--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is easy for desire to be caught like a…" description: "\"It is easy for desire to be caught like a bird in a net, its wings fouled and twisted, no longer free to cross back and forth between silence and word...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/wendy-farley-70606_back-and-forth_it-is-easy-for-desire-to-be-caught-like_2668860.jpg" --- # It is easy for desire to be caught like a bird in a net… ![“It is easy for desire to be caught like a bird in a net, its wings fouled and twisted, no longer free to cross back and forth between silence and word. Desire may also find itself so amputated by tradition and community that it wanders in a void with nothing to orient it, to shape or discipline…” quote by Wendy Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/wendy-farley-70606_back-and-forth_it-is-easy-for-desire-to-be-caught-like_2668860.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/wendy-farley-70606_back-and-forth_it-is-easy-for-desire-to-be-caught-like_2668860.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3f/wendy-farley-70606_back-and-forth_it-is-easy-for-desire-to-be-caught-like_2668860.jpg) > “It is easy for desire to be caught like a bird in a net, its wings fouled and twisted, no longer free to cross back and forth between silence and word. Desire may also find itself so amputated by tradition and community that it wanders in a void with nothing to orient it, to shape or discipline it. Desire must find ways to navigate its bitter and sweet paradox: it moves toward but also always through and beyond every object.” Wendy Farley ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desire is often trapped by societal constraints, losing freedom and direction, yet it must navigate contradictions to move beyond objects and find purpose. **In simple terms:** Desire is confined by tradition but must find its own path. Key Takeaway Recognize and work through constraints to let desire guide growth. Themes psychology philosophy freedom identity paradox Mood reflective conflicted hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative pursuits - personal relationships - career decisions - spiritual practice - cultural adaptation Key Concepts self‑actualization social norms inner conflict motivation Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms does desire seek? - How can you balance desire with societal expectations? A Different Perspective Traditional expectations can suppress authentic desire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void/) ## Related quotes > [“That’s my one desire, to be caught," answered Vronsky, with his serene, good-humored smile. "If I complain of anything it’s only that I’m not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/that-s-my-one-desire-to-be-caught-answered-vronsky-with-his-serene/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“42. The word “desire” means “of the sire” or “of the father.” In other words, that strong impulse to achieve something is actually the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-rydall/42-the-word-desire-means-of-the-sire-or-of-the-father-in-other-words/) [Derek Rydall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-rydall/) > [The word desire suggests that there is something we do not have. If we have everything already, then there can be no desire, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-word-desire-suggests-that-there-is-something-we-do-not-have-if-we/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [In one word, one should desire of God desirelessness. For desire alone is at the root of all suffering. It is the cause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarada-devi/in-one-word-one-should-desire-of-god-desirelessness-for-desire-alone/) [Sarada Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarada-devi/) > [The discipline of desire is the background of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/the-discipline-of-desire-is-the-background-of-character/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [“Loving your fate and joyful acceptance Epictetus actually describes a three-stage process to his students, which relates to the discipline of desire. He begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-j-robertson/loving-your-fate-and-joyful-acceptance-epictetus-actually-describes-a/) [Donald J. Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-j-robertson/) > [“Lady Margaret believed in the three D's: Discipline, Desire, and Determination. 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There's always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-my-work-comes-out-of-both-an-intense-desire-for-connection/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [It is an intimately communicative affair between the painter and his painting, a conversation back and forth, the painting telling the painter even as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shahn/it-is-an-intimately-communicative-affair-between-the-painter-and-his/) [Ben Shahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shahn/) > [Belief in oneself is a crucial quality of leadership, because 'a house divided against itself cannot stand.' A leader who fluctuates back and forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-beth-jones/belief-in-oneself-is-a-crucial-quality-of-leadership-because-a-house/) [Laurie Beth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-beth-jones/) > [I'm a southern girl, and I grew up with this slightly schizophrenic upbringing where I bounced back and forth between Atlanta, Georgia, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-myracle/i-m-a-southern-girl-and-i-grew-up-with-this-slightly-schizophrenic/) [Lauren Myracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-myracle/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) ## More by Wendy Farley > [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/) Wendy Farley > [Desire is the absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-the-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/) Wendy Farley > [Desire is insatiable not because the goods of the world are too few, too uniform, or too bland. Desire burns through the goods of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-insatiable-not-because-the-goods-of-the-world-are-too-few/) Wendy Farley Explore all 4 Wendy Farley quotes ## More Back and forth quotes > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. 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A leader who fluctuates back and forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-beth-jones/belief-in-oneself-is-a-crucial-quality-of-leadership-because-a-house/) [Laurie Beth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-beth-jones/) > [CS: I always say there's a tribal element in a rock concert. 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But all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathe-kollwitz/how-long-were-the-stretches-of-toilsome-tacking-back-and-forth-of/) [Kathe Kollwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathe-kollwitz/) > [The relationship with the words someone uses is more intimate and integrated than just a quick read and a blurb can ever be. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/the-relationship-with-the-words-someone-uses-is-more-intimate-and/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [ One day he \[Wagner\] was batting against a young pitcher who had just come into the league. 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