--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was little, I was like a magpie…" description: "\"When I was little, I was like a magpie, which is a bird that's attracted to shiny things. They'll build their nests with Christmas tree tinsel.\" — Lesl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/leslie-jordan-4504_bird_when-i-was-little-i-was-like-a-magpie-wh_2732638.jpg" --- # When I was little, I was like a magpie, which is a bird… ![“When I was little, I was like a magpie, which is a bird that's attracted to shiny things. They'll build their nests with Christmas tree tinsel.” quote by Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/leslie-jordan-4504_bird_when-i-was-little-i-was-like-a-magpie-wh_2732638.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/leslie-jordan-4504_bird_when-i-was-little-i-was-like-a-magpie-wh_2732638.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38c/leslie-jordan-4504_bird_when-i-was-little-i-was-like-a-magpie-wh_2732638.jpg) > “When I was little, I was like a magpie, which is a bird that's attracted to shiny things. They'll build their nests with Christmas tree tinsel.” [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He likens his childhood curiosity to a magpie that collects shiny objects, humorously noting he once used Christmas tinsel for nest building. **In simple terms:** He was a curious child who collected shiny things. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity, even in quirky ways. Themes childhood curiosity humor Mood lighthearted nostalgic Type personal humorous When to use this quote - creative projects - holiday décor - collecting hobbies Key Concepts collecting behavior nostalgia Questions to Reflect On - What childhood habits still influence you? - How can curiosity be channeled productively? A Different Perspective The analogy may be seen as overly whimsical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Bird Attracted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird-attracted-2966694/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Christmas tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-tree/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Magpie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-magpie-581194/) [Magpie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magpie/) [Magpie Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magpie-bird-2004407/) [Nests Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nests-christmas-2966695/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [Magpie, n.: A bird whose theivish disposition suggested to someone that it might be taught to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/magpie-n-a-bird-whose-theivish-disposition-suggested-to-someone-that/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I'm like a magpie. I use lots of different things to build a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lincoln/i-m-like-a-magpie-i-use-lots-of-different-things-to-build-a-character/) [Andrew Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lincoln/) > [In New York, you have the street; in the U.K., we have the beach. I end up being like a migrating bird, being attracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/in-new-york-you-have-the-street-in-the-u-k-we-have-the-beach-i-end-up/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Style is something you can use, and you can be like a magpie, just taking what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/style-is-something-you-can-use-and-you-can-be-like-a-magpie-just-2/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [“You certainly are a repository of useless information. How do you know all that?' David asked, with more amusement than admiration. 'I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/you-certainly-are-a-repository-of-useless-information-how-do-you-know/) [Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/) > [I feel a bit like a magpie attracted to shiny things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-stockholder/i-feel-a-bit-like-a-magpie-attracted-to-shiny-things/) [Jessica Stockholder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-stockholder/) > [I'm like a magpie and am drawn to anything shiny, sparkly or bright and you really get that with Ted Baker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vick-hope/i-m-like-a-magpie-and-am-drawn-to-anything-shiny-sparkly-or-bright/) [Vick Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vick-hope/) > [“A magpie, seeing some light-colored object conspicuous on the empty slope, flew closer to look. but all that lay there was a splintered peg…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-adams/a-magpie-seeing-some-light-colored-object-conspicuous-on-the-empty/) [Richard Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-adams/) > [I try not to be superstitious, but, you know, we never put any shoes on the table. 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We're sillier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/lesbian-humor-is-nothing-like-gay-men-s-humor-we-re-sillier/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I'm very encouraged. This is progress. There are two or three ways to combat homophobia - one is through humor. The second is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-very-encouraged-this-is-progress-there-are-two-or-three-ways-to/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I had that perfect deadpan ... for these commercials. Within the first eight months I had eight national TV commercials. I'm a true Hollywood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-had-that-perfect-deadpan-for-these-commercials-within-the-first/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I was there when APLA was started in somebody's living room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-was-there-when-apla-was-started-in-somebody-s-living-room/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I'm a true Hollywood success story - knew no one, had no connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-a-true-hollywood-success-story-knew-no-one-had-no-connections/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [People are really surprised when they meet me that I'm a recluse. 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I've been at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/my-sister-was-cute-she-said-oh-my-gosh-you-re-an-overnight-success-oh/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I'm on the road almost eight months of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-m-on-the-road-almost-eight-months-of-the-year/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I've never been known for being a team player, but I've adjusted to being part of a big cast and it has worked out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-ve-never-been-known-for-being-a-team-player-but-i-ve-adjusted-to/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [The thing that I love about 'Will & Grace' is that there's a clear-cut reason for my character to be there. I come in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/the-thing-that-i-love-about-will-grace-is-that-there-s-a-clear-cut/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I was reading Agatha Christie as a little boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-was-reading-agatha-christie-as-a-little-boy/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) > [I grew up in Chattanooga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jordan/i-grew-up-in-chattanooga/) [Leslie Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) [Explore all 110 Leslie Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jordan/) ## More Bird quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. 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