--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot teach a bird to fly, only how…" description: "\"You cannot teach a bird to fly, only how to let go his branch and begin to fall.\" — Tim Ward" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/tim-ward-43722_bird_you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how_632955.jpg" --- # You cannot teach a bird to fly, only how to let go his… ![“You cannot teach a bird to fly, only how to let go his branch and begin to fall.” quote by Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/tim-ward-43722_bird_you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how_632955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/tim-ward-43722_bird_you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how_632955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/tim-ward-43722_bird_you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how_632955.jpg) > “You cannot teach a bird to fly, only how to let go his branch and begin to fall.” [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning freedom means releasing control and trusting natural growth. **In simple terms:** Let go and trust growth. Key Takeaway Release control, trust natural process. Themes freedom trust growth Mood reflective encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - coaching - mentorship - personal development Key Concepts psychology autonomy Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to guide rather than release? - How does trust develop after letting go? A Different Perspective Not all situations benefit from letting go; sometimes guidance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) ## Related quotes > [I'm like a monkey. You don't let go of one branch until you get a hold of the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/i-m-like-a-monkey-you-don-t-let-go-of-one-branch-until-you-get-a-hold/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [We're still who we are at the roots. I reckon, hopefully, you let it branch out a little bit and you learn. You live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-montgomery/we-re-still-who-we-are-at-the-roots-i-reckon-hopefully-you-let-it/) Eddie Montgomery > [“You can't teach the bird to fly, you can only whisper your encouragement beneath the wings of it's knowing... Moriarty”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-moriarty/you-can-t-teach-the-bird-to-fly-you-can-only-whisper-your/) Dean Moriarty > [Some people fall head over heels. Other people begin to fall without even knowing it—love grows like a spring flower beneath last autumn’s leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chandler/some-people-fall-head-over-heels-other-people-begin-to-fall-without/) [Elizabeth Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chandler/) > [Once you begin to fall off the track and believe you breathe different air to everyone else, you're doomed; you're finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/once-you-begin-to-fall-off-the-track-and-believe-you-breathe/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [When you become dependenton where you begin to fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/when-you-become-dependenton-where-you-begin-to-fall/) Mak\_786 > [The scales would then become unbalanced and thus would begin the fall, the sin of one would become the sin of one and all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince/the-scales-would-then-become-unbalanced-and-thus-would-begin-the-fall/) [Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince/) > [Dear god turn me into a bird so I can fly far far away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fading-scars/dear-god-turn-me-into-a-bird-so-i-can-fly-far-far-away/) Fading\_scars > [Dear God, make me a bird. So I can fly far. Far away from here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/broken-soul/dear-god-make-me-a-bird-so-i-can-fly-far-far-away-from-here/) [Broken Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/broken-soul/) > [A bird can fly as high as it wants but it eventually has to come down to earth and get some water... and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimbo-slice/a-bird-can-fly-as-high-as-it-wants-but-it-eventually-has-to-come-down/) [Kimbo Slice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimbo-slice/) > [the shell must break before the bird can fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-shell-must-break-before-the-bird-can-fly/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Dear God make me a bird, so I can fly far far far away from here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/dear-god-make-me-a-bird-so-i-can-fly-far-far-far-away-from-here/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Dear God, Make me a bird so I can fly , far far away from here, Give me the strength to accept the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nisha-marie/dear-god-make-me-a-bird-so-i-can-fly-far-far-away-from-here-give-me/) [Ta'Nisha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nisha-marie/) > [“You don't have to be a bird to fly...you just need to have wings and body parts that are proportional for aerial navigation. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/that-s-who-flor-freaking-marmolejo/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-bird-to-fly-you-just-need-to-have-wings-and/) that's who Flor freaking Marmolejo > [Sometimes I wish I was a bird so I could fly over certain people and shit on their head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/sometimes-i-wish-i-was-a-bird-so-i-could-fly-over-certain-people-and/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) ## More by Tim Ward > [Even without his robes an arahant is recognized simply by the effect his metta has in a crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/even-without-his-robes-an-arahant-is-recognized-simply-by-the-effect/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [If the world is crazy, maybe it needs a few sane people in the middle of it. Why do monks lock themselves up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/if-the-world-is-crazy-maybe-it-needs-a-few-sane-people-in-the-middle/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [Without faith you can't see a miracle; you just see unexplained events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/without-faith-you-can-t-see-a-miracle-you-just-see-unexplained-events/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [I truly believe that I have been given a second chance at life. I never expected the results I have had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/i-truly-believe-that-i-have-been-given-a-second-chance-at-life-i/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [A few days ago Tan Casipo said to me, 'Some people come here with so much dust in their eyes it's unbearable to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/a-few-days-ago-tan-casipo-said-to-me-some-people-come-here-with-so/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [You know, the very strength of science is that it keeps us from the errors of mythos, from getting committed to a set of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/you-know-the-very-strength-of-science-is-that-it-keeps-us-from-the/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [The practice is enlightenment. Some people find this idea not to their liking. They want to get enlightenment in a flash. This way they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/the-practice-is-enlightenment-some-people-find-this-idea-not-to-their/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) > [Do not speak unless you can improve on silence, said a Buddhist sage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/do-not-speak-unless-you-can-improve-on-silence-said-a-buddhist-sage/) [Tim Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) [Explore all 9 Tim Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/) ## 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": "You cannot teach a bird to fly, only how to let go his branch and begin to fall.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim Ward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how-to-let-go-his-branch-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bird" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how-to-let-go-his-branch-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/tim-ward-43722_bird_you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how_632955.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/tim-ward-43722_bird_you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how_632955.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/tim-ward-43722_bird_you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how_632955.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You cannot teach a bird to fly, only how to let go his branch and begin to fall.” — Tim Ward", "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": "Tim Ward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You cannot teach a bird to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how-to-let-go-his-branch-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ward/you-cannot-teach-a-bird-to-fly-only-how-to-let-go-his-branch-and/#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 } } ] } ```