, I like him as a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/i-like-flea-i-like-him-as-a-musician/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [I have an unusual hobby: I collect pictures of people I don't know. It started when I was a kid growing up in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/i-have-an-unusual-hobby-i-collect-pictures-of-people-i-don-t-know-it/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [“The earth has become small, and on it hops the last man, who makes everything small. His race is as ineradicable as the flea;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-earth-has-become-small-and-on-it-hops-the-last-man-who-makes/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [That's a valiant flea that dares eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-s-a-valiant-flea-that-dares-eat-his-breakfast-on-the-lip-of-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I've withdrawn many times. Part of me is a monk, and part a performing flea! The fear in the music business is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-ve-withdrawn-many-times-part-of-me-is-a-monk-and-part-a-performing/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [“So who gave him his name?" I asked. "Kerrick," Belen answered. Not who I'd expect. "Why 'Flea'?" A full-out grin spread across Flea's face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/so-who-gave-him-his-name-i-asked-kerrick-belen-answered-not-who-i-d/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [My grandmother was very fashion-forward and had these very structured, beautiful bags, and now, that's why I have very expensive taste in bags. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-tobin/my-grandmother-was-very-fashion-forward-and-had-these-very-structured/) Becca Tobin > [I love vintage shopping in flea markets, vintage stores and even Ebay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-leyland/i-love-vintage-shopping-in-flea-markets-vintage-stores-and-even-ebay/) [Chelsea Leyland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-leyland/) > [I don't micromanage, but I do care deeply about every product we make. Every one goes through me, and I try most of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-dejoria/i-don-t-micromanage-but-i-do-care-deeply-about-every-product-we-make/) [John Paul DeJoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-dejoria/) Browse all 71 Flea quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nobody thinks of giving an immortal soul to a flea.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Voltaire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul-to-a-flea/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Flea" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul-to-a-flea/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/voltaire-173_flea_nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul_2649741.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/voltaire-173_flea_nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul_2649741.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/619/voltaire-173_flea_nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul_2649741.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nobody thinks of giving an immortal soul to a flea.” — Voltaire", "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": "Voltaire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Nobody thinks of giving an immortal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul-to-a-flea/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/nobody-thinks-of-giving-an-immortal-soul-to-a-flea/#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 } } ] } ```