--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd rather be a success as a fish than a…" description: "\"I'd rather be a success as a fish than a failure as a fish trying to be a bird.\" — Eva Le Gallienne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/eva-le-gallienne-46608_bird_i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a_1026082.png" --- # I'd rather be a success as a fish than a failure as a fish… ![“I'd rather be a success as a fish than a failure as a fish trying to be a bird.” quote by Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/eva-le-gallienne-46608_bird_i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a_1026082.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/eva-le-gallienne-46608_bird_i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a_1026082.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/eva-le-gallienne-46608_bird_i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a_1026082.png) > “I'd rather be a success as a fish than a failure as a fish trying to be a bird.” [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being a successful fish is better than failing as a fish trying to become a bird. **In simple terms:** Accept your nature, avoid futile aspirations. Key Takeaway Know your strengths, stay authentic. Themes identity acceptance ambition Mood thoughtful determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career choices - personal goals - creative pursuits Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What are your true strengths? - When is it okay to stretch beyond your nature? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on authenticity may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Fishing largely consists of not catching fish; failure is as much a part of the sport as knee injuries are of football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hughes/fishing-largely-consists-of-not-catching-fish-failure-is-as-much-a/) [Robert Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hughes/) > [“(I will never understand the thrill of fishing. At its very best, it’s an activity that ends with a vicious struggle to reel in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bellassai/i-will-never-understand-the-thrill-of-fishing-at-its-very-best-it-s/) [Matt Bellassai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bellassai/) > [“A human being trying to attract more love is like a fish trying to attract more water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-micha-el-leventhal/a-human-being-trying-to-attract-more-love-is-like-a-fish-trying-to/) [Eric Micha'el Leventhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-micha-el-leventhal/) > [The trouble is, you can't properly present something you don't believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcguane/the-trouble-is-you-can-t-properly-present-something-you-don-t-believe/) [Thomas McGuane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcguane/) > [Something I like to do a lot is just sit by water when there’s a current and just stare into the water. I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/something-i-like-to-do-a-lot-is-just-sit-by-water-when-there-s-a/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [Good things come to those who hustle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/good-things-come-to-those-who-hustle/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [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/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [My kids all do love to hunt and fish. When they get together, I think that's what they get together more for than anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/my-kids-all-do-love-to-hunt-and-fish-when-they-get-together-i-think/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [Fly-fishing for wild trout on quiet waters must be one of the toughest and craziest ways to catch fish ever invented by man, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-voelker/fly-fishing-for-wild-trout-on-quiet-waters-must-be-one-of-the/) [John D. Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) ## More by Eva Le Gallienne > [People hate what they don't understand and try to destroy it. Only try to keep yourself clear and don't allow that destructive force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/people-hate-what-they-don-t-understand-and-try-to-destroy-it-only-try/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) > [the theater should be free to the people just as the Public Library is free, just as the museum is free. ... I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/the-theater-should-be-free-to-the-people-just-as-the-public-library/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) > [What does so-called success or failure matter if only you have succeeded in doing the thing you set out to do. The DOING is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/what-does-so-called-success-or-failure-matter-if-only-you-have/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) > [People hate what they don't understand and try to destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/people-hate-what-they-don-t-understand-and-try-to-destroy-it/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) > [The theater has fallen into the hands of real estate men and syndicates and those who have no love or interest in the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/the-theater-has-fallen-into-the-hands-of-real-estate-men-and/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) > [Innovators are inevitably controversial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/innovators-are-inevitably-controversial/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) > [People who are born even-tempered, placid and untroubled - secure from violent passions or temptations to evil - those who have never needed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/people-who-are-born-even-tempered-placid-and-untroubled-secure-from/) [Eva Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) [Explore all 8 Eva Le Gallienne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/) ## 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 > [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": "I'd rather be a success as a fish than a failure as a fish trying to be a bird.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eva Le Gallienne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a-failure-as-a-fish-trying-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bird" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a-failure-as-a-fish-trying-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/eva-le-gallienne-46608_bird_i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a_1026082.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/eva-le-gallienne-46608_bird_i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a_1026082.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e30/eva-le-gallienne-46608_bird_i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a_1026082.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd rather be a success as a fish than a failure as a fish trying to be a bird.” — Eva Le Gallienne", "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": "Eva Le Gallienne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-le-gallienne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd rather be a success as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a-failure-as-a-fish-trying-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-le-gallienne/i-d-rather-be-a-success-as-a-fish-than-a-failure-as-a-fish-trying-to/#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 } } ] } ```