--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Caged birds accept each other, but flight…" description: "\"Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they long for.\" — Tennessee Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/tennessee-williams-745_accepting_caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight_258845.png" --- # Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they… ![“Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they long for.” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/tennessee-williams-745_accepting_caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight_258845.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/tennessee-williams-745_accepting_caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight_258845.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/tennessee-williams-745_accepting_caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight_258845.png) > “Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they long for.” [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Caged birds symbolize people who find companionship but still yearn for the freedom of flight, representing unfulfilled aspirations. **In simple terms:** Longing for freedom despite companionship. Key Takeaway Pursue true freedom. Themes confinement yearning aspiration Mood hopeful reflective Type literary metaphorical When to use this quote - relationships - career goals - personal growth Key Concepts symbolism human desire Questions to Reflect On - What does flight represent for you? - Can companionship replace the need for freedom? A Different Perspective Not all who are confined desire freedom; some accept their place. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-flight-2556027/) [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Birds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birds/) [Birds Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birds-accept-1730492/) [Caged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caged/) [Caged birds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caged-birds/) [Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Memorial day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial-day/) ## Related quotes > [“-The little comfort of love? -Is that comfort so little? -Caged birds accept each other but flight is what they long for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenesse-williams/the-little-comfort-of-love-is-that-comfort-so-little-caged-birds/) [Tenesse Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenesse-williams/) > [But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/but-a-caged-bird-stands-on-the-grave-of-dreams/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I wouldn't steal anything because stealing is wrong. If I had to, I'd steal a caged bird and set it free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-darvill/i-wouldn-t-steal-anything-because-stealing-is-wrong-if-i-had-to-i-d/) [Arthur Darvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-darvill/) > [The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/the-caged-bird-sings-with-a-fearful-trill-of-things-unknown-but/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I know why the caged bird sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,- When he beats his bars and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laurence-dunbar/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings-ah-me-when-his-wing-is-bruised-and-2/) [Paul Laurence Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laurence-dunbar/) > [And when you had made sure of the poor little fool," said my aunt - "God forgive me that I should call her so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/and-when-you-had-made-sure-of-the-poor-little-fool-said-my-aunt-god/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I have read in books that we are called 'caged birds'. I cannot speak for others, but I had so much in this cage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/i-have-read-in-books-that-we-are-called-caged-birds-i-cannot-speak/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Tell me why the caged bird nutters against its prison bars, and I will tell you why the soul sickens of earthliness. The bird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-sinks-foster/tell-me-why-the-caged-bird-nutters-against-its-prison-bars-and-i-will/) [Randolph Sinks Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-sinks-foster/) > [Caged birds sing of freedom, free birds fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorolf-rafto/caged-birds-sing-of-freedom-free-birds-fly/) [Thorolf Rafto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorolf-rafto/) > [I know what the caged bird feels, alas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laurence-dunbar/i-know-what-the-caged-bird-feels-alas/) [Paul Laurence Dunbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laurence-dunbar/) > [I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/i-have-to-remind-myself-that-some-birds-aren-t-meant-to-be-caged/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [“Some birds are not meant to be caged”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/some-birds-are-not-meant-to-be-caged/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/some-birds-are-not-meant-to-be-caged-that-s-all-their-feathers-are/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Islam was like a mental cage. At first, when you open the door, the caged bird stays inside: it is frightened. It has internalized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/islam-was-like-a-mental-cage-at-first-when-you-open-the-door-the/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) ## More by Tennessee Williams > [“Nothing human disgusts me unless its unkind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/nothing-human-disgusts-me-unless-its-unkind/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [These are the intensities that one cannot live with, that he has to outgrow if he wants to survive. But who can help grieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/these-are-the-intensities-that-one-cannot-live-with-that-he-has-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/people-go-to-the-movies-instead-of-moving-hollywood-characters-are/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/you-take-it-for-granted-that-i-am-in-something-that-i-want-to-get-out/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I respect a person that has had to fight and howl for his decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-respect-a-person-that-has-had-to-fight-and-howl-for-his-decency/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/life-is-all-memory-except-for-the-one-present-moment-that-goes-by-you/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [Most of the confidence which I appear to feel, especially when influenced by noon wine, is only a pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/most-of-the-confidence-which-i-appear-to-feel-especially-when/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I cannot write any sort of story unless there is at least one character in it for whom I have physical desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-cannot-write-any-sort-of-story-unless-there-is-at-least-one/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“The Jefferson is such a dignified hotel / There is no such thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-jefferson-is-such-a-dignified-hotel-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still young and believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-drinking-man-s-someone-who-wants-to-forget-he-isn-t-still-young-and/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [“As for me, no one will ever love me. But you could get used to me, couldn't you, Jimmy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/as-for-me-no-one-will-ever-love-me-but-you-could-get-used-to-me/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) [Explore all 373 Tennessee Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) ## More Accepting 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/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they long for.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tennessee Williams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight-is-what-they-long-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight-is-what-they-long-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/tennessee-williams-745_accepting_caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight_258845.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/tennessee-williams-745_accepting_caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight_258845.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/tennessee-williams-745_accepting_caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight_258845.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Caged birds accept each other, but flight is what they long for.” — Tennessee Williams", "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": "Tennessee Williams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Caged birds accept each other, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight-is-what-they-long-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/caged-birds-accept-each-other-but-flight-is-what-they-long-for/#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 } } ] } ```