--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish…" description: "\"Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/william-shakespeare-4_feathers_ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish_2842325.jpg" --- # Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin. ![“Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/william-shakespeare-4_feathers_ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish_2842325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/william-shakespeare-4_feathers_ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish_2842325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/william-shakespeare-4_feathers_ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish_2842325.jpg) > “Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A poetic observation about creatures lacking essential features, highlighting absurdity. **In simple terms:** Absurdity of missing basics. Key Takeaway Appreciate essential qualities. Themes absurdity nature poetry Mood playful thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - education - creative writing - environmental commentary Key Concepts philosophy literature Questions to Reflect On - What does “no feathers” symbolize? - How does this comment on identity? A Different Perspective Literal reading may miss metaphor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) ## Related quotes > [As our domestic fowls are said to have their original in the wild pheasant of India, so our domestic thoughts have their prototypes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-our-domestic-fowls-are-said-to-have-their-original-in-the-wild/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Fowls, by winter forced, forsake the floods, and wing their hasty flight to happier lands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/fowls-by-winter-forced-forsake-the-floods-and-wing-their-hasty-flight/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [La volaille est pour la cuisine ce qu'est la toile pour les peintres. Fowls are to the kitchen what his canvas is to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/la-volaille-est-pour-la-cuisine-ce-qu-est-la-toile-pour-les-peintres/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) > [Peacocks have the bright feathers. Fish have the long tails. Women have the mall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-rallison/peacocks-have-the-bright-feathers-fish-have-the-long-tails-women-have/) [Janette Rallison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-rallison/) > [There's nothing situate under heaven's eye But hath his bond in earth, in sea, in sky. The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-s-nothing-situate-under-heaven-s-eye-but-hath-his-bond-in-earth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“It was Sunday, and Mumma had gone next door with Lena and the little ones. Under the pepper tree in the yard Pa was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-white/it-was-sunday-and-mumma-had-gone-next-door-with-lena-and-the-little/) [Patrick White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-white/) > [“When men's fowls and dogs are lost, they know to seek for them again, but they lose their mind and do not know to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/when-men-s-fowls-and-dogs-are-lost-they-know-to-seek-for-them-again/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) > [“You may wear her in title yours: but, you know, strange fowl light upon neighbouring ponds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-may-wear-her-in-title-yours-but-you-know-strange-fowl-light-upon/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches: /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/upon-his-ruin-shall-all-the-fowls-of-the-heaven-remain-and-all-the/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“You may hit the bar, you may cross the forbidden line, you may cause many fouls, but when you stay on, you will definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-may-hit-the-bar-you-may-cross-the-forbidden-line-you-may-cause/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Bird eat it and they leave it. Fowls eat it Goats love to play with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tosh/bird-eat-it-and-they-leave-it-fowls-eat-it-goats-love-to-play-with-it/) [Peter Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tosh/) > [“You'll do fine." "What, you're psychic now?" "Didn't you know?" he asks seriously. "Must be an aftereffect of the bond.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tera-lynn-childs/you-ll-do-fine-what-you-re-psychic-now-didn-t-you-know-he-asks/) [Tera Lynn Childs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tera-lynn-childs/) > [“Quince reaches me, and instead of wrapping me in a hug like I expect, he reaches for my hair. I try to swim back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tera-lynn-childs/quince-reaches-me-and-instead-of-wrapping-me-in-a-hug-like-i-expect/) [Tera Lynn Childs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tera-lynn-childs/) > [“Having fins in the water was useful to travel quickly, but the bulky appendage left much to be desired for exerting dominance. Something about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-pandos/having-fins-in-the-water-was-useful-to-travel-quickly-but-the-bulky/) [Brenda Pandos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-pandos/) > [En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/en-ma-fin-est-ma-commencement-in-my-end-is-my-beginning/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Feathers quotes > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [Stefan: "Indian with a dot, not a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stefan-indian-with-a-dot-not-a-feather/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [All she saw, down in the cellar well beneath the stoop, was a light yellow feather with a tip of green. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/all-she-saw-down-in-the-cellar-well-beneath-the-stoop-was-a-light/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/just-erotic-nothing-kinky-it-s-the-difference-between-using-a-feather/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Now I'm free of him and I'm light as a feather. There's no weight holding me down; I'm ready to spread my wings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/now-i-m-free-of-him-and-i-m-light-as-a-feather-there-s-no-weight/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I often say if men were meant to fly we would have been born with either feathers and wings or at the very least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zakour/i-often-say-if-men-were-meant-to-fly-we-would-have-been-born-with/) [John Zakour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zakour/) > [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/) [Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/) > [I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-ve-been-doing-the-bachelor-long-enough-that-i-don-t-really-care/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [“Featherweight by Suzy Kassem One evening, I sat by the ocean and questioned the moon about my destiny. I revealed to it that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/featherweight-by-suzy-kassem-one-evening-i-sat-by-the-ocean-and/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Birds, unlike us, lack countenance. But they make us smile when they connecting the sky with their dazzling feathers. They amaze us with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ligori/birds-unlike-us-lack-countenance-but-they-make-us-smile-when-they/) Susan Ligori > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [...wings—-vast shimmering wings, their reach so great they swept the walls on either side of the alley, each feather like the wind-tugged lick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/wings-vast-shimmering-wings-their-reach-so-great-they-swept-the-walls/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Erotica is using a feather; pornograpy is using the whole chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/erotica-is-using-a-feather-pornograpy-is-using-the-whole-chicken/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) Browse all 605 Feathers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish-have-no-fin/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feathers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish-have-no-fin/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/william-shakespeare-4_feathers_ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish_2842325.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/william-shakespeare-4_feathers_ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish_2842325.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/william-shakespeare-4_feathers_ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish_2842325.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ay, when fowls have no feathers and fish have no fin.” — William Shakespeare", "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": "William Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ay, when fowls have no feathers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish-have-no-fin/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ay-when-fowls-have-no-feathers-and-fish-have-no-fin/#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 } } ] } ```