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Not cry. Fly. “I can’t fly,” Bran said. “I can’t, I…

“Not cry. Fly. “I can’t fly,” Bran said. “I can’t, I can’t…” How do you know? Have you ever tried? The voice was high and thin. Bran looked around to see where it was coming from. A crow was spiraling down with him, just out of touch, following him as he fell. “Help me,” he said. I’m trying, the…” quote by George R.R. Martin
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““Not cry. Fly. “I can’t fly,” Bran said. “I can’t, I can’t…” How do you know? Have you ever tried? The voice was high and thin. Bran looked around to see where it was coming from. A crow was spiraling down with him, just out of touch, following him as he fell. “Help me,” he said. I’m trying, the crow replied… The crow took to the air and flapped around Bran’s hand. “You have wings,” Bran pointed out. Maybe you do too. Bran felt along his shoulders, groping for feathers. There are different kinds of wings, the crow said… Bran was falling faster than ever. The grey mists howled around him as he plunged toward the earth below. “What are you doing to me?” he asked the crow, tearful. Teaching you how to fly. “I can’t fly!” You’re flying right now. “I’m falling!” Every flight begins with a fall, the crow said. Look down.””

George R.R. Martin

About This Quote

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

The passage uses a metaphor of learning to fly to illustrate that growth often feels like a fall, and encouragement can reveal hidden potential.

In simple terms: Learning feels like falling but reveals hidden abilities.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the fall as part of learning.

Themes

growth learning confidence resilience mentorship

Mood

hopeful determined reflective

Type

inspirational philosophical narrative

When to use this quote

  • personal development
  • education
  • career change
  • creative projects
  • overcoming fear

Key Concepts

metaphor selfdiscovery courage

Questions to Reflect On

  • What fall have you resisted?
  • How can you turn a setback into a learning moment?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may oversimplify complex struggles that require more than encouragement.

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