--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must be careful what we say. No bird…" description: "\"We must be careful what we say. No bird resumes its egg.\" — Emily Dickinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/emily-dickinson-310_be-careful_we-must-be-careful-what-we-say-no-bird-r_2448585.jpg" --- # We must be careful what we say. No bird resumes its egg. ![“We must be careful what we say. No bird resumes its egg.” quote by Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/emily-dickinson-310_be-careful_we-must-be-careful-what-we-say-no-bird-r_2448585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/emily-dickinson-310_be-careful_we-must-be-careful-what-we-say-no-bird-r_2448585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/emily-dickinson-310_be-careful_we-must-be-careful-what-we-say-no-bird-r_2448585.jpg) > “We must be careful what we say. No bird resumes its egg.” [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words can have unintended consequences; once spoken, they cannot be taken back like an egg cannot be unlaid. **In simple terms:** Speak carefully because words are irreversible. Key Takeaway Think before you speak. Themes communication responsibility consequences Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts speech act ethical restraint Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your words reflect your intent? - What safeguards can you use when speaking publicly? A Different Perspective Words may be misinterpreted despite caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) ## Related quotes > [Be careful with what you say. A girl remembers everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/be-careful-with-what-you-say-a-girl-remembers-everything/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [Be careful what you say. You can say something hurtful in ten seconds, but ten years later, the wounds are still there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/be-careful-what-you-say-you-can-say-something-hurtful-in-ten-seconds/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Be careful what you say to someone today, because tommorow they might not be here and you can't take it back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-what-you-say-to-someone-today-because-tommorow-they-might/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You should always be careful of what you say in parting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/you-should-always-be-careful-of-what-you-say-in-parting/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If I'm a busboy in Philadelphia, then I have to be careful about what I say. But if I'm a public tycoon like Jerry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-mason/if-i-m-a-busboy-in-philadelphia-then-i-have-to-be-careful-about-what/) [Jackie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-mason/) > [Negative words are powerful boomerangs so be careful what you say about people and yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/negative-words-are-powerful-boomerangs-so-be-careful-what-you-say/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I'm a lightweight better be careful what you say With every word I'm blown away You're in control of my heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-m-a-lightweight-better-be-careful-what-you-say-with-every-word-i-m/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Every time I ask someone to tell me, 'What animal do you think I am?' they always say a bird, because I'm very flighty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/every-time-i-ask-someone-to-tell-me-what-animal-do-you-think-i-am/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [My father used to say: Every bird is one bird, and every book is one book, and every bird and every book is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/my-father-used-to-say-every-bird-is-one-bird-and-every-book-is-one/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [“Where did you say you found that bird again?” “In my head.” Ronan’s laugh was a sharp jackal cry. “Dangerous place,” commented Noah. Ronan”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/where-did-you-say-you-found-that-bird-again-in-my-head-ronan-s-laugh/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“What's that sound?" Fran said. Then something as big as a vulture flapped heavily down from one of the trees and landed just in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/what-s-that-sound-fran-said-then-something-as-big-as-a-vulture/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [“Say I'm a bird”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/say-i-m-a-bird/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“2. WHAT I AM NOT My brother and I used to play a game. I'd point to a chair. "THIS IS NOT A CHAIR,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/2-what-i-am-not-my-brother-and-i-used-to-play-a-game-i-d-point-to-a/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [As they say - a bird in the hand is worth one in the bush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micky-quinn/as-they-say-a-bird-in-the-hand-is-worth-one-in-the-bush/) Micky Quinn > [“Where did you say you found that bird again?" "In my head." Ronan's laugh was a sharp jackal cry. "Dangerous place," commented Noah. Ronan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/where-did-you-say-you-found-that-bird-again-in-my-head-ronan-s-laugh-2/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) ## More by Emily Dickinson > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I could not prove the Years had feet-/Yet confident they run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-could-not-prove-the-years-had-feet-yet-confident-they-run/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [How softly summer shuts, without the creaking of a door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/how-softly-summer-shuts-without-the-creaking-of-a-door/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Could you tell me how to grow--or is it unconveyed--like Melody--or Witchcraft?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/could-you-tell-me-how-to-grow-or-is-it-unconveyed-like-melody-or/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [It might be lonelier Without the Loneliness - I’m so accustomed to my Fate - Perhaps the Other - Peace - Would interrupt the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/it-might-be-lonelier-without-the-loneliness-i-m-so-accustomed-to-my/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Inebriate of Air — am I — And Debauchee of Dew — Reeling — thro endless summer days — From Inns of Molten Blue —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/inebriate-of-air-am-i-and-debauchee-of-dew-reeling-thro-endless/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/luck-is-not-chance-it-s-toil-fortune-s-expensive-smile-is-earned/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The abdication of Belief Makes the Behavior small- Better an ignis fatuus Than no illume at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/the-abdication-of-belief-makes-the-behavior-small-better-an-ignis/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Longing is like a seed that wrestles in the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/longing-is-like-a-seed-that-wrestles-in-the-ground/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“He ate and drank the precious words, His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, Nor that his frame was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/he-ate-and-drank-the-precious-words-his-spirit-grew-robust-he-knew-no/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [I SEE thee better in the dark, I do not need a light. The love of thee a prism be Excelling violet. I see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/i-see-thee-better-in-the-dark-i-do-not-need-a-light-the-love-of-thee/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/one-step-at-a-time-is-all-it-takes-to-get-you-there/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [“Whose fingers string the stalactite- Who counts the Wampum of the night”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/whose-fingers-string-the-stalactite-who-counts-the-wampum-of-the-night/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [My life closed twice before its close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/my-life-closed-twice-before-its-close/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Until you have loved, you cannot become yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/until-you-have-loved-you-cannot-become-yourself/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) [Explore all 692 Emily Dickinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## More Be careful quotes > [Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the worst Spanish student in the history of the language.” I laughed. “No problemo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/be-careful-i-wouldn-t-want-anything-to-happen-to-the-worst-spanish/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [If I held all the thoughts of the world in my hand, I would be careful not to open it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/if-i-held-all-the-thoughts-of-the-world-in-my-hand-i-would-be-careful/) [Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle/) > [You've got to be careful against classy fighters, especially counter-punchers because if you go for the finish too early, you can end up getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/you-ve-got-to-be-careful-against-classy-fighters-especially-counter/) [Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [I have to be careful to get out before I become the grotesque caricature of a hatchet-faced woman with big knockers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-have-to-be-careful-to-get-out-before-i-become-the-grotesque/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Well sometimes, culture can stifle talent, so you have to be careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monty-williams/well-sometimes-culture-can-stifle-talent-so-you-have-to-be-careful/) [Monty Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monty-williams/) > [And so we have to be careful with looking at additional stimulus that we don't provoke an increase in the bond rate and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-raines/and-so-we-have-to-be-careful-with-looking-at-additional-stimulus-that/) [Franklin Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-raines/) > [Be careful who you might trust the Devil was once an angel too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-careful-who-you-might-trust-the-devil-was-once-an-angel-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books-said-tessa-and-what-is-inside/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Be careful, once water is spilled, it can never return to its container](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciel-phantomhive/be-careful-once-water-is-spilled-it-can-never-return-to-its-container/) [Ciel Phantomhive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciel-phantomhive/) > [We used to tell our receivers, 'If you want to run an inside breaking route, and you want to fight for yardage after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gruden/we-used-to-tell-our-receivers-if-you-want-to-run-an-inside-breaking/) [Jon Gruden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gruden/) > [A bad investment is going for quantity over quality. If you're trying to be careful with your wallet, especially with the economy right now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-siriano/a-bad-investment-is-going-for-quantity-over-quality-if-you-re-trying/) [Christian Siriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-siriano/) Browse all 989 Be careful quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We must be careful what we say. 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