--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just because you smile and act free…" description: "\"“Just because you smile and act free doesn't mean the cage doesn't exist. It merely means you lowered your standards for how far you'll allow yourself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/brittainy-c-cherry-1904_cage_just-because-you-smile-and-act-free-does_2329929.jpg" --- # Just because you smile and act free doesn't mean the cage… ![“Just because you smile and act free doesn't mean the cage doesn't exist. It merely means you lowered your standards for how far you'll allow yourself to fly.” quote by Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/brittainy-c-cherry-1904_cage_just-because-you-smile-and-act-free-does_2329929.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/brittainy-c-cherry-1904_cage_just-because-you-smile-and-act-free-does_2329929.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/brittainy-c-cherry-1904_cage_just-because-you-smile-and-act-free-does_2329929.jpg) > ““Just because you smile and act free doesn't mean the cage doesn't exist. It merely means you lowered your standards for how far you'll allow yourself to fly.”” [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Appearing carefree can mask hidden constraints; personal freedom may be limited by lowered expectations. **In simple terms:** Freedom can be an illusion when standards drop. Key Takeaway Recognize and raise your own standards. Themes freedom self-awareness expectations Mood reflective inspirational Type self-help philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - career advancement - relationships Key Concepts psychology social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What standards have you lowered for comfort? - How can you expand your personal freedom? A Different Perspective The quote may ignore systemic barriers beyond personal standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cage/) ## Related quotes > [Fashion is like music, and when you put music in a cage it doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-dello-russo/fashion-is-like-music-and-when-you-put-music-in-a-cage-it-doesn-t-work/) [Anna Dello Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-dello-russo/) > [Ordinary society is like a paperweight on you: it won't allow you to fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/ordinary-society-is-like-a-paperweight-on-you-it-won-t-allow-you-to/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“When you learn to love your past it becomes the wings that allow you to fly rather than the burden you drag along behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-reynolds/when-you-learn-to-love-your-past-it-becomes-the-wings-that-allow-you/) Victoria Reynolds > [When I started out. I'd drive a hundred miles to do my act for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/when-i-started-out-i-d-drive-a-hundred-miles-to-do-my-act-for-free/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [I have my own dance and production companies, and acting is my creative outlet. It's what I'm passionate about. I've actually created a lifestyle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-j-white/i-have-my-own-dance-and-production-companies-and-acting-is-my/) [Brian J. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-j-white/) > [Students must have initiative; they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves - and be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/students-must-have-initiative-they-should-not-be-mere-imitators-they/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“To be moral, an act must be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-n-rothbard/to-be-moral-an-act-must-be-free/) [Murray N. Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-n-rothbard/) > [“All of us must have initiative, we should not be mere imitators; we must learn to think and act for ourselves and be free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/all-of-us-must-have-initiative-we-should-not-be-mere-imitators-we/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [I act for free, but I demand a huge salary as compensation for all the annoyance of being a public personality. In that sense,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/i-act-for-free-but-i-demand-a-huge-salary-as-compensation-for-all-the/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [Under observation, we act less free, which means we effectively are less free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/under-observation-we-act-less-free-which-means-we-effectively-are/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [My first act of free will shall be to believe in free will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/my-first-act-of-free-will-shall-be-to-believe-in-free-will/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Virtue also depends on ourselves. And so also does vice. For where we are free to act we are also free to refrain from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/virtue-also-depends-on-ourselves-and-so-also-does-vice-for-where-we/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [If you have the mentality that Jon Jones has when he steps into the cage, no one will beat you on the mat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-anderson/if-you-have-the-mentality-that-jon-jones-has-when-he-steps-into-the/) [Corey Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-anderson/) > [“If you can choose your way into a cage, you can choose your way out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/if-you-can-choose-your-way-into-a-cage-you-can-choose-your-way-out/) [Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/) > [“The cage has gotten bigger, and we can expect bigger beasts from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mallory/the-cage-has-gotten-bigger-and-we-can-expect-bigger-beasts-from-it/) Jason Mallory ## More by Brittainy C. Cherry > [“She promised me I wasn’t the product of my yesterdays, and knew I was destined for amazing tomorrows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/she-promised-me-i-wasn-t-the-product-of-my-yesterdays-and-knew-i-was/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“moments in my lifetime, moments that changed me, challenged me, moments that scared me and engulfed me. However, the biggest ones—the most heartbreaking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/moments-in-my-lifetime-moments-that-changed-me-challenged-me-moments/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.”  -Josephine Baker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/the-things-we-truly-love-stay-with-us-always-locked-in-our-hearts-as/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“You deserve so much more than hiding out in high school basements. You don't deserve to be someone's secret, Ashlyn. You deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/you-deserve-so-much-more-than-hiding-out-in-high-school-basements-you/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“The magic is about living for today and allowing yourself to breathe and be happy. My dear boy, to love is the magic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/the-magic-is-about-living-for-today-and-allowing-yourself-to-breathe/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“I’m pretty sure judging someone based on what they have is just as awful as judging someone for what they don’t have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/i-m-pretty-sure-judging-someone-based-on-what-they-have-is-just-as/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“It just feels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/it-just-feels/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“After years of not speaking, I understood the importance of words. How they had the power to hurt individuals, yet they also had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/after-years-of-not-speaking-i-understood-the-importance-of-words-how/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“Before her, I never knew life. After her, I'd never know death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/before-her-i-never-knew-life-after-her-i-d-never-know-death/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“What was his greatest fact"... "His heart. The way he loved so deep and felt so much. The way he loved his sister and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/what-was-his-greatest-fact-his-heart-the-way-he-loved-so-deep-and/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“Everyone deserved at least one friend they could trust with their secrets and fears. With their guilt, with their happiness. Everyone deserved a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/everyone-deserved-at-least-one-friend-they-could-trust-with-their/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“The secret is to listen to what she doesn't say, see what she doesn't do, and hold her when she doesn't cry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/the-secret-is-to-listen-to-what-she-doesn-t-say-see-what-she-doesn-t/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. But if there's anyone I want to be like when I do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/i-don-t-know-what-i-want-to-be-when-i-grow-up-but-if-there-s-anyone-i/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“I don't like how you smell like honey and cotton candy. I dislike your blue eyes that I don't get lost in. I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/i-don-t-like-how-you-smell-like-honey-and-cotton-candy-i-dislike-your/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“It just gets harder,” I said, understanding completely and stepping closer to him. “And it gets old to everyone around you. People get tired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/it-just-gets-harder-i-said-understanding-completely-and-stepping/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) [Explore all 198 Brittainy C. Cherry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) ## More Cage quotes > [“The cage has gotten bigger, and we can expect bigger beasts from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mallory/the-cage-has-gotten-bigger-and-we-can-expect-bigger-beasts-from-it/) Jason Mallory > [“If you can choose your way into a cage, you can choose your way out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-kempton/if-you-can-choose-your-way-into-a-cage-you-can-choose-your-way-out/) [Beth Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-kempton/) > [If you have the mentality that Jon Jones has when he steps into the cage, no one will beat you on the mat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-anderson/if-you-have-the-mentality-that-jon-jones-has-when-he-steps-into-the/) [Corey Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-anderson/) > [I underestimated the difference of fighting in a cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-underestimated-the-difference-of-fighting-in-a-cage/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) > [“Because knowledge is only a cage if you dwell in isolation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-reid/because-knowledge-is-only-a-cage-if-you-dwell-in-isolation/) [Penny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-reid/) > [What do you fear, lady?' he asked. 'A cage,' she said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-do-you-fear-lady-he-asked-a-cage-she-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Soon, I found myself locked in my own cage of fear and desperation, where my experience of life was getting smaller and smaller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/soon-i-found-myself-locked-in-my-own-cage-of-fear-and-desperation/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [Everyone at home sitting on their couches, they think it's so easy to fight. Stepping inside that cage is probably the hardest thing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/everyone-at-home-sitting-on-their-couches-they-think-it-s-so-easy-to/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [It's life or death for me every single time I step in the cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gaethje/it-s-life-or-death-for-me-every-single-time-i-step-in-the-cage/) [Justin Gaethje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gaethje/) > [The sight of a cage is only frightening to the bird that has once been caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-field/the-sight-of-a-cage-is-only-frightening-to-the-bird-that-has-once/) [Rachel Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-field/) > [“Do you want to be kept in a little cage? No! Because it is a horror! But then why do you keep a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-you-want-to-be-kept-in-a-little-cage-no-because-it-is-a-horror-but/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > ['Luke Cage' is a gift. There's so many different ways you can look at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-younge/luke-cage-is-a-gift-there-s-so-many-different-ways-you-can-look-at-it/) [Adrian Younge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-younge/) > [“They let us be, here, in the cage of our ignorance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/they-let-us-be-here-in-the-cage-of-our-ignorance/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Tis Vanth's cage. You can just move it out of the way." "I already have," he grumbles. "With my shin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tis-vanth-s-cage-you-can-just-move-it-out-of-the-way-i-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don’t be a bird that can be restricted from flying by putting in the cage. Be the one, which can fly with the cage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lovely-goyal/don-t-be-a-bird-that-can-be-restricted-from-flying-by-putting-in-the/) [Lovely Goyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lovely-goyal/) [Browse all 431 Cage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just because you smile and act free doesn't mean the cage doesn't exist. It merely means you lowered your standards for how far you'll allow yourself to fly.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brittainy C. 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