--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A believer is a bird in a cage, a…" description: "\"A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing.\" — Robert Green Ingersoll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheist_a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethi_481491.png" --- # A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle… ![“A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing.” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheist_a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethi_481491.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheist_a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethi_481491.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheist_a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethi_481491.png) > “A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing.” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom of thought soies confinement; independent minds soar beyond limits. **In simple terms:** Think freely, avoid mental cages. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent thinking. Themes freedom thought individualism creativity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - personal development - leadership Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What mental cages hold you? - How can you nurture your inner eagle? A Different Perspective Eagerness can become rigidity; fear of criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Bird cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird-cage/) [Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagles/) [Freethinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freethinker/) ## Related quotes > [To destroy guide-boards that point in the wrong direction . . . to drive the fiend of fear from the mind . . . is the task of the Freethinker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/to-destroy-guide-boards-that-point-in-the-wrong-direction-to-drive/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [“Do you want to be kept in a little cage? No! Because it is a horror! But then why do you keep a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/do-you-want-to-be-kept-in-a-little-cage-no-because-it-is-a-horror-but/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Like a bird, when his cage is opened, stays on his perch, dazzled by freedom, the postponed traveler does not see that his cage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/like-a-bird-when-his-cage-is-opened-stays-on-his-perch-dazzled-by/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“THE TAME BIRD WAS IN A CAGE THE tame bird was in a cage, the free bird was in the forest. They met when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/the-tame-bird-was-in-a-cage-the-tame-bird-was-in-a-cage-the-free-bird/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Ever since we broke up, it was like I was a free bird from it's cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-laura/ever-since-we-broke-up-it-was-like-i-was-a-free-bird-from-it-s-cage/) [Jasmine Laura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-laura/) > [He who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/he-who-defines-his-conduct-by-ethics-imprisons-his-song-bird-in-a-cage/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [A person isn't a bird. You can't cage a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-creech/a-person-isn-t-a-bird-you-can-t-cage-a-person/) [Sharon Creech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-creech/) > [“He said what nobody understood was, she always felt like a bird in a cage--she wanted to be without roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-alcott/he-said-what-nobody-understood-was-she-always-felt-like-a-bird-in-a/) [Kate Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-alcott/) > [There is nothing worst than a bird in a cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jch2012/there-is-nothing-worst-than-a-bird-in-a-cage/) Jch2012 > [I tried to put a bird in a cage. O fool that I am! For the bird was Truth. Sing merrily, Truth: I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/i-tried-to-put-a-bird-in-a-cage-o-fool-that-i-am-for-the-bird-was/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [Bird cage is nice only when it is empty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/bird-cage-is-nice-only-when-it-is-empty/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Put a bird cage near the window so that the bird can see the sky? It's much better to look than not to, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-kinski/put-a-bird-cage-near-the-window-so-that-the-bird-can-see-the-sky-it-s/) [Klaus Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-kinski/) > [... Let the cage bird and the cage bird mate and the wild bird mate in the wild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/let-the-cage-bird-and-the-cage-bird-mate-and-the-wild-bird-mate-in/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The sound of the harpsichord resembles that of a bird-cage played with toasting-forks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/the-sound-of-the-harpsichord-resembles-that-of-a-bird-cage-played/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [Don Quixote thought he could have made beautiful bird-cages and toothpicks if his brain had not been so full of ideas of chivalry. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/don-quixote-thought-he-could-have-made-beautiful-bird-cages-and/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) ## More by Robert Green Ingersoll > [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. Imagine a dialogue between a pestilence and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-read-the-other-day-an-account-of-a-meeting-between-john-knox-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Shakespeare has done far more for the world than the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/shakespeare-has-done-far-more-for-the-world-than-the-bible/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Every man who expresses an honest thought is a soldier in the army of intellectual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/every-man-who-expresses-an-honest-thought-is-a-soldier-in-the-army-of/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Liberty is the condition of progress. Without Liberty, there remains only barbarism. Without Liberty, there can be no civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/liberty-is-the-condition-of-progress-without-liberty-there-remains/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [It has been said that a man of genius should select his ancestors with great care - and yet there does not seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-has-been-said-that-a-man-of-genius-should-select-his-ancestors/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [In spite of my surroundings, of my education, I had no love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/in-spite-of-my-surroundings-of-my-education-i-had-no-love-for-god/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The combined wisdom and genius of all mankind cannot possibly conceive of an argument against liberty of thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-combined-wisdom-and-genius-of-all-mankind-cannot-possibly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Calvin founded a little theocracy, modeled after the Old Testament, and succeeded in erecting the most detestable government that ever existed, except the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/calvin-founded-a-little-theocracy-modeled-after-the-old-testament-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I do not believe in loving enemies; I have pretty hard work to love my friends. Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More Atheist quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. Beautiful, impressive, awe-inspiring - sure, but not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomy-arpaly/i-am-an-atheist-i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-divine-beautiful/) [Nomy Arpaly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomy-arpaly/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Green Ingersoll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethinker-is-an-eagle-parting-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethinker-is-an-eagle-parting-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheist_a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethi_481491.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheist_a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethi_481491.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/robert-green-ingersoll-361_atheist_a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethi_481491.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A believer is a bird in a cage, a freethinker is an eagle parting the clouds with tireless wing.” — Robert Green Ingersoll", "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": "Robert Green Ingersoll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A believer is a bird in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethinker-is-an-eagle-parting-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/a-believer-is-a-bird-in-a-cage-a-freethinker-is-an-eagle-parting-the/#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 } } ] } ```