--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may be hard for an egg to turn into a…" description: "\"“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for a bird to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/c-s-lewis-2-132_bird_it-may-be-hard-for-an-egg-to-turn-into-a_1094701.jpg" --- # It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be… ![“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for a bird to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/c-s-lewis-2-132_bird_it-may-be-hard-for-an-egg-to-turn-into-a_1094701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/c-s-lewis-2-132_bird_it-may-be-hard-for-an-egg-to-turn-into-a_1094701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/131/c-s-lewis-2-132_bird_it-may-be-hard-for-an-egg-to-turn-into-a_1094701.jpg) > ““It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for a bird to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human potential is likened to an egg needing to hatch; staying ordinary leads to stagnation or decay. **In simple terms:** We must grow beyond comfort to avoid stagnation. Key Takeaway Pursue growth, avoid complacency. Themes growth potential change Mood inspirational thought‑provoking Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - personal transformation - educational reform - spiritual awakening Key Concepts metaphor of hatching existential urgency Questions to Reflect On - What “egg” are you ready to hatch? - How do you confront fear of change? A Different Perspective Change can be painful and uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Egg Hatched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egg-hatched-1148716/) [Eggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eggs/) [Eggs Present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eggs-present-2848645/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Egg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-egg-2848647/) [Harder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder/) [Harder Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harder-bird-2848646/) [Jolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jolly/) [Learn to fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-to-fly/) [Like Eggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-eggs-507906/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sight/) ## Related quotes > [“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/it-may-be-hard-for-an-egg-to-turn-into-a-bird-it-would-be-a-jolly-2/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [You cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-go-on-indefinitely-being-just-an-ordinary-decent-egg-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Well, that egg has hatched. Let’s see what color the chick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/well-that-egg-has-hatched-let-s-see-what-color-the-chick/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“He didnt like eggs…or her for that matter. So when she asked him to stay for breakfast, he declined.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-lynch/he-didnt-like-eggs-or-her-for-that-matter-so-when-she-asked-him-to/) [Conor Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-lynch/) > [I like my relationships like I like my eggs. Over easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-like-my-relationships-like-i-like-my-eggs-over-easy/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Books are like eggs. Somethings you have to crack them open to get anything out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-l-taulbert/books-are-like-eggs-somethings-you-have-to-crack-them-open-to-get/) [Clifton L. Taulbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-l-taulbert/) > [How do you like your eggs: poached, scrambled, or fertilized?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-do-you-like-your-eggs-poached-scrambled-or-fertilized/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So much interviewing these days is about the presenter - I?m a clever boy, I?m going to be smart with people; or it?s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parkinson/so-much-interviewing-these-days-is-about-the-presenter-i-m-a-clever/) [Michael Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parkinson/) > [What I'd give to bring you flowers What I'd give to get you alone What I'd give to bring a smile across your face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugarland/what-i-d-give-to-bring-you-flowers-what-i-d-give-to-get-you-alone/) [Sugarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugarland/) > [“Can I make you some breakfast? Do you like your eggs sunny side up?” “I’m going to start feeling spoiled if you keep up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kirsten-maravel/can-i-make-you-some-breakfast-do-you-like-your-eggs-sunny-side-up-i-m/) [Shawn Kirsten Maravel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kirsten-maravel/) > [“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights. You could no more call them back then ignore the mess they left when they fell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/words-are-like-eggs-dropped-from-great-heights-you-could-no-more-call/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I was at a restaurant, and I ordered a chicken sandwich, but I don't think the waitress understood me. She asked me, "How would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-was-at-a-restaurant-and-i-ordered-a-chicken-sandwich-but-i-don-t/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I like my cinema gritty, I like my eggs gritty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-like-my-cinema-gritty-i-like-my-eggs-gritty/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“I quite like eggs,” I replied firmly, well aware that the enchantments he described would all turn strange and sour, even deadly, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-rogerson/i-quite-like-eggs-i-replied-firmly-well-aware-that-the-enchantments/) [Margaret Rogerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-rogerson/) > [“Opportunities like eggs, come one at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/american-proverb/opportunities-like-eggs-come-one-at-a-time/) [American proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/american-proverb/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Bird quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Some minds corrode and grow inactive under the loss of personal liberty; others grow morbid and irritable; but it is the nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/some-minds-corrode-and-grow-inactive-under-the-loss-of-personal/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Set the bird's wings with gold and it will never again soar in thesky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/set-the-bird-s-wings-with-gold-and-it-will-never-again-soar-in-thesky/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“He unfixes the metal notch and slips his hand around the body of the bird. Feels its heat, its small heart beating. He stares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-schuyler/he-unfixes-the-metal-notch-and-slips-his-hand-around-the-body-of-the/) [Nina Schuyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-schuyler/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/) [Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [Real like sucks the life out of losers. if you want to fuck with the eagles, you must learn how to fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/real-like-sucks-the-life-out-of-losers-if-you-want-to-fuck-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If we studied birds ,maybe we could learn to be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/if-we-studied-birds-maybe-we-could-learn-to-be-free/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) [Browse all 4,802 Bird quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for a bird to learn to fly while remaining an egg. 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