--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had to choose, I would rather have…" description: "\"If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.\" — Charles Lindbergh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/charles-lindbergh-2267_airplane_if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-b_1951313.png" --- # If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than… ![“If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.” quote by Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/charles-lindbergh-2267_airplane_if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-b_1951313.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/charles-lindbergh-2267_airplane_if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-b_1951313.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/charles-lindbergh-2267_airplane_if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-b_1951313.png) > “If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.” [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing natural freedom over mechanical speed reflects a preference for authenticity. **In simple terms:** Birds over planes. Key Takeaway Value natural over artificial. Themes freedom authenticity choice Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - travel - environmental activism - personal values Key Concepts existentialism technology critique Questions to Reflect On - What does authenticity mean to you? - When do you choose nature over tech? A Different Perspective Modern tech offers convenience that can outweigh authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Airplanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/airplanes/) [Birds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birds/) ## Related quotes > [I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/i-realized-that-if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-birds-than/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [The construction of an airplane is simple compared with the evolutionary achievement of a bird. If I had to choose, I would rather have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/the-construction-of-an-airplane-is-simple-compared-with-the/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Lying under an acacia tree with the sound of the dawn around me, I realized more clearly the facts that man should never overlook:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/lying-under-an-acacia-tree-with-the-sound-of-the-dawn-around-me-i/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes. In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/i-realized-that-if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-birds-than-2/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [If an ancient man saw planes two thousand years ago, he would've thought they were birds or angels from another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/if-an-ancient-man-saw-planes-two-thousand-years-ago-he-would-ve-2/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [People don't talk to me on airplanes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/people-don-t-talk-to-me-on-airplanes/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [Cantonese will eat anything in the sky but airplanes, anything in the sea but submarines, and anything with four legs but the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-bennett/cantonese-will-eat-anything-in-the-sky-but-airplanes-anything-in-the/) Amanda Bennett > [I spent about seven years during the Vietnam War flight-testing airplanes for the Air Force. And then I went in and I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burt-rutan/i-spent-about-seven-years-during-the-vietnam-war-flight-testing/) [Burt Rutan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burt-rutan/) > [Like many air travelers, I am aware that airplanes fly aided by capricious fairies and invisible strings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-maarten-troost/like-many-air-travelers-i-am-aware-that-airplanes-fly-aided-by/) [J. Maarten Troost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-maarten-troost/) > [Grounding airplanes to cover your butt would never have let Orville or Wilbur change the world. We would still be spending weeks to cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-bethune/grounding-airplanes-to-cover-your-butt-would-never-have-let-orville/) [Gordon Bethune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-bethune/) > [We produce motor drive electronics; we produce cargo systems for large narrow-body and wide-body airplanes and, more importantly, the emergency escape chute that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-r-chenevert/we-produce-motor-drive-electronics-we-produce-cargo-systems-for-large/) [Louis R. Chenevert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-r-chenevert/) > [I wanted to travel from the beginning. As a kid, I used to dream about airplanes, before I ever flew in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/i-wanted-to-travel-from-the-beginning-as-a-kid-i-used-to-dream-about/) [Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/) > [Anyone who's not interested in model airplanes must have a screw loose somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-maccready/anyone-who-s-not-interested-in-model-airplanes-must-have-a-screw/) [Paul MacCready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-maccready/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-you-can-either-work-for-a-living-or-you-can-fly/) Len Morgan ## More by Charles Lindbergh > [Shut your eyes and you will know what I mean by thought entombed in darkness. Light comes through the senses, and not only through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/shut-your-eyes-and-you-will-know-what-i-mean-by-thought-entombed-in/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [If I were entering adulthood now instead of in the environment of fifty years ago, I would choose a career that kept me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-were-entering-adulthood-now-instead-of-in-the-environment-of/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Why should anyone think a white skin superior in evaluating the qualities of human life? I did not really admire a white skin so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/why-should-anyone-think-a-white-skin-superior-in-evaluating-the/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [True, the fragile bodies of his fellows do not weigh down his plane; true, the fretful minds of weaker men are missing from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/true-the-fragile-bodies-of-his-fellows-do-not-weigh-down-his-plane/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Air power is new to all our countries. It brings advantages to some and weakens others; it calls for readjustment everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/air-power-is-new-to-all-our-countries-it-brings-advantages-to-some/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Consciousness grows independent of the ordinary senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/consciousness-grows-independent-of-the-ordinary-senses/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Instead of agitating for war, the Jewish groups in this country should be opposing it in every possible way, for they will be among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/instead-of-agitating-for-war-the-jewish-groups-in-this-country-should/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [When I watch species other than my own, their instinct's wisdom is what most impresses and disturbs me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/when-i-watch-species-other-than-my-own-their-instinct-s-wisdom-is/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [My aging body transmits an ageless life stream. Molecular and atomic replacement change life's composition. Molecules take part in structure and in training, countless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/my-aging-body-transmits-an-ageless-life-stream-molecular-and-atomic/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [We are all consumers and should all be producers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/we-are-all-consumers-and-should-all-be-producers/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [At the end of the first half-century of engine-driven flight, we are confronted with the stark fact that the historical significance of aircraft has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/at-the-end-of-the-first-half-century-of-engine-driven-flight-we-are/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Under the federal reserve act, panics are scientifically created. The present panic is the first scientifically created one, worked out as we figured, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/under-the-federal-reserve-act-panics-are-scientifically-created-the/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [I'm not bound to be in aviation at all. I'm here only because I love the sky and flying more than anything else on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/i-m-not-bound-to-be-in-aviation-at-all-i-m-here-only-because-i-love/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [Man is a mixture of desires that extend beyond his knowledge and often result in action conflicting with rationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/man-is-a-mixture-of-desires-that-extend-beyond-his-knowledge-and/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [The Jews are one of the principle forces attempting to lead the U.S. into the war. The Jews greatest danger to this country lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/the-jews-are-one-of-the-principle-forces-attempting-to-lead-the-u-s/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) [Explore all 175 Charles Lindbergh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) ## More Airplane quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I shoot in black and white, sometimes color, sometimes if it looks good I shoot out the window of the airplanes or whatever, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-shoot-in-black-and-white-sometimes-color-sometimes-if-it-looks-good/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I've jumped out of an airplane 34 times. I've dove 212 feet under water. I've done a lot of things that defied death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-ve-jumped-out-of-an-airplane-34-times-i-ve-dove-212-feet-under/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I believe that anyone who flies in an airplane and doesn't spend most of his time looking out the window wastes his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-reisner/i-believe-that-anyone-who-flies-in-an-airplane-and-doesn-t-spend-most/) [Marc Reisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-reisner/) > [We live in a world where it has become politically correct to avoid absolutes. Many want all religions to be given the same honor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-in-a-world-where-it-has-become-politically-correct-to-avoid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On the second airplane to france and we're done ! yeyyyyyyyyy !! this one was more full :P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmmopy/on-the-second-airplane-to-france-and-we-re-done-yeyyyyyyyyy-this-one/) Shmmopy > [The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-you-can-either-work-for-a-living-or-you-can-fly/) Len Morgan > [I'm 17 years old. I'm not a straight-A student or anything. Even so, I figured out how to make an Internet that they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/i-m-17-years-old-i-m-not-a-straight-a-student-or-anything-even-so-i/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I don't have a fear of flying; I have a fear of crashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-don-t-have-a-fear-of-flying-i-have-a-fear-of-crashing/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [From computers to information technology to airplanes, it has been America's unique blend of republican government and free-market capitalism that has allowed us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nethercutt/from-computers-to-information-technology-to-airplanes-it-has-been/) [George Nethercutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nethercutt/) > [I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-been-racking-my-brain-i-ve-been-trying-to-figure-out-how-bob/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Sometimes life is like being stuck in the middle-seat of an airplane, next to a ridiculously fat person and a crying baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-is-like-being-stuck-in-the-middle-seat-of-an-airplane/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm sure the most favorite airplane in my career would still be the Sabre F86 cleft wing , which allowed me to be credited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-m-sure-the-most-favorite-airplane-in-my-career-would-still-be-the/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [John Travolta said he sometimes lets his friends take control of his airplane even though they don't know what they're doing. Then Travolta said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/john-travolta-said-he-sometimes-lets-his-friends-take-control-of-his/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) Browse all 935 Airplane quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Lindbergh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-birds-than-airplanes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Airplane" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-birds-than-airplanes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/charles-lindbergh-2267_airplane_if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-b_1951313.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/charles-lindbergh-2267_airplane_if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-b_1951313.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/charles-lindbergh-2267_airplane_if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-b_1951313.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.” — Charles Lindbergh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Charles Lindbergh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I had to choose, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-birds-than-airplanes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-birds-than-airplanes/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```