--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Little islands are all large prisons: one…" description: "\"Little islands are all large prisons: one cannot look at the sea without wishing for the wings of a swallow.\" — Richard Burton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/richard-burton-13165_crime_little-islands-are-all-large-prisons-one_1768423.jpg" --- # Little islands are all large prisons: one cannot look at… ![“Little islands are all large prisons: one cannot look at the sea without wishing for the wings of a swallow.” quote by Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/richard-burton-13165_crime_little-islands-are-all-large-prisons-one_1768423.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/richard-burton-13165_crime_little-islands-are-all-large-prisons-one_1768423.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/richard-burton-13165_crime_little-islands-are-all-large-prisons-one_1768423.jpg) > “Little islands are all large prisons: one cannot look at the sea without wishing for the wings of a swallow.” [Richard Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Islands symbolize confinement; yearning for freedom is expressed through the swallow’s wings. **In simple terms:** Islands feel like prisons. Key Takeaway Seek freedom beyond limits. Themes freedom longing metaphor Mood melancholic hopeful Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - travel - creative writing - personal reflection Key Concepts literature psychology nature Questions to Reflect On - What does the sea represent? - How do you escape mental prisons? A Different Perspective Freedom may be an illusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Islands Large](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands-large-1755148/) [Large Prisons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-prisons-1609724/) [Little Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-islands-1755149/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Sea Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea-wishing-1755150/) [Wings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wings/) ## Related quotes > [One cannot look at the sea without wishing for the wings of a swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-francis-burton/one-cannot-look-at-the-sea-without-wishing-for-the-wings-of-a-swallow/) [Richard Francis Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-francis-burton/) > [By and large, prisons are survivable, though hope is indeed what you need least upon entering here; a lump of sugar would be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/by-and-large-prisons-are-survivable-though-hope-is-indeed-what-you/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [In violent and chaotic times such as these, our only chance for survival lies in creating our own little islands of sanity and order,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-kaufman/in-violent-and-chaotic-times-such-as-these-our-only-chance-for/) [Sue Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-kaufman/) > [“It is so much nicer to ask, when someone speaks of Barbados, Banska Bystrica or Fiji: ‘Oh those little islands… Are they British?’ (They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikes/it-is-so-much-nicer-to-ask-when-someone-speaks-of-barbados-banska/) [George Mikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikes/) > [We have to stop living on little islands. 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