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Oh, what is that bird?' 'It is a wheatear. We have seen…

“Oh, what is that bird?' 'It is a wheatear. We have seen between two and three hundred since we set out, and I have told you their name twice, nay, three times.” quote by Patrick O'Brian
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““Oh, what is that bird?' 'It is a wheatear. We have seen between two and three hundred since we set out, and I have told you their name twice, nay, three times.””

Patrick O'Brian

About This Quote

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

A narrator obsessively catalogues birds, highlighting human tendency to over‑detail trivial observations.

In simple terms: Obsessive focus on minor details.

Key Takeaway

Practice restraint in observation.

Themes

observation language humor

Mood

wry observational

Type

literary humorous

When to use this quote

  • birdwatching
  • field research
  • creative writing
  • teaching language

Key Concepts

cataloguing repetition detail overload

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we repeat details?
  • When does detail become distraction?
A Different Perspective

Too much detail can obscure the main narrative.

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