--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decide that sometimes definitions are…" description: "\"I decide that sometimes definitions are wrong. Even if they're written in a dictionary. Identities aren't always separate and distinct. Sometimes they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/mary-e-pearson-2812_bird_i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are_1537231.jpg" --- # I decide that sometimes definitions are wrong. Even if… ![“I decide that sometimes definitions are wrong. Even if they're written in a dictionary. Identities aren't always separate and distinct. Sometimes they ARE wrapped up with others. Sometimes, for a few minutes, maybe they can even be shared. And if I am ever fortunate enough to return to Mr…” quote by Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/mary-e-pearson-2812_bird_i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are_1537231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/mary-e-pearson-2812_bird_i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are_1537231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/mary-e-pearson-2812_bird_i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are_1537231.jpg) > “I decide that sometimes definitions are wrong. Even if they're written in a dictionary. Identities aren't always separate and distinct. Sometimes they ARE wrapped up with others. Sometimes, for a few minutes, maybe they can even be shared. And if I am ever fortunate enough to return to Mr. Bender's garden, I wonder if the birds will see that piece of him that is wrapped up in me.” [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity is fluid; definitions can be shared or merged, challenging rigid categories. **In simple terms:** Identity can blend. Key Takeaway Embrace flexible self‑views. Themes identity fluidity connection Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - teamwork - creative collaboration Key Concepts Self‑concept social roles Questions to Reflect On - How do you define yourself? - When can shared identity be beneficial? A Different Perspective Rigid labels can still dominate society. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Garden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garden/) [Identities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identities/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [My music is really about people connecting with their identities, even if they aren't Jewish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/my-music-is-really-about-people-connecting-with-their-identities-even/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [The dictionary says my identity should be all about being separate or distinct, and yet it feels like it is so wrapped up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/the-dictionary-says-my-identity-should-be-all-about-being-separate-or/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [Reddit names are unconnected to real-world identities and it's commonplace for users to create 'throwaway' accounts to reveal sensitive information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zuckerman/reddit-names-are-unconnected-to-real-world-identities-and-it-s/) [Ethan Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zuckerman/) > [The truth is, we're all cyborgs with cell phones and online identities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-johns/the-truth-is-we-re-all-cyborgs-with-cell-phones-and-online-identities/) [Geoff Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-johns/) > [Each and every one of us has multiple identities, and this is a fact that should be celebrated. I for example, am a queer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrisse-cullors/each-and-every-one-of-us-has-multiple-identities-and-this-is-a-fact/) [Patrisse Cullors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrisse-cullors/) > [A number of well-understood mechanisms, including single gene mutations, produce changes that qualify as macroevolution. These include heterochronic mutations that alter structures by changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/a-number-of-well-understood-mechanisms-including-single-gene/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [The best thing we can do is give students the tools for constructing their own identities - powerful new tools like African fractals -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-eglash/the-best-thing-we-can-do-is-give-students-the-tools-for-constructing/) [Ron Eglash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-eglash/) > [The more identities a man has, the more they express the person they conceal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/the-more-identities-a-man-has-the-more-they-express-the-person-they/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I'm not especially interested in actors or their life, double, triple identities and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leos-carax/i-m-not-especially-interested-in-actors-or-their-life-double-triple/) [Leos Carax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leos-carax/) > [“We all take on identities that are not true to ourselves. Sometimes we choose to become what the world expects to see of us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-shields/we-all-take-on-identities-that-are-not-true-to-ourselves-sometimes-we/) Kieran Shields > [There are infinite combinations that people can experience, because no two people are alike, and no two people's identities should be expected to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/there-are-infinite-combinations-that-people-can-experience-because-no/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I've come up through art school, through painting, through graphic design, through advertising, through TV commercials and music video. I've designed books, built billboards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kaye/i-ve-come-up-through-art-school-through-painting-through-graphic/) [Tony Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kaye/) > [It is the individual's task to differentiate himself from all the others and stand on his own feet. All collective identities . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/it-is-the-individual-s-task-to-differentiate-himself-from-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [That's interesting: people deriving their identities from their music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-coen/that-s-interesting-people-deriving-their-identities-from-their-music/) [Ethan Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-coen/) > [“People don't just let you change identities, not unless there's something in it for them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-reed/people-don-t-just-let-you-change-identities-not-unless-there-s/) [Amy Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-reed/) ## More by Mary E. Pearson > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“abuelita speaks no english. she doesn't need to, zoe thinks. her smile fills and communicates so much more than the empty, half-said words of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/abuelita-speaks-no-english-she-doesn-t-need-to-zoe-thinks-her-smile/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [... Change doesn't happen overnight-it's molded by people who don't give up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/change-doesn-t-happen-overnight-it-s-molded-by-people-who-don-t-give/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [There are all kinds of friends you make in life... But there's something different about someone who spreads their wings with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/there-are-all-kinds-of-friends-you-make-in-life-but-there-s-something/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I shan't make a fuss over the babe's father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-shan-t-make-a-fuss-over-the-babe-s-father/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Multiple closets for different needs. Overkill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/multiple-closets-for-different-needs-overkill/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“It is good to have many strengths, Natiya...Do not sacrifice one kind of strength for another”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/it-is-good-to-have-many-strengths-natiya-do-not-sacrifice-one-kind-of/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“Somewhere beyond all that, on an unseeable horizon, was Morrighan and all the people who lived there, going about their lives, unaware. My brothers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/somewhere-beyond-all-that-on-an-unseeable-horizon-was-morrighan-and/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I play the if game too, Tavish. It´s practically a hobby of mine, but I´ve found it´s a game of endless possibilities with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-play-the-if-game-too-tavish-it-s-practically-a-hobby-of-mine-but-i/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“He leaned back, the misery in his eyes cutting through me. "But they're only wishes Lia, because you've made promises and so have I.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/he-leaned-back-the-misery-in-his-eyes-cutting-through-me-but-they-re/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [Father says it will come in time. “Time heals,” he says. I don’t tell him that I don’t know what time is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/father-says-it-will-come-in-time-time-heals-he-says-i-don-t-tell-him/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [There is something about her eyes. Eyes don't breathe. I know that much. But hers look breathless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/there-is-something-about-her-eyes-eyes-don-t-breathe-i-know-that-much/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [But remember, child, we may all have our own story and destiny, and sometimes our seemingly bad fortune, but we're all part of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/but-remember-child-we-may-all-have-our-own-story-and-destiny-and/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [But I am more than a name. More than they tell me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/but-i-am-more-than-a-name-more-than-they-tell-me/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I looked at her, unsure how to answer. Even after everything Mikael had done, every day I had to let go again. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-looked-at-her-unsure-how-to-answer-even-after-everything-mikael-had/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) [Explore all 148 Mary E. Pearson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) ## 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 decide that sometimes definitions are wrong. Even if they're written in a dictionary. Identities aren't always separate and distinct. Sometimes they ARE wrapped up with others. Sometimes, for a few minutes, maybe they can even be shared. And if I am ever fortunate enough to return to Mr. Bender's garden, I wonder if the birds will see that piece of him that is wrapped up in me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary E. Pearson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are-wrong-even-if-they-re-written/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bird" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are-wrong-even-if-they-re-written/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/mary-e-pearson-2812_bird_i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are_1537231.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/mary-e-pearson-2812_bird_i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are_1537231.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/mary-e-pearson-2812_bird_i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are_1537231.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I decide that sometimes definitions are wrong. Even if they're written in a dictionary. Identities aren't…” — Mary E. Pearson", "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": "Mary E. Pearson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I decide that sometimes definitions are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are-wrong-even-if-they-re-written/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-decide-that-sometimes-definitions-are-wrong-even-if-they-re-written/#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 } } ] } ```