'birds born in a cage think flying is an illness' T-shirt

SLECHTHART

birds born in a cage think flying is an illness

When someone is raised within strict limitations—whether imposed by society, culture, upbringing, or personal fears—they come to see those limitations as natural, even necessary. Over time, the idea of anything beyond their familiar constraints can seem strange, threatening, or even wrong.

A bird that has never seen the sky does not long for it; it knows only the bars of its cage. If it were to glimpse freedom, it might mistake it for danger, just as people who have never experienced true autonomy may fear change or resist those who challenge the status quo. This quote speaks to the power of the mind to adapt to restriction, to normalize confinement, and to reject the very thing that could set it free. It is a reminder to question the invisible cages we accept and to reconsider whether the limits we believe in are real or merely learned.