--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I…" description: "\"Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring, and now he mounts above me.\" — John Dryden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/john-dryden-491_fool_fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i_597183.jpg" --- # Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren… ![“Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring, and now he mounts above me.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/john-dryden-491_fool_fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i_597183.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/john-dryden-491_fool_fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i_597183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/john-dryden-491_fool_fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i_597183.jpg) > “Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring, and now he mounts above me.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker, once proud, now feels humbled and overtaken by a higher power. **In simple terms:** Pride replaced by humility under greater force. Key Takeaway Embrace humility when surpassed. Themes pride humility power dynamics Mood reflective solemn Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership challenges - spiritual reflection Key Concepts poetry self‑reflection mythology Questions to Reflect On - What forces humble you? - How can humility empower you? A Different Perspective May overlook agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bore Wren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bore-wren-4875810/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fool Eagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool-eagle-4875809/) [Tired](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired/) [Tired Soaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tired-soaring-4875811/) [Wings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wings/) [Wings Bore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wings-bore-261636/) [Wren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wren/) ## Related quotes > [Trust Love, nor fear to soar upon his track. The wings that bore to Heaven will bear thee back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/trust-love-nor-fear-to-soar-upon-his-track-the-wings-that-bore-to/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [If men had wings and bore black feathers, Few of them would be clever enough to be crows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-men-had-wings-and-bore-black-feathers-few-of-them-would-be-clever/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“What if I am too much? If I need too much?' she asks, her voice very low. He takes a deep breath, his smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/what-if-i-am-too-much-if-i-need-too-much-she-asks-her-voice-very-low/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I ’m not very good at recognizing trouble before I get into cahoots with it, or, at least that’s what my brother likes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellie-mcallen/i-m-not-very-good-at-recognizing-trouble-before-i-get-into-cahoots/) [Kellie McAllen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellie-mcallen/) > [“When you can do that, little Wren, when you can accept the wearing down and the eroding, then you can do anything. How did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-brooks/when-you-can-do-that-little-wren-when-you-can-accept-the-wearing-down/) [Terry Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-brooks/) > [“You're in a prickly mood,' he tells me. As though I am not all-over briars at all times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-re-in-a-prickly-mood-he-tells-me-as-though-i-am-not-all-over/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [When the Great Fire of London destroyed most of the medieval city in 1666, Christopher Wren was invited to design a new one. Within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/when-the-great-fire-of-london-destroyed-most-of-the-medieval-city-in/) [Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/) > [“Nothing can break me unless I let it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-can-break-me-unless-i-let-it/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“I wasn’t usually one to toot my own horn, which could also explain the no-boyfriend-status of my life. If bright plumage was the key,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/i-wasn-t-usually-one-to-toot-my-own-horn-which-could-also-explain-the/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [“Do you think the wren ever dreams of a better house?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/do-you-think-the-wren-ever-dreams-of-a-better-house/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Who calls at Habetrot's chamber?' comes a whispery voice. Oak raises his eyebrows at me, as though he intends me to answer. Fine, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/who-calls-at-habetrot-s-chamber-comes-a-whispery-voice-oak-raises-his/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“You smell so good," "No, I don't, I smell like death." "You're crazy, you're not dead. You do not smell like death." "I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/you-smell-so-good-no-i-don-t-i-smell-like-death-you-re-crazy-you-re/) [amy tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“He had been willing to die because he refused to take a life. But me, I contemplated shooting everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/he-had-been-willing-to-die-because-he-refused-to-take-a-life-but-me-i/) [Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/) > [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I love you, Wren,” he said, voice strong and smooth as the river. “For everything that you are and everything that you aren’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kandi-steiner/i-love-you-wren-he-said-voice-strong-and-smooth-as-the-river-for/) [Kandi Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kandi-steiner/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Fool quotes > [Do I look like a fool to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamika-leeigh/do-i-look-like-a-fool-to-you/) [Tamika-leeigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamika-leeigh/) > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There are various orders of beauty, causing men to make fools of themselves in various styles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/there-are-various-orders-of-beauty-causing-men-to-make-fools-of/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/) [Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [A fool and his money get a lot of publicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-bernstein/a-fool-and-his-money-get-a-lot-of-publicity/) [Al Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-bernstein/) > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [Every man must wear out at least one pair of fools shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-derr-biggers/every-man-must-wear-out-at-least-one-pair-of-fools-shoes/) [Earl Derr Biggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-derr-biggers/) > [If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a damn fool about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wc-fields/if-at-first-you-don-t-succeed-try-try-again-then-quit-no-use-being-a/) [WC Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wc-fields/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [I'd be a fool to be in this for the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-hinn/i-d-be-a-fool-to-be-in-this-for-the-money/) [Benny Hinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-hinn/) > [It is a fool of a shepherd who culls his dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-smith/it-is-a-fool-of-a-shepherd-who-culls-his-dogs/) [Jefferson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-smith/) > [Prefer to be defeated in the presence of the wise than to excel among fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prefer-to-be-defeated-in-the-presence-of-the-wise-than-to-excel-among/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A mistake doesnt make you a fool, but denying it surely makes you one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-mistake-doesnt-make-you-a-fool-but-denying-it-surely-makes-you-one/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) [Browse all 5,535 Fool quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring, and now he mounts above me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i-bore-this-wren-till-i-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fool" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i-bore-this-wren-till-i-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/john-dryden-491_fool_fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i_597183.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/john-dryden-491_fool_fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i_597183.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d6/john-dryden-491_fool_fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i_597183.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring, and now he mounts…” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fool that I was, upon my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i-bore-this-wren-till-i-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/fool-that-i-was-upon-my-eagle-s-wings-i-bore-this-wren-till-i-was/#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 } } ] } ```