--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen…" description: "\"I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/benjamin-franklin-65_america_i-wish-the-bald-eagle-had-not-been-chose_3147719.png" --- # I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the… ![“I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. The turkey is a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of…” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/benjamin-franklin-65_america_i-wish-the-bald-eagle-had-not-been-chose_3147719.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/benjamin-franklin-65_america_i-wish-the-bald-eagle-had-not-been-chose_3147719.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/benjamin-franklin-65_america_i-wish-the-bald-eagle-had-not-been-chose_3147719.png) > “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. The turkey is a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Franklin criticizes the bald eagle as a symbol, preferring the turkey as a more virtuous national emblem. **In simple terms:** He thinks the eagle is morally flawed and the turkey more respectable. Key Takeaway Choose symbols that reflect true values. Themes national identity symbolism morality politics culture Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type historical political cultural When to use this quote - political discourse - educational curricula - public speeches - media commentary Key Concepts patriotism symbolic representation Questions to Reflect On - What symbols best represent your community? - How do symbols shape national identity? A Different Perspective The eagle later became the official emblem despite criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Bald eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bald-eagle/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen/) [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Culinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culinary/) [Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagle/) [Eagle Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagle-chosen-2644682/) [Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagles/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Live by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-by/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-character/) [Native](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) [Our country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-country/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Representatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representatives/) [Respectable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respectable/) [Respectable Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respectable-bird-2579127/) [Robbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robbing/) [Turkey Respectable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turkey-respectable-5636770/) [Turkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turkeys/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [For my own part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. 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Only ever contemporary of this path. I'll sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/her-her-her-future-breezes-implore-me-to-stay-but-i-m-no-future-i-m/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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