--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...it occurred that the birds, whose…" description: "\"“...it occurred that the birds, whose twitters and repeated songs sounded so pretty and affirming of nature and the coming day, might actually, in a co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/david-foster-wallace-161_birds_it-occurred-that-the-birds-whose-twitter_426708.jpg" --- # ...it occurred that the birds, whose twitters and repeated… ![“...it occurred that the birds, whose twitters and repeated songs sounded so pretty and affirming of nature and the coming day, might actually, in a code known only to other birds," be the birds each saying 'Get away' or 'This branch is mine!' or 'This tree is mine! I'll kill you! Kill, kill!' Or…” quote by David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/david-foster-wallace-161_birds_it-occurred-that-the-birds-whose-twitter_426708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/david-foster-wallace-161_birds_it-occurred-that-the-birds-whose-twitter_426708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc5/david-foster-wallace-161_birds_it-occurred-that-the-birds-whose-twitter_426708.jpg) > ““...it occurred that the birds, whose twitters and repeated songs sounded so pretty and affirming of nature and the coming day, might actually, in a code known only to other birds," be the birds each saying 'Get away' or 'This branch is mine!' or 'This tree is mine! I'll kill you! Kill, kill!' Or any manner of dark, brutal, or self-protective stuff--they might be listening to war cries. The thought came from nowhere and made his spirits dip from some reason.”” [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Birdsong may hide hostile messages, revealing that nature can conceal aggression and conflict. **In simple terms:** Birds might be sending violent signals. Key Takeaway Consider hidden threats in seemingly benign contexts. Themes perception nature conflict communication danger Mood curious uneasy Type analytical observational When to use this quote - birdwatching - environmental studies - conflict resolution - media analysis Key Concepts semiotics animal behavior psychology Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do you make about natural sounds? - How might hidden aggression affect your perception? A Different Perspective Assuming all natural sounds are benign can mislead. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Birds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birds/) [Birds Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birds-saying-636188/) [Birds Twitters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birds-twitters-636189/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Occurred Birds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occurred-birds-636190/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [War Cries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-cries-636191/) ## Related quotes > [...and suddenly it occurred to him that the birds, whose twitters and repeated songs sounded so pretty and affirming of nature and the coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/and-suddenly-it-occurred-to-him-that-the-birds-whose-twitters-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [ I feel great about \[War Cries regular series\]. 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I was impossible to knock down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/i-felt-more-solidly-composed-now-that-i-was-horizontal-i-was/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“We all have our little solipsistic delusions, ghastly intuitions of utter singularity: that we are the only one in the house who ever fills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/we-all-have-our-little-solipsistic-delusions-ghastly-intuitions-of/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“It's no accident that in a bureaucracy getting fired is called 'termination,' as in ontological erasure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-s-no-accident-that-in-a-bureaucracy-getting-fired-is-called/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Footnote: 79) The anchor is gigantic and must weigh a hundred tons, and -- delightfully -- it really is anchor-shaped, i.e. the same shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/footnote-79-the-anchor-is-gigantic-and-must-weigh-a-hundred-tons-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“The paradoxical intercourse of audience and celebrity. 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If you are immune to boredom, there is literally nothing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/to-be-in-a-word-unborable-it-is-the-key-to-modern-life-if-you-are/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“It is within your power to experience a crowded, loud, slow, consumer-hell-type situation as not only meaningful but sacred, on fire with the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-is-within-your-power-to-experience-a-crowded-loud-slow-consumer/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“The happy pleasure of the person alone, yes?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/the-happy-pleasure-of-the-person-alone-yes/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [There is such a thing as raw, unalloyed, agendaless kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/there-is-such-a-thing-as-raw-unalloyed-agendaless-kindness/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) [Explore all 999 David Foster Wallace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) ## 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. 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