Bird Quote by Patrick O'Brian
““Oh, what is that bird?' 'It is a wheatear. We have seen between two and three hundred since we set out, and I have told you their name twice, nay, three times.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brian, 1975
A narrator obsessively catalogues birds, highlighting human tendency to over‑detail trivial observations.
In simple terms: Obsessive focus on minor details.
Practice restraint in observation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- birdwatching
- field research
- creative writing
- teaching language
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we repeat details?
- When does detail become distraction?
Too much detail can obscure the main narrative.