23 Rat Quotes About The Misunderstood Rodents
Rats hold a complex role in our world; they are integral to ecosystems yet often viewed unfavorably due to health concerns they can bring. Beyond their physical impact, they hold various symbolism, from literary themes to everyday expressions. Explore our collection of rat quotes that capture these creatures' essence.
Related Read: Animals That Start With R.
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Rat Quotes About The Rodent's Negative Reputation
Typically seen as pests, rats have tarnished reputations due to their connection with diseases and destruction. They thrive in environments close to human populations, which sometimes leads to conflict. Despite this, rats play crucial roles in ecosystems. They maintain balance by aiding in decomposition and serving as prey for other animals.
Other times, they are also beloved pets by rodent lovers. Whatever you view them as, let's show them respect by honoring their place in nature. Here are some quotes echoing this sentiment.
"I had mice that I kept as pets when I was very young, and I've always liked the way they look. Even rats. I'm not scared of them."
- Catherine Deneuve
"It annoys me a bit how people like squirrels but not rats. at the end of the day they're the same thing, except that squirrels have had a better upbringing."
- Karl Pilkington
"I don't like rats any more than the next bloke, but they ain't wicked and cruel like people can be. They're just ratty in their habits."
- Philip Pullman
"There were two sets of encyclopedias that had sections on rats. From them we learned that we were about the most hated animals on earth, except maybe snakes and germs. That seemed strange to us, and unjust... But people think we spread diseases, and I suppose possibly we do, though never intentionally, and surely we never spread as many diseases as people themselves do."
- Robert C. O'Brien, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
"A rat is neither good nor evil. It does what a rat has to do."
- Jo Nesbø
Various Quotes About The Rat Race
The term "rat race" describes the endless, frantic quest to get ahead in life, much like rats tirelessly running through a maze. It reflects on our competitive lives, often working with a monotonous routine with little rest.
Escaping this cycle can mean achieving fulfilling, balanced living. Stepping out of the race creates space for personal growth and better well-being. After checking the quotes below, visit our collection of balance quotes.
"Nature shows me incredible beauty standing just beyond the rat race. It's always there if I'm open enough to see it."
- Dewitt Jones
"A rat race is for rats. We're not rats. We're human beings. Reject the insidious pressures in society that would blunt your critical faculties to all that is happening around you, that would caution silence in the face of injustice lest you jeopardise your chances of promotion and self-advancement."
- Jimmy Reid
"I will not join the rat race because I'm not a rat. And I will not blindly follow a specific faith because I'm not a bat. The only race I'll take part in is for humans being humane. It's called the human race, and sadly it's got the least participants."
- Suzy Kassem
"To my deep mortification my father once said to me, ‘You care for nothing but shooting, dogs, and rat-catching, and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family.’"
- Charles Darwin
Metaphorical Rat Quotes To Think About
Rats embody metaphors for cunning and survival. Winston Churchill's words, "Even a cornered rat is dangerous," highlight this idea. Even the smallest creature can fight back fiercely when pushed to the edge. This saying serves as a reminder to treat others with care, avoiding driving anyone to a point of desperation.
What other rat metaphors do you know? Decipher more as you browse through the quotes below.
"Beware of driving men to desperation. Even a cornered rat is dangerous."
- Winston Churchill
"Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in the cage."
- Billy Corgan
"You dirty, double-crossing rat."
- James Cagney, Blonde Crazy (Motion picture, 1931)
"Better to share a house with rats than with a dissatisfied lover."
- Marty Rubin
"When cats are hairdressers, rats will always go around with uncombed hair."
- African Proverb
"It is better to own 10% of an elephant than 100% of a rat."
- Arthur Mutambara
"You learned the two greatest things in life, never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut."
- Robert De Niro
"By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation."
- Edmund Burke
"It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or disposition is open to flattery; for poison would not be spread if the rats ate it not."
- James Vila Blake
"Besides, rats survived so well because they were rats. They knew when to keep quiet and they knew when to squeal."
- Danielle Bennett
"Rats have a sense of humor. Rats, in fact think the world is very funny. And they are right, dear reader. They are right."
- Kate Dicamillo
Noteworthy Rat Quotes In Literature
In literature, rats wear many hats, from villains to symbols of societal issues. In Robert Browning's "The Pied Piper of Hamelin," rats are not just pests but represent a moral lesson. They embody the consequences of a town's broken promises. Browning uses them to weave a tale of integrity, warning of the peril of being deceitful.
The story shows us how the rodent can carry deeper meanings, teaching us lessons that resonate far beyond the pages. After reading more words from the literary works below, read the full story or poems to understand the creature's symbolism better.
"Common hypocrites pass themselves off as doves; political and literary hypocrites pose as eagles. But don't be fooled by their eagle-like appearance. These are not eagles, but rats or dogs."
- Anton Chekhov
"…then they cross-up all the accumulated animal life to date and fetch out a mammal, and start-in diluting again till there's cows and tigers and rats and elephants and monkeys and everything you want down to the Missing Link, and out of him and a mermaid they propagate Man, and there you are! Everything ship-shape and finished-up, and nothing to do but lay low and wait and see if it was worth the time and expense."
- Mark Twain, The Refuge of the Derelicts
"Rats! They fought the dogs and killed the cats, and bit the babies in the cradles, and ate the cheese out of the vats, and licked the soup from the cooks' own ladles."
- Robert Browning, The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Isabela is a determined millennial passionate about continuously seeking out ways to make an impact. With a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with honors, Isabela’s research expertise and interest in artistic works, coupled with a creative mindset, offers readers a fresh take on different environmental, social, and personal development topics.
