Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.

-Ali, Muhammad formerly  Cassius Clay
c.1964  Of his boxing style. Quoted in G Sullivan Cassius Clay (1964), ch.8.

Those who have handled scienceshave been either men of experiment or men of dogmas. The men of experiment are like the ant; they only collect and use; thereasonersresemble spiders, who make cobwebs out of their own substance.But the bee takes a middle course; it gathers its material from the flowers of the garden and of the field, but transforms and digests by a power of its own. Not unlike this is the true business of philosophy.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans
  Novum Organum bk.1, aphorism 95.

The Pedigree of Honey Does not concern the Beeö A Clover, any time, to him, Is Aristocracyö

-Dickinson, Emily Elizabeth
c.1884  Complete Poems, no.1627 (first published1890).

For Love's sake, kiss me once again, I long, and should not beg in vain, Here's none to spy, or see; Why do you doubt, or stay? I'll taste as lightly as the Bee, That doth but touch his flower, and flies away. Once more, and (faith) I will be gone: Can he that loves, ask less than one?

-Jonson, Ben
The Underwood,'A Celebration of Charis', no.7 (published1640).

There in close covert by some brook, Where no profaner eye may look, Hide me from day's garish eye, While the bee with honied thigh, That at her flowery work doth sing, And the waters murmuring And such consort as they keep, Entice the dewy-feathered Sleep.

-Milton,John
c.1631 Il Penseroso, l.139^46.