--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One must be chary of words because they…" description: "\"One must be chary of words because they turn into cages.\" — Viola Spolin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/viola-spolin-23943_cages_one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they_2113406.jpg" --- # One must be chary of words because they turn into cages. ![“One must be chary of words because they turn into cages.” quote by Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/viola-spolin-23943_cages_one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they_2113406.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/viola-spolin-23943_cages_one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they_2113406.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/viola-spolin-23943_cages_one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they_2113406.jpg) > “One must be chary of words because they turn into cages.” [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words can imprison thoughts; choose them carefully to avoid mental confinement. **In simple terms:** Words can trap you. Key Takeaway Speak mindfully. Themes communication language psychology Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - conflict resolution Key Concepts Linguistic framing self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - When have words limited you? - How can you free your language? A Different Perspective Over‑cautious speech may hinder expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cages/) [Chary Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chary-words-4277552/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Turn Cages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn-cages-4277551/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-turn-2674746/) ## Related quotes > [Watch your thoughts. They turn into words, then turn into actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inbar-lavi/watch-your-thoughts-they-turn-into-words-then-turn-into-actions/) [Inbar Lavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inbar-lavi/) > [“His fingers are too long and when he talks he uses them to point out moments in his sentences. When he does, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stone/his-fingers-are-too-long-and-when-he-talks-he-uses-them-to-point-out/) [craig stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stone/) > [Too many people spouting too many words, and in the end those words will turn to bullets and stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/too-many-people-spouting-too-many-words-and-in-the-end-those-words/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [It's funny how bed and pillows and covers can change a conversation. Words turn quiet and you mean more and say less. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-benway/it-s-funny-how-bed-and-pillows-and-covers-can-change-a-conversation/) [Robin Benway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-benway/) > [I feel the power in words that you can turn into reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sage-northcutt/i-feel-the-power-in-words-that-you-can-turn-into-reality/) [Sage Northcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sage-northcutt/) > [One must be careful with words. Words turn probabilities into facts and by sheer force of definition translate tendencies into habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/one-must-be-careful-with-words-words-turn-probabilities-into-facts/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [One of the mistakes I made was thinking chickens and penguins could sing, just like all the other animals in the 'Muppets.' But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-mckenzie/one-of-the-mistakes-i-made-was-thinking-chickens-and-penguins-could/) [Bret McKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-mckenzie/) > [Bend words. Stretch them, squash them, mash them up, fold them. Turn them over or swing them upside down. Make up new words. Leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyo-maclear/bend-words-stretch-them-squash-them-mash-them-up-fold-them-turn-them/) [Kyo Maclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyo-maclear/) > [Let yourselves be led by the Holy Spirit, with freedom and, please, do not cage the Holy Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-yourselves-be-led-by-the-holy-spirit-with-freedom-and-please-do/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [There are certain times you rattle the press's cages, and other times you don't, and you have to be discerning about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/there-are-certain-times-you-rattle-the-press-s-cages-and-other-times/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [“And then a strange thing happened. Out of the diseased and deteriorated pool os tired thoughts came life. A simple and poisoned life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/and-then-a-strange-thing-happened-out-of-the-diseased-and/) [Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/) > [If we are ready to tear down the walls that confine us, break the cage that imprisons us, we will discover what our wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-elmore-meegan/if-we-are-ready-to-tear-down-the-walls-that-confine-us-break-the-cage/) [Michael Elmore-Meegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-elmore-meegan/) > [Peace in the struggle to find peace.. comfort on the way to comfort. And if I shed a tear I won't cage it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/peace-in-the-struggle-to-find-peace-comfort-on-the-way-to-comfort-and/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [When a captive lion steps out of his cage, he comes into a wider world than the lion who has known only the wilds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/when-a-captive-lion-steps-out-of-his-cage-he-comes-into-a-wider-world/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/) [Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/) ## More by Viola Spolin > [That which is not yet known comes out of that which is not yet here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/that-which-is-not-yet-known-comes-out-of-that-which-is-not-yet-here/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [It is highly possible that what is called 'talented behavior' is simply a greater individual capacity for experiencing. From this point of view, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/it-is-highly-possible-that-what-is-called-talented-behavior-is-simply/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [Get out of your head, into your space and await the invisible stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/get-out-of-your-head-into-your-space-and-await-the-invisible-stranger/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [The audience is the most revered member of the theater. Without an audience, there is no theater. Everything done is ultimately for the enjoyment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/the-audience-is-the-most-revered-member-of-the-theater-without-an/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [Through spontaneity we are re-formed into ourselves. It creates an explosion that for the moment frees us from handed-down frames of reference, memory choked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/through-spontaneity-we-are-re-formed-into-ourselves-it-creates-an/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [First teach a person to develop to the point of his limitation and then-pfft!-break the limitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/first-teach-a-person-to-develop-to-the-point-of-his-limitation-and/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [When student-actors see people and the way they behave when together, see the color of the sky, hear the sounds in the air, feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/when-student-actors-see-people-and-the-way-they-behave-when-together/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [The unknown is where we go to find new things and intuition is how we find them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/the-unknown-is-where-we-go-to-find-new-things-and-intuition-is-how-we/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [There are few places outside his own play where a child can contribute to the world in which he finds himself. His world: dominated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/there-are-few-places-outside-his-own-play-where-a-child-can/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [Everyone can act. Everyone can improvise. Anyone who wishes to can play in the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/everyone-can-act-everyone-can-improvise-anyone-who-wishes-to-can-play/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [General improvisations often give actors an insight beyond their words by helping them to 'see the word' and achieve a reality for the scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/general-improvisations-often-give-actors-an-insight-beyond-their/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [If the environment permits it, anyone can learn whatever he chooses to learn, and if the individual permits it, the environment will teach him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/if-the-environment-permits-it-anyone-can-learn-whatever-he-chooses-to/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [Theater Games are a process applicable to any field, discipline, or subject matter which creates a place where full participation, communication, and transformation can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/theater-games-are-a-process-applicable-to-any-field-discipline-or/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [Creativity is not the clever rearranging of the known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/creativity-is-not-the-clever-rearranging-of-the-known/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) > [Everyone can act. Everyone can improvise. Anyone who wishes to can play in the theater and learn to become 'stage-worthy.' We learn through experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/everyone-can-act-everyone-can-improvise-anyone-who-wishes-to-can-play-2/) [Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) [Explore all 25 Viola Spolin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/) ## More Cages quotes > [My heart jumps out of its cage to see what the fuss is about. Damn thing. Always so hopeful, but my voice hides it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wylie/my-heart-jumps-out-of-its-cage-to-see-what-the-fuss-is-about-damn/) [Sarah Wylie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wylie/) > [When a captive lion steps out of his cage, he comes into a wider world than the lion who has known only the wilds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukio-mishima/when-a-captive-lion-steps-out-of-his-cage-he-comes-into-a-wider-world/) [Yukio Mishima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukio-mishima/) > [Peace in the struggle to find peace.. comfort on the way to comfort. And if I shed a tear I won't cage it I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/peace-in-the-struggle-to-find-peace-comfort-on-the-way-to-comfort-and/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [If we are ready to tear down the walls that confine us, break the cage that imprisons us, we will discover what our wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-elmore-meegan/if-we-are-ready-to-tear-down-the-walls-that-confine-us-break-the-cage/) [Michael Elmore-Meegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-elmore-meegan/) > [“And then a strange thing happened. Out of the diseased and deteriorated pool os tired thoughts came life. A simple and poisoned life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/and-then-a-strange-thing-happened-out-of-the-diseased-and/) [Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/) > [There are certain times you rattle the press's cages, and other times you don't, and you have to be discerning about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/there-are-certain-times-you-rattle-the-press-s-cages-and-other-times/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [Let yourselves be led by the Holy Spirit, with freedom and, please, do not cage the Holy Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-yourselves-be-led-by-the-holy-spirit-with-freedom-and-please-do/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [What do you fear, lady?' he asked. 'A cage,' she said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-do-you-fear-lady-he-asked-a-cage-she-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Untitled' is a time machine that can transport you to 1992, an edgy moment when the art world was crumbling, money was scarce, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/untitled-is-a-time-machine-that-can-transport-you-to-1992-an-edgy/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [When I went to Australia, I went shark diving. It was crazy. It was called 'extreme' shark diving because even though we were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/when-i-went-to-australia-i-went-shark-diving-it-was-crazy-it-was/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [Being in love, you know... it's not like having a canary, in a cage. When you lose one sweetheart, you can't just go out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/being-in-love-you-know-it-s-not-like-having-a-canary-in-a-cage-when/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [I have been there, and I have seen these totally formed babies as early as ten weeks...with the leg missing, or with their head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-priya-henry/i-have-been-there-and-i-have-seen-these-totally-formed-babies-as/) [Deborah Priya Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-priya-henry/) > [The sight of a cage is only frightening to the bird that has once been caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-field/the-sight-of-a-cage-is-only-frightening-to-the-bird-that-has-once/) [Rachel Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-field/) > [The world rolls under the long thrust of his heel. Over the cage floor the horizons come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-hughes/the-world-rolls-under-the-long-thrust-of-his-heel-over-the-cage-floor/) [Ted Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-hughes/) > [“I think of animals in cages, pressed close against each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-christopher-baer/i-think-of-animals-in-cages-pressed-close-against-each-other/) [Will Christopher Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-christopher-baer/) [Browse all 561 Cages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One must be chary of words because they turn into cages.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Viola Spolin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they-turn-into-cages/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cages" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they-turn-into-cages/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/viola-spolin-23943_cages_one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they_2113406.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/viola-spolin-23943_cages_one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they_2113406.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/762/viola-spolin-23943_cages_one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they_2113406.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One must be chary of words because they turn into cages.” — Viola Spolin", "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": "Viola Spolin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One must be chary of words...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they-turn-into-cages/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/one-must-be-chary-of-words-because-they-turn-into-cages/#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 } } ] } ```