---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may as well say, 'That's a valiant…"
description: "\"You may as well say, 'That's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.\" — William Tecumseh Sherman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_breakfast_you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-fle_1428762.jpg"
---

#  You may as well say, 'That's a valiant flea that dare eat…

![“You may as well say, 'That's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.” quote by William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_breakfast_you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-fle_1428762.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_breakfast_you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-fle_1428762.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_breakfast_you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-fle_1428762.jpg)

> “You may as well say, 'That's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.”

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

## About This Quote

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

A bold, reckless act can be both daring and foolish, like a tiny flea challenging a lion.

**In simple terms:** Small actions can be dangerously overconfident.

Key Takeaway

Beware overestimating your power.

Themes

hubris risk confidence

Mood

cautionary reflective

Type

historical military

When to use this quote

- political maneuvering
- military strategy
- personal ambition

Key Concepts

overconfidence danger scale

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you ever take on challenges beyond your capacity?
- What are the consequences of reckless confidence?

A Different Perspective

Such bravado can provoke severe retaliation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) [Valiant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valiant/)

## Related quotes

> [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 have measured my life with coffee spoons and do I dare to eat a peach?' 'DO I DARE DISTURB THE UNIVERSE?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/i-have-measured-my-life-with-coffee-spoons-and-do-i-dare-to-eat-a/)

[Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/)

> [“Do I dare to eat a peach?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/do-i-dare-to-eat-a-peach/)

[T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/)

> [Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shall-i-part-my-hair-behind-do-i-dare-to-eat-a-peach/)

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

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [“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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> ['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 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/)

## More by William Tecumseh Sherman

> [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [After all, I think Forrest was the most remarkable man our Civil War produced on either side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/after-all-i-think-forrest-was-the-most-remarkable-man-our-civil-war/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [We have good corporals and good sergeants and some good lieutenants and captains, and those are far more important than good generals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/we-have-good-corporals-and-good-sergeants-and-some-good-lieutenants/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [The way to success is strategically along the way of least expectation and tactically along the line of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-way-to-success-is-strategically-along-the-way-of-least/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [“You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm as against these terrible hardships of war. War is cruelty, there is no use trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-might-as-well-appeal-against-a-thunderstorm-as-against-these/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years, I would say the penitentiary, thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/if-forced-to-choose-between-the-penitentiary-and-the-white-house-for/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [If I had my choice I would kill every reporter in the world, but I am sure we would be getting reports from Hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/if-i-had-my-choice-i-would-kill-every-reporter-in-the-world-but-i-am/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [The young bloods of the South; sons of planters, lawyers about towns, good billiard players and sportsmen, men who never did any work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-young-bloods-of-the-south-sons-of-planters-lawyers-about-towns/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [War is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/war-is-the-remedy-that-our-enemies-have-chosen-and-i-say-let-us-give/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [Grant stood by me when I was crazy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/grant-stood-by-me-when-i-was-crazy/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [You people speak so lightly of war; you don't know what you're talking about. War is a terrible thing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-people-speak-so-lightly-of-war-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-talking/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [He belonged to that army known as invincible in peace, invisible in war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/he-belonged-to-that-army-known-as-invincible-in-peace-invisible-in-war/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [War is at its best barbarism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/war-is-at-its-best-barbarism/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [War is Hell you can NOT refine it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/war-is-hell-you-can-not-refine-it/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

> [I confess, without shame, that I am sick and tired of fighting — its glory is all moonshine; even success the most brilliant is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/i-confess-without-shame-that-i-am-sick-and-tired-of-fighting-its/)

[William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

[Explore all 92 William Tecumseh Sherman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/)

## More Breakfast quotes

> [Get out from that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/)

[Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/)

> [“Well, maybe you can make me dinner sometime,” he says to me, his voice taking on this silken quality that feels like stepping into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/well-maybe-you-can-make-me-dinner-sometime-he-says-to-me-his-voice/)

[Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/)

> [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/)

[George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/)

> [Guys wake up at your place and they expect breakfast. They don't eat bagels and M&M's in the morning. They want things like toast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/guys-wake-up-at-your-place-and-they-expect-breakfast-they-don-t-eat/)

[Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/)

> [My mom cares that I tweeted a picture of my breakfast. She's knows I'm eating and I'm safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/my-mom-cares-that-i-tweeted-a-picture-of-my-breakfast-she-s-knows-i-m/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [I'll take the kids to school after breakfast. I love doing that - love being a dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-ll-take-the-kids-to-school-after-breakfast-i-love-doing-that-love/)

[Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/)

> [To become a celebrity is to become a brand name. There is Ivory Soap, Rice Krispies, and Philip Roth. Ivory is the soap that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/to-become-a-celebrity-is-to-become-a-brand-name-there-is-ivory-soap/)

[Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/)

> [I always wanted to be a movie star. I thought it meant being famous and having breakfast in bed. I didn't know you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-allyson/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-movie-star-i-thought-it-meant-being-famous/)

[June Allyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-allyson/)

> [I am first one in the gym, I do cardio before I have breakfast, and I am training hard every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jinder-mahal/i-am-first-one-in-the-gym-i-do-cardio-before-i-have-breakfast-and-i/)

[Jinder Mahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jinder-mahal/)

> [When I saw 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' and Audrey Hepburn was standing in front of Tiffany's in this Givenchy dress, or when I saw 'All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-whitfield/when-i-saw-breakfast-at-tiffany-s-and-audrey-hepburn-was-standing-in/)

[Lynn Whitfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-whitfield/)

> [Girl, he wants to dip you in Frosted Flakes and have you for breakfast. That's his favorite cereal, by the way." I...had no words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/girl-he-wants-to-dip-you-in-frosted-flakes-and-have-you-for-breakfast/)

[Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/)

> [“    Breakfast was ready. He could hear his father asking for coffee. Why did his father have to yell all the time? Couldn't he talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/breakfast-was-ready-he-could-hear-his-father-asking-for-coffee-why/)

[John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/)

> [Your favorite kind of cake can't be birthday cake, that's like saying your favorite kind of cereal is breakfast cereal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aziz-ansari/your-favorite-kind-of-cake-can-t-be-birthday-cake-that-s-like-saying/)

[Aziz Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aziz-ansari/)

> [I try to cover three food groups at breakfast. I see that as a licence to eat rubbish for the rest of the day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-millican/i-try-to-cover-three-food-groups-at-breakfast-i-see-that-as-a-licence/)

[Sarah Millican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-millican/)

> [I want to be challenged I want to work and I want to feel that I am not being held back that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vassilieva/i-want-to-be-challenged-i-want-to-work-and-i-want-to-feel-that-i-am/)

[Sofia Vassilieva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vassilieva/)

Browse all 1,505 Breakfast quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You may as well say, 'That's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Tecumseh Sherman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-flea-that-dare-eat-his-breakfast/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Breakfast"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-flea-that-dare-eat-his-breakfast/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_breakfast_you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-fle_1428762.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_breakfast_you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-fle_1428762.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20a/william-tecumseh-sherman-7374_breakfast_you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-fle_1428762.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You may as well say, 'That's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.” — William Tecumseh Sherman",
                "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": "William Tecumseh Sherman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You may as well say, 'That's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-flea-that-dare-eat-his-breakfast/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/you-may-as-well-say-that-s-a-valiant-flea-that-dare-eat-his-breakfast/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```