--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided a long time ago I would feed on…" description: "\"I decided a long time ago I would feed on the vultures until a dove came along. A pigeon. The kind of soul that didn't impede on anyone; just walked ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/jamie-mcguire-215_animals_i-decided-a-long-time-ago-i-would-feed-o_1115708.jpg" --- # I decided a long time ago I would feed on the vultures… ![“I decided a long time ago I would feed on the vultures until a dove came along. A pigeon. The kind of soul that didn't impede on anyone; just walked around worrying about its own business, trying to get through life without pulling everyone else down. With its own needs and selfish habits. Brave…” quote by Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/jamie-mcguire-215_animals_i-decided-a-long-time-ago-i-would-feed-o_1115708.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/jamie-mcguire-215_animals_i-decided-a-long-time-ago-i-would-feed-o_1115708.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/jamie-mcguire-215_animals_i-decided-a-long-time-ago-i-would-feed-o_1115708.jpg) > “I decided a long time ago I would feed on the vultures until a dove came along. A pigeon. The kind of soul that didn't impede on anyone; just walked around worrying about its own business, trying to get through life without pulling everyone else down. With its own needs and selfish habits. Brave. A communicator. Intelligent. Beautiful. Soft-spoken. A creature that mates for life. Unattainable until she has a reason to trust you.” [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person should aim to be self‑sufficient and gentle, avoiding harming others while seeking trust and connection. **In simple terms:** Be gentle, self‑reliant, and earn trust. Key Takeaway Cultivate quiet strength and honesty. Themes self‑reliance trust gentleness Mood reflective hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - career - personal development - friendship Key Concepts empathy boundary‑setting personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑care with caring for others? - What actions build genuine trust? A Different Perspective Trust must be earned, not assumed; vulnerability can be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Brave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brave/) [Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dove/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Own business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own-business/) [Pigeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigeons/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing I'm afraid of is a life without you, Pigeon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/the-only-thing-i-m-afraid-of-is-a-life-without-you-pigeon/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [I bet your mom would let me." -Pigeon, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/i-bet-your-mom-would-let-me-pigeon-don-t-let-the-pigeon-drive-the-bus/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [I have been feeding pigeons, thousands of them for years. But there was one, a beautiful bird, pure white with light grey tips on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/i-have-been-feeding-pigeons-thousands-of-them-for-years-but-there-was/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [When I left drama school, my fear was that I'd get pigeon holed into comic acting and I did so much to counter it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/when-i-left-drama-school-my-fear-was-that-i-d-get-pigeon-holed-into/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) > [“When I ache to live, my mind loves to stay with the peaceful whiteness of a pigeon’s care...in boundless amity..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/when-i-ache-to-live-my-mind-loves-to-stay-with-the-peaceful-whiteness/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [There arent many great passages written about food, but I love one by George Millar, who worked for the SOE in the second world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/there-arent-many-great-passages-written-about-food-but-i-love-one-by/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [We all have our demons to deal with, Little Pigeon. It's when we cherish them - cradle them to our breasts and feed them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/we-all-have-our-demons-to-deal-with-little-pigeon-it-s-when-we/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Pigeon-holes are only comfortable for pigeons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/pigeon-holes-are-only-comfortable-for-pigeons/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [Didn't you tie the mittens on her feet (Wednesday Evening's) extra special nice? Yes--she is an extra special nice pigeon. She cries for pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/didn-t-you-tie-the-mittens-on-her-feet-wednesday-evening-s-extra/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [You pigeon hole yourself by the title you give yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-iglesias/you-pigeon-hole-yourself-by-the-title-you-give-yourself/) [Gabriel Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-iglesias/) > [I am a Topshop homing pigeon! I can walk into the Oxford Circus branch and ferret out the best bits in minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/i-am-a-topshop-homing-pigeon-i-can-walk-into-the-oxford-circus-branch/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) > [I rode Sea Pigeon in all his work - that's why my arms are so long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-birch/i-rode-sea-pigeon-in-all-his-work-that-s-why-my-arms-are-so-long/) Mark Birch > [One day you're the statue. One day you're the pigeon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/one-day-you-re-the-statue-one-day-you-re-the-pigeon/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) > [When I first came to New York, I would scream like a girl and run to the other side of the street if there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/when-i-first-came-to-new-york-i-would-scream-like-a-girl-and-run-to/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) > [You have to accept the fact that sometimes you are the pigeon, and sometimes you are the statue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-chabrol/you-have-to-accept-the-fact-that-sometimes-you-are-the-pigeon-and/) [Claude Chabrol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-chabrol/) ## More by Jamie McGuire > [“Really? I'm trying to place you. It seems like we've met before." Did I just issue him a pick up line? Fantastic, I've now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/really-i-m-trying-to-place-you-it-seems-like-we-ve-met-before-did-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“It doesn’t matter what or why it is. When it’s good, …it’s beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/it-doesn-t-matter-what-or-why-it-is-when-it-s-good-it-s-beautiful/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“With each step she took that brought her closer to where I stood, my heart pounded harder against my chest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/with-each-step-she-took-that-brought-her-closer-to-where-i-stood-my/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Travis clenched his eyes shut, and a sinking feeling settled over me. It was agonizing seeing him suffer, knowing that not only was I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/travis-clenched-his-eyes-shut-and-a-sinking-feeling-settled-over-me/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I know you deserve better than me. You think I don’t know that? But if there was any woman made for me … it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-know-you-deserve-better-than-me-you-think-i-don-t-know-that-but-if/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I frowned. “I need her more than Jesus does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-frowned-i-need-her-more-than-jesus-does/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“You just asked me to marry you," he said, still waiting for me to admit some kind of trickery. "I know." "That was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/you-just-asked-me-to-marry-you-he-said-still-waiting-for-me-to-admit/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“There's a girl, Dad." He smiled a bit. "A girl." "She kinda hates me, and I kinda..." "Love her?" "I don't know. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/there-s-a-girl-dad-he-smiled-a-bit-a-girl-she-kinda-hates-me-and-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“No, it’s a car. The love of my life will be a woman with my last name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/no-it-s-a-car-the-love-of-my-life-will-be-a-woman-with-my-last-name/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“That morning, lying with the woman I loved, a silent promise was formed in my head. I was going to be a better man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/that-morning-lying-with-the-woman-i-loved-a-silent-promise-was-formed/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I shut my eyes tight, trying to savor the moment. I knew I would wish for that moment back every day of my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-shut-my-eyes-tight-trying-to-savor-the-moment-i-knew-i-would-wish/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“I clinked my bottle against his. “To being the only girl a guy with no standards doesn’t want to sleep with.” I said, taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-clinked-my-bottle-against-his-to-being-the-only-girl-a-guy-with-no/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“Can you believe how ridiculous they are? The girls here are shameless," America said. Finch shook his head in awe. "It's Travis. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/can-you-believe-how-ridiculous-they-are-the-girls-here-are-shameless/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“He exhaled with a deep, contented sigh, speaking in a hushed voice. “I love you, Abby. I’m going to make you happy, I swear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/he-exhaled-with-a-deep-contented-sigh-speaking-in-a-hushed-voice-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [“My room was made up of strange, random things, but then, so was I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/my-room-was-made-up-of-strange-random-things-but-then-so-was-i/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) [Explore all 854 Jamie McGuire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) ## More Animals quotes > [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/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [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/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I decided a long time ago I would feed on the vultures until a dove came along. A pigeon. The kind of soul that didn't impede on anyone; just walked around worrying about its own business, trying to get through life without pulling everyone else down. With its own needs and selfish habits. Brave. A communicator. Intelligent. Beautiful. Soft-spoken. A creature that mates for life. 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