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55 Fish Quotes And Sayings Swimming In Inspiration

The vast and diverse world of fish, stretching from whale sharks to tiny minnows, offers a wealth of knowledge and insight. Just as fish swim in practically every body of water, their life lessons ripple through our own experiences. Our collection of fish quotes goes beyond just discussing these creatures; it also discusses sustainable fishing and fishing as a fulfilling pastime. 

So let's explore together, immersing in the lessons and narratives that our finned friends inspire.

Related Read: Ocean Quotes.

Fish Quotes To Appreciate The Sea Creatures

In the expansive world beneath the waters, thousands of diverse fish species thrive, each defined by their unique biological characteristics. Fish spread into various classes of vertebrates that live primarily in aquatic habitats — from teeming coral reefs to the deepest, darkest ocean trenches. 

Among them are creatures as diverse as the diminutive seahorse and the fearsome shark — surprising to many, both are actually fish. With a surprising spectrum of sizes, shapes, and survival strategies, the diversity of fish is a testament to nature's ingenuity.

After reading the fish appreciation from various people below, get a detailed understanding of these creatures through our articles on types of fish and fish facts. Do not forget to give love to the ugly fishes, too!

"I want everybody to go jump in the ocean to see for themselves how beautiful it is, how important it is to get acquainted with fish swimming in the ocean, rather than just swimming with lemon slices and butter." -Sylvia Earle #trvst #quotes #bethechange #thinkgreen #fish #fish #ocean

"I want everybody to go jump in the ocean to see for themselves how beautiful it is, how important it is to get acquainted with fish swimming in the ocean, rather than just swimming with lemon slices and butter."
- Sylvia Earle

"I think humans have to learn a new way of dwelling on this earth. A way of living with their companions: animals, plants and fish." -John Burnside #trvst #quotes #bethechange #planetearthfirst #fish #plants #earth #fish

"I think humans have to learn a new way of dwelling on this earth. A way of living with their companions: animals, plants and fish."
- John Burnside

"The shark is the apex predator in the sea. Sharks have molded evolution for 450 million years. All fish species that are prey to the sharks have had their behavior, their speed, their camouflage, their defense mechanisms molded by the shark." -Paul Watson #trvst #quotes #collectiveaction #changetheworld #fish #fish

"The shark is the apex predator in the sea. Sharks have molded evolution for 450 million years. All fish species that are prey to the sharks have had their behavior, their speed, their camouflage, their defense mechanisms molded by the shark."
- Paul Watson

"Beyond individual intelligence, nature has also cultivated intelligence through swarms. For example, bees, birds and fish act in a more intelligent way when acting together as a swarm, flock or school." -Louis B. Rosenberg #trvst #quotes #thinkgreen #changetheworld #fish #nature #birds #fish

"Beyond individual intelligence, nature has also cultivated intelligence through swarms. For example, bees, birds and fish act in a more intelligent way when acting together as a swarm, flock or school."
- Louis B. Rosenberg

Powerful Reminders On The Importance Of Fish

Fish play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. They are crucial in food chains, acting as prey for numerous marine animals and some birds, like penguins and eagles. They are also predators controlling the population of smaller creatures. 

Moreover, fishes aid nutrient cycling within water systems1. Alarmingly, if fish numbers dwindle to extinction, it will trigger chain reactions, disrupting our ecosystems and affecting our very existence.

Here are some reminders from biologists to concerned citizens on why we should protect these vast groups of marine animals.

"Every fish fertilizes the water in a way that generates the plankton that ultimately leads back into the food chain, but also yields oxygen, grabs carbon - it's a part of what makes the ocean function and what makes the planet function." -Sylvia Earle #trvst #quotes #socialimpact #dogood #fish #food #fish #planet #water

"Every fish fertilizes the water in a way that generates the plankton that ultimately leads back into the food chain, but also yields oxygen, grabs carbon - it's a part of what makes the ocean function and what makes the planet function."
- Sylvia Earle

"If we wipe out the fish, the oceans are going to die. If the oceans die, we die. We can't live on this planet with a dead ocean." -Paul Watson #trvst #quotes #changetheworld #ecoconscious #fish #planet #ocean #fish

"If we wipe out the fish, the oceans are going to die. If the oceans die, we die. We can't live on this planet with a dead ocean."
- Paul Watson

"If we keep on destroying fish, there won't be any left. If the oceans die, we all die. It's as simple as that." -Sylvie Guillem #trvst #quotes #socialchange #thinkgreen #fish #fish #simple

"If we keep on destroying fish, there won't be any left. If the oceans die, we all die. It's as simple as that."
- Sylvie Guillem

"What is a fish without a river? What is a bird without a tree to nest in? What is an Endangered Species Act without any enforcement mechanism to ensure their habitat is protected? It is nothing." -Jay Inslee #trvst #quotes #changetheworld #impact #fish #fish #tree #bird

"What is a fish without a river? What is a bird without a tree to nest in? What is an Endangered Species Act without any enforcement mechanism to ensure their habitat is protected? It is nothing."
- Jay Inslee

Notable Quotes About Sustainable Fishing

Even if global production of fish and seafood quadrupled over the past half a century, it could not keep up with the demand of the doubled human population who eat these types of food almost twice as much2

Due to overfishing, many species are hunted to unsustainable levels, disrupting fragile aquatic ecosystems. The impact extends to humans, too, with communities that rely on fishing for sustenance and livelihood feeling the pinch. 

Sustainable fishing is not just a choice. It's an urgent necessity to restore balance and protect our future. After checking the fish quotes below, visit our articles on the environmental impacts of fishing and the most sustainable fish.

"Seventy percent of the fish we eat is black market, fished in violation of international laws. Our ignorance makes us unwilling partners in crime. Rogue economics is turning the global market into our worst nightmare." -Loretta Napoleoni #trvst #quotes #takeaction #ecoconscious #fish #fish

"Seventy percent of the fish we eat is black market, fished in violation of international laws. Our ignorance makes us unwilling partners in crime. Rogue economics is turning the global market into our worst nightmare."
- Loretta Napoleoni

"The ocean is the lifeblood of our world. If we were to lose our fish that we appreciate so much by overfishing; or if we were to lose some of our favorite beaches to overbuilding and pollution, then how would we feel? It's become a case of not knowing what you've got until it's gone." -Aaron Peirsol #trvst #quotes #beinspired #bethechange #fish #fish #world #beaches #ocean

"The ocean is the lifeblood of our world. If we were to lose our fish that we appreciate so much by overfishing; or if we were to lose some of our favorite beaches to overbuilding and pollution, then how would we feel? It's become a case of not knowing what you've got until it's gone."
- Aaron Peirsol

"We are being choked to death by the amount of plastic that we throw away. It's killing our oceans. It's entering into our bodies in the fish we eat." -Kevin Bacon #trvst #quotes #beinspired #thinkgreen #fish #fish

"We are being choked to death by the amount of plastic that we throw away. It's killing our oceans. It's entering into our bodies in the fish we eat."
- Kevin Bacon

"Ten percent of the big fish still remain. There are still some blue whales. There are still some krill in Antarctica. There are a few oysters in Chesapeake Bay. Half the coral reefs are still in pretty good shape, a jeweled belt around the middle of the planet. There's still time, but not a lot, to turn things around." -Sylvia Earle #trvst #quotes #ecoconscious #gogreen #fish #planet #fish

"Ten percent of the big fish still remain. There are still some blue whales. There are still some krill in Antarctica. There are a few oysters in Chesapeake Bay. Half the coral reefs are still in pretty good shape, a jeweled belt around the middle of the planet. There's still time, but not a lot, to turn things around."
- Sylvia Earle

Profound Quotes About Fishing As A Hobby

Just as sustainable fishing practices are a must on a large scale, ethical fishing is equally essential for hobbyists. This includes respecting regional restrictions, catch-and-release practices, and avoiding stress to the fish. 

With that said, fishing as a hobby is not just an act of catching fish but also a pathway to various benefits. It improves our overall mental health by providing stress relief from everyday life.

Since it is a physical activity, it supports general fitness. Meanwhile, it is also about the time spent with people you treasure while connecting intimately with nature.

The following fishing quotes tell us how valuable of a pastime it can be.

"Fishing is not just about catching fish; it's about understanding the delicate balance of nature." -Aldo Leopold #trvst #quotes #bethechange #impact #fish #nature #fish

"Fishing is not just about catching fish; it's about understanding the delicate balance of nature."
- Aldo Leopold

"If I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would have ended long ago." -Zane Grey #trvst #quotes #bethechange #socialchange #fish #fish

"If I fished only to capture fish, my fishing trips would have ended long ago."
- Zane Grey

"To go fishing is a chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue water." -Herbert Hoover #trvst #quotes #bethechange #collectiveaction #fish #sun #water #pure

"To go fishing is a chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue water."
- Herbert Hoover

"Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it." -Harry Middleton #trvst #quotes #ecoconscious #changetheworld #fish #life #deeper

"Fishing is not an escape from life, but often a deeper immersion into it."
- Harry Middleton

"Fishing is not just a hobby; it's a state of mind." -Mariano Rivera #trvst #quotes #changetheworld #beinspired #fish

"Fishing is not just a hobby; it's a state of mind."
- Mariano Rivera

"I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there." -Robert Altman #trvst #quotes #beinspired #impact #fish #water #love

"I love fishing. You put that line in the water and you don't know what's on the other end. Your imagination is under there."
- Robert Altman

"Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers." -Herbert Hoover #trvst #quotes #socialimpact #socialchange #fish #fish

"Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers."
- Herbert Hoover

"The greatest tragedy in life is to spend your whole life fishing only to discover it was never fish that you were after." -Henry David Thoreau #trvst #quotes #socialimpact #dogood #fish #life #fish

"The greatest tragedy in life is to spend your whole life fishing only to discover it was never fish that you were after."
- Henry David Thoreau

"Fishing is an affirmation of life's richness and our profound interconnectedness to the natural world." -Carl Safina #trvst #quotes #bethechange #socialimpact #fish #world #natural

"Fishing is an affirmation of life's richness and our profound interconnectedness to the natural world."
- Carl Safina

"There are always new places to go fishing. For any fisherman, there's always a new place, always a new horizon." -Jack Nicklaus #trvst #quotes #gogreen #bethechange #fish

"There are always new places to go fishing. For any fisherman, there's always a new place, always a new horizon."
- Jack Nicklaus

Lighthearted Fishing Quotes That Make You Smile

According to the latest numbers from Statista, an estimated 54.5 million Americans visit water bodies to fish. This makes recreational fishing a popular hobby in the country.

Full of patience and anticipation, this pastime consistently produces a range of memories for everyone involved. From triumphant catches to humorous mishaps, these experiences are unforgettable stories shared around campfires, bringing a sense of shared amusement and camaraderie.

If you are into this activity, laugh as you relate to the funny fishing quotes below.

"We're at the creek catching fish with a holey net. Understandably, this may take some time. Come join us if you enjoy frustration." -Glendy Vanderah #trvst #quotes #socialimpact #socialchange #fish #fish

"We're at the creek catching fish with a holey net. Understandably, this may take some time. Come join us if you enjoy frustration."
- Glendy Vanderah

"Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting." -Dave Barry #trvst #quotes #bethechange #planetearthfirst #fish #fish

"Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting."
- Dave Barry

"A woman who has never seen her husband fishing doesn't know what a patient man she married!" -Unknown #trvst #quotes #collectiveaction #thinkgreen #fish

"A woman who has never seen her husband fishing doesn't know what a patient man she married!"
- Unknown

"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot." -Steven Wright #trvst #quotes #ecoconscious #takeaction #fish

"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot."
- Steven Wright

"A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other." -Samuel Johnson #trvst #quotes #socialchange #planetearthfirst #fish

"A fishing rod is a stick with a hook at one end and a fool at the other."
- Samuel Johnson

"My biggest worry is that when I'm dead and gone, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it." -Koos Brandt #trvst #quotes #bethechange #thinkgreen #fish

"My biggest worry is that when I'm dead and gone, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it."
- Koos Brandt

"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." -Doug Larson #trvst #quotes #thinkgreen #impact #fish #life #people

"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
- Doug Larson

"Anyone can be a fisherman in May." -Ernest Hemingway #trvst #quotes #bethechange #gogreen #fish

"Anyone can be a fisherman in May."
- Ernest Hemingway

"Many of the most highly publicized events of my presidency are not nearly as memorable or significant in my life as fishing with my daddy." -Jimmy Carter #trvst #quotes #gogreen #socialchange #fish #life

"Many of the most highly publicized events of my presidency are not nearly as memorable or significant in my life as fishing with my daddy."
- Jimmy Carter

Quotes About Familiar Fish Metaphors

Fish has also given birth to many metaphors that we often use in our daily conversations. For instance, teaching someone to fish instead of giving them a fish emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and long-term solutions over short-term aid. 

On the other hand, being a "big fish in a small pond" reflects a situation where one may excel in a restricted sphere, which might limit competition and growth opportunities. Read more of these familiar fish sayings through the passages below.

"If you give a person a fish, they'll fish for a day. But if you train a person to fish, they'll fish for a lifetime." -Dan Quayle #trvst #quotes #collectiveaction #gogreen #fish #fish #person #lifetime

"If you give a person a fish, they'll fish for a day. But if you train a person to fish, they'll fish for a lifetime."
- Dan Quayle

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." -Maimonides #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #impact #fish #fish #lifetime

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
- Maimonides

"You can be a big fish in a small pond, but you're only going to be competing against people at that level." -Finn Balor #trvst #quotes #gogreen #socialimpact #fish #fish #people

"You can be a big fish in a small pond, but you're only going to be competing against people at that level."
- Finn Balor

"I prefer being a small fish in a big pond." -Stacy Keibler #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #takeaction #fish #fish

"I prefer being a small fish in a big pond."
- Stacy Keibler

"I'd rather be a big fish in a specialized pond than a little, little fish in a more generalized big pond." -Leonard Lauder #trvst #quotes #takeaction #bethechange #fish #fish

"I'd rather be a big fish in a specialized pond than a little, little fish in a more generalized big pond."
- Leonard Lauder

More Fish Lessons To Learn From

Since humans started fishing around 40,000 years ago, numerous fishing narratives have intertwined with our collective consciousness. 

For example, the Finnish proverb below encourages us to aim high and value the pursuit itself. Similarly, the fish saying from Spain instills a powerful truth about embracing the challenges that come with achieving worthwhile goals.

Reflect on the lessons from other fish sayings in this section.

"Big fish are worth of fishing even if you don't catch one." -Finnish Wisdom #trvst #quotes #impact #dogood #fish #fish

"Big fish are worth of fishing even if you don't catch one."
- Finnish Wisdom

"He who wants to catch fish must not mind getting wet." -Spanish Proverb #trvst #quotes #gogreen #impact #fish #fish

"He who wants to catch fish must not mind getting wet."
- Spanish Proverb

"Dead fish don't swim around in jealous tides." -Scott Weiland #trvst #quotes #ecoconscious #socialchange #fish #fish

"Dead fish don't swim around in jealous tides."
- Scott Weiland

"Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish." -Ovid #trvst #quotes #changetheworld #gogreen #fish #fish

"Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish."
- Ovid

"A little fish is supper for a large fish." -Estonian Wisdom #trvst #quotes #gogreen #socialimpact #fish #fish

"A little fish is supper for a large fish."
- Estonian Wisdom

"Even a fish wouldn't get into trouble if it kept its mouth shut." -Korean Proverb #trvst #quotes #changetheworld #takeaction #fish #fish

"Even a fish wouldn't get into trouble if it kept its mouth shut."
- Korean Proverb

"Don't be a fish; be a frog. Swim in the water and jump when you hit ground." -Kim Young-ha #trvst #quotes #gogreen #thinkgreen #fish #water #fish

"Don't be a fish; be a frog. Swim in the water and jump when you hit ground."
- Kim Young-ha

"It is only in deep waters that a fish knows how strong it is." -Matshona Dhliwayo #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #gogreen #fish #fish

"It is only in deep waters that a fish knows how strong it is."
- Matshona Dhliwayo

Noteworthy Fish Quotes From Authors And Artists

Fish tales also swim through the currents of literature and other art forms, bringing readers insightful perspectives.

The first quote from Mark Twain offers caution about the risks of exaggeration or deceit, especially when your audience is familiar with the facts. Twain’s message embodies the timeless principle of honesty.

Here are more fish sayings from authors like Ernest Hemingway to artists like the creator of the show Spongebob.

"Do not tell fish stories where the people know you. Particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish." -Mark Twain #trvst #quotes #beinspired #socialimpact #fish #people #fish

"Do not tell fish stories where the people know you. Particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish."
- Mark Twain

"There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm." -Patrick F. McManus #trvst #quotes #bethechange #thinkgreen #fish

"There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm."
- Patrick F. McManus

"The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats." -Ernest Hemingway #trvst #quotes #collectiveaction #changetheworld #fish

"The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats."
- Ernest Hemingway

"When you see a fish you don't think of its scales, do you? You think of its speed, its floating, flashing body seen through the water... If I made fins and eyes and scales, I would arrest its movement, give a pattern or shape of reality. I want just the flash of its spirit." -Constantin Brancusi #trvst #quotes #beinspired #thinkgreen #fish #water #spirit #fish #pattern

"When you see a fish you don't think of its scales, do you? You think of its speed, its floating, flashing body seen through the water... If I made fins and eyes and scales, I would arrest its movement, give a pattern or shape of reality. I want just the flash of its spirit."
- Constantin Brancusi

"I am an ocean lover and fish watcher and had studied marine biology and even taught marine sciences before I got into animation." -Stephen Hillenburg #trvst #quotes #socialimpact #socialchange #fish #fish #ocean #biology

"I am an ocean lover and fish watcher and had studied marine biology and even taught marine sciences before I got into animation."
- Stephen Hillenburg

"I've memorized all the fish in the sea I've memorized each opportunity strangled and I remember awakening one morning and finding everything smeared with the color of forgotten love and I've memorized that too." -Charles Bukowski, What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire #trvst #quotes #socialimpact #ecoconscious #fish #awakening #opportunity #fish #love

"I've memorized all the fish in the sea I've memorized each opportunity strangled and I remember awakening one morning and finding everything smeared with the color of forgotten love and I've memorized that too."
- Charles Bukowski, What Matters Most is How Well You Walk Through the Fire

Other Fish Quotes To Ponder On

Fish surface in our conversations and thoughts more frequently than we may realize, serving as reminders about various facets of life. Some quotes about fishing teach us to respect nature and promote conservation. Fish is also involved in dietary talks, encouraging or discouraging this type of food choice. 

Contemplate the rest of the quotes below, and don’t forget to share your favorite on social media.

"No pills, not even aspirin, and certainly no supplements ever enter my mouth - everything I need comes from my fish and vegetarian diet, which incorporates many different kinds of fruit and vegetables every week." -David H. Murdock #trvst #quotes #bethechange #impact #fish #fish #diet

"No pills, not even aspirin, and certainly no supplements ever enter my mouth - everything I need comes from my fish and vegetarian diet, which incorporates many different kinds of fruit and vegetables every week."
- David H. Murdock

"I just learned how to scuba dive. I'd been scared to rely on one little air hose for oxygen, but swimming with all those fish is exhilarating." -Cheryl Hines #trvst #quotes #socialchange #dogood #fish #fish

"I just learned how to scuba dive. I'd been scared to rely on one little air hose for oxygen, but swimming with all those fish is exhilarating."
- Cheryl Hines

"Nobody can legitimately claim to be a marine ecologist and conservationist while continuing to eat fish. It is the ultimate form of hypocrisy." -Paul Watson #trvst #quotes #takeaction #gogreen #fish #fish

"Nobody can legitimately claim to be a marine ecologist and conservationist while continuing to eat fish. It is the ultimate form of hypocrisy."
- Paul Watson

"Whenever the lion fish in the fish tank in the captain's ready room died it was always a sad moment." -Patrick Stewart #trvst #quotes #ecoconscious #bethechange #fish #fish

"Whenever the lion fish in the fish tank in the captain's ready room died it was always a sad moment."
- Patrick Stewart

"Man can now fly in the air like a bird, swim under the ocean like a fish, he can burrow into the ground like a mole. Now if only he could walk the earth like a man, this would be paradise." -Tommy Douglas #trvst #quotes #beinspired #bethechange #fish #bird #earth #fish #ocean

"Man can now fly in the air like a bird, swim under the ocean like a fish, he can burrow into the ground like a mole. Now if only he could walk the earth like a man, this would be paradise."
- Tommy Douglas

1

Layman, C. A., Allgeier, J. E., Yeager, L. A., & Stoner, E. W. (2013). Thresholds of ecosystem response to nutrient enrichment from fish aggregations. Ecology, 94(2), 530–536.

2

Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2021) - “Fish and Overfishing” Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/fish-and-overfishing' [Online Resource]

By Isabela Sedano, BEng.

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.

Photo by Juanma Clemente-Alloza on Unsplash
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