--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eneke the bird says that since men have…" description: "\"“Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching.”\" — Chinua Achebe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/chinua-achebe-781_bird_eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have_671397.png" --- # Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot… ![“Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching.” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/chinua-achebe-781_bird_eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have_671397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/chinua-achebe-781_bird_eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have_671397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/chinua-achebe-781_bird_eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have_671397.png) > ““Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching.”” [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphor about adapting tactics when opponents become more skilled. **In simple terms:** Change your approach when others improve. Key Takeaway Adapt strategies to stay effective. Themes adaptation strategy survival Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - business competition - sports tactics - personal growth - military strategy Key Concepts evolution competition innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you adjust when rivals improve? - What limits exist for constant adaptation? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Bird Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird-says-1880258/) [Eneke Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eneke-bird-2484253/) [Fly Perching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fly-perching-5328912/) [Men Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-learned-315816/) [Perching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perching-3025771/) ## Related quotes > [Do you blame a vulture for perching over a carcass?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-you-blame-a-vulture-for-perching-over-a-carcass/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“ Eneke the bird was asked why he was always on the wing and he replied: 'Men have learnt to shoot without missing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/eneke-the-bird-was-asked-why-he-was-always-on-the-wing-and-he-replied/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Men have learned to shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly without perching on a twig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/men-have-learned-to-shoot-without-missing-their-mark-and-i-have/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“I ain't never seen a creature like that before, she says. He's so smart, he's- More, like a person than a bird? I says.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-young/i-ain-t-never-seen-a-creature-like-that-before-she-says-he-s-so-smart/) [Moira Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-young/) > [“You're jealous of a bird?" she asks. "What? No!" I snap. I just don’t think I like peacocks very much. "You're jealous of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/you-re-jealous-of-a-bird-she-asks-what-no-i-snap-i-just-don-t-think-i/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [About one thing the Englishman has a particularly strict code. If a bird says Cluk bik bik bik bik and caw you may kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-freud/about-one-thing-the-englishman-has-a-particularly-strict-code-if-a/) [Clement Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-freud/) > [“never be taught." The cage bird says, "Alas for me, I know not the songs of the woodlands." Their love is intense with longing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/never-be-taught-the-cage-bird-says-alas-for-me-i-know-not-the-songs/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“But his bird says it's amazing, So now all that's left, Is the proof that Love's Not only blind but deaf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arctic-monkeys/but-his-bird-says-it-s-amazing-so-now-all-that-s-left-is-the-proof/) [Arctic Monkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arctic-monkeys/) > [“THE TAME BIRD WAS IN A CAGE THE tame bird was in a cage, the free bird was in the forest. They met when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-tame-bird-was-in-a-cage-the-tame-bird-was-in-a-cage-the-free-bird/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Did you teach him wisdom as well as valor, Ned! She wondered. Did you teach him how to Kneel! The grave yards of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/did-you-teach-him-wisdom-as-well-as-valor-ned-she-wondered-did-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Men have learned the secret of unity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/men-have-learned-the-secret-of-unity/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Previously, even in Egypt, men had not learned to see straight. They fumbled in the dark, and didn't quite know where they were, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/previously-even-in-egypt-men-had-not-learned-to-see-straight-they/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“What history teaches us is that men have never learned anything from it.” —G. W. F. Hegel, nineteenth-century German philosopher”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/what-history-teaches-us-is-that-men-have-never-learned-anything-from/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [Peace will never be entirely secure until men everywhere have learned to conquer poverty without sacrificing liberty or security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-thomas/peace-will-never-be-entirely-secure-until-men-everywhere-have-learned/) [Norman Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-thomas/) > [When men ask me how I know so much about men, they get a simple answer: everything I know about men, I learned from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/when-men-ask-me-how-i-know-so-much-about-men-they-get-a-simple-answer/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) ## More by Chinua Achebe > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-not-despair-i-know-you-will-not-despair-you-have-a-manly-and-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [My son even if you want to fall, at least fall where your bones can be gathered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/my-son-even-if-you-want-to-fall-at-least-fall-where-your-bones-can-be/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/and-so-mr-brown-came-to-be-respected-even-by-the-clan-because-he-trod/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-have-learned-that-a-man-who-makes-trouble-for-others-is-also-making/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-fact-i-thought-that-christianity-was-very-a-good-and-a-very/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I do not actually see how art, literature can be anything other that being in that domain of trying to tell us, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-do-not-actually-see-how-art-literature-can-be-anything-other-that/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/democracy-is-not-something-you-put-away-for-ten-years-and-then-in-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-there-is-a-big-tree-small-ones-climb-on-its-back-to-reach-the-sun/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-i-began-going-to-school-and-learned-to-read-i-encountered/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-nobody-dances-sober-unless-they-happen-to-be-insane-h-p/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/this-is-why-i-find-racism-impossible-because-this-is-against-humanity/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/then-listen-to-me-he-said-and-cleared-his-throat-it-s-true-that-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/what-you-must-accept-is-that-your-life-is-not-going-to-be-the-same/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Explore all 368 Chinua Achebe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## 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": "“Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without perching.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chinua Achebe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have-learned-to-shoot-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bird" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have-learned-to-shoot-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/chinua-achebe-781_bird_eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have_671397.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/chinua-achebe-781_bird_eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have_671397.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c8/chinua-achebe-781_bird_eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have_671397.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Eneke the bird says that since men have learned to shoot without missing, he has learned to fly without…” — Chinua Achebe", "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": "Chinua Achebe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Eneke the bird says that since...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have-learned-to-shoot-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/eneke-the-bird-says-that-since-men-have-learned-to-shoot-without/#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 } } ] } ```