43 Owl Quotes, Captions, and Sayings to Make You Wiser

Since owls are solitary creatures who often hunt at night, with their large eyes fully equipped to work in the dark. Their eyes weigh as much as 1-5% of their body weight. Whereas it may not seem like a significant number, in comparison, human eyes weigh about  0.0003% of our body weight. As some of our owl quotes highlight, these wise-looking birds are indeed predators that have evolved to hunt in total darkness.

You have probably heard people refer to “wise owls” as just one example of how people refer to their serious looks in everything from children's books to folklore. Due to their larger-than-usual eyes and mysterious demeanor, people have linked majestic owls to positive and negative situations and characteristics for centuries.

As you read our selection of the best owl quotes, you will learn more about the types of owls and human perception of them.

Quick links to our selection of owl quotes:

Best Owl Quotes

Owls are evidently present everywhere in the modern world. When you search the web, there are owl jewelry and decor. We can also see owls characterized in movies, games, and children's shows. Some universities and companies have owls as their mascot. We clearly have a fascination with these birds. 

Let us start this list of curated owl quotes with some entries to help you be hopeful and wise.

"You don't need anything but hope. The kind of hope that flies on silent wings under a shining owl moon." -Jane Yolen #trvst #quotes #thinkgreen #gogreen #intelligent #silent #hope #silent #owl
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"You don't need anything but hope. The kind of hope that flies on silent wings under a shining owl moon."

- Jane Yolen

"An owl is the wisest of all birds because the more it sees the less it talks." -Christie Watson #trvst #quotes #dogood #socialimpact #wise #birds #intelligent #silent #owl
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"An owl is the wisest of all birds because the more it sees the less it talks."

- Christie Watson

"Owls are known as lonely birds, but it is not known that they have the forest as their best friend!" -Mehmet Murat Ildan #trvst #quotes #dogood #socialchange #silent #forest #owl #birds #lonely
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"Owls are known as lonely birds, but it is not known that they have the forest as their best friend!"

- Mehmet Murat Ildan

"There was a wise old owl who sat in a tree, the less he spoke the more he heard, the more he heard the less he spoke. Why can't we be like that wise old bird in the tree?" -Paul Ricoeur #trvst #quotes #dogood #bethechange #wisdom #tree #owl #bird #owls
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"There was a wise old owl who sat in a tree, the less he spoke the more he heard, the more he heard the less he spoke. Why can't we be like that wise old bird in the tree?"

- Paul Ricoeur

"Advice from an owl: stay focused, be “whoo” you are, trust in a wise friend, live off the land, glide through the dark times, be observant, life’s a hoot!" -Ilan Shamir #trvst #quotes #changetheworld #impact #silent #owl #intelligent #wise #wisdom
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"Advice from an owl: stay focused, be “whoo” you are, trust in a wise friend, live off the land, glide through the dark times, be observant, life’s a hoot!"

- Ilan Shamir

Wise Owl Quotes To Start Your Day With A Clear Mind

Most of the time, owls are portrayed as intelligent since the bird is associated with the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. Japanese and Indonesian people also see them as wise creatures in both ancient and more recent cultural references. On the other hand, the Native Indians and Africans see owls as evil and conveyors of bad news. 

Despite these differences, may these owl quotes inspire your own wisdom in pursuing your goals and dealing with your daily challenges.

"A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?" -Unknown #trvst #quotes #socialchange #collectiveaction #wise #tree #owls #owl #wisdom
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"A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?"

- Unknown

"An owl is traditionally a symbol of wisdom, so we are neither doves nor hawks but owls, and we are vigilant when others are resting." -Urjit Patel #trvst #quotes #socialchange #thinkgreen #wisdom #wisdom #wise #owl #vigilant
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"An owl is traditionally a symbol of wisdom, so we are neither doves nor hawks but owls, and we are vigilant when others are resting."

- Urjit Patel

"A serious writer is not to be confounded with a solemn writer. A serious writer may be a hawk or a buzzard or even a popinjay, but a solemn writer is always a bloody owl." -Ernest Hemingway #trvst #quotes #thinkgreen #gogreen #wise #serious #intelligent #owl #silent
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"A serious writer is not to be confounded with a solemn writer. A serious writer may be a hawk or a buzzard or even a popinjay, but a solemn writer is always a bloody owl."

- Ernest Hemingway

"Owls are wise. They are careful and patient. Wisdom precludes boldness. That is why owls make poor heroes." -Patrick Rothfuss #trvst #quotes #socialchange #bethechange #owls #wise #patient#intelligent #careful
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"Owls are wise. They are careful and patient. Wisdom precludes boldness. That is why owls make poor heroes."

- Patrick Rothfuss

Poetic Owl Quotes About Appreciating Silence And The Dark

Owls are renowned for being silent hunters. They have evolved their comb-like wings and feathers to go unnoticed by their prey even if they are already extremely close. Researchers are trying to mimic these features to create silent airplanes, drones, and turbines to reduce noise pollution. This is an example of biomimicry at its finest! 

We have gathered these owl quotes to reveal how people are in marvel at their silence.

"When the owl sings, the night is silent." -Charles de Leusse #trvst #quotes #bethechange #ecoconscious #silent #night #owl #wise #bird
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"When the owl sings, the night is silent."

- Charles de Leusse

"An owl sound wandered along the road with me. I didn't hear it--I breathed it into my ears." -William Stafford #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #beinspired #silent #owl #wise #wisdom #wind
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"An owl sound wandered along the road with me. I didn't hear it--I breathed it into my ears."

- William Stafford

"At home, I love reaching out into that absolute silence, when you can hear the owl or the wind." -Amanda Harlech #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #ecoconscious #wise #owl #silence #wind #calm
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"At home, I love reaching out into that absolute silence, when you can hear the owl or the wind."

- Amanda Harlech

"In the enemy's territory, be as silent as the owl's wings; in friend's territory, be as cheerful as the nightingale's songs." -Mehmet Murat Ildan #trvst #quotes #takeaction #bethechange #silent #owl #wisdom #friends #intelligent
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"In the enemy's territory, be as silent as the owl's wings; in friend's territory, be as cheerful as the nightingale's songs."

- Mehmet Murat Ildan

"People say the darkness is where secrets are best hidden. Night time brings clarity and focus to owls, even if the aperture of this vision comes with a stigma." -Kimberly Morgan #trvst #quotes #socialchange #impact #owls #darkness #night #vision
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"People say the darkness is where secrets are best hidden. Night time brings clarity and focus to owls, even if the aperture of this vision comes with a stigma."

- Kimberly Morgan

"Some men pray only when the world is dark, as owls hoot at night." -Austin O'Malley #trvst #quotes #dogood #collectiveaction #intelligent #owls #wise #wisdom #hoots
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"Some men pray only when the world is dark, as owls hoot at night."

- Austin O'Malley

When the silent flamingo dances pink with desire, I'll be there, sipping on owl stares and kitten curls.

~ Jarod Kintz

Quotes About Being A Night Owl

The well-known idiom, night owl, describes someone more active at night, like owls. But contrary to common knowledge, not all owls are nocturnal. Two out of the 254 owl species are diurnal. Meaning they are awake during the day. Some owls are crepuscular, which means they hunt between dusk and dawn. 

Are you a night owl? These night owl quotes will surely resonate with you.

"I'm a night owl so I tend to do a lot of my disconnecting past midnight. I love the feeling when the whole world has shut down for the day I'm left to think and unwind without any interruptions." -Darren Hayes #trvst #quotes #socialchange #bethechange #wisdom #night #owls #think #nocturnal
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"I'm a night owl so I tend to do a lot of my disconnecting past midnight. I love the feeling when the whole world has shut down for the day I'm left to think and unwind without any interruptions."

- Darren Hayes

"I'm a bit of a night owl because that's when I feel the most creative and alive." -Christina Aguilera #trvst #quotes #gogreen #collectiveaction #nocturnal #creative #alive #night #owl
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"I'm a bit of a night owl because that's when I feel the most creative and alive."

- Christina Aguilera

"I do not set specific work hours as some writers do. I generally stay with a chapter until I am satisfied, do very little rewriting, and if a scene is going well, I've been known to keep night owl hours." -Sharon Kay Penman #trvst #quotes #ecoconscious #takeaction #work #night #owl #writer #writing
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"I do not set specific work hours as some writers do. I generally stay with a chapter until I am satisfied, do very little rewriting, and if a scene is going well, I've been known to keep night owl hours."

- Sharon Kay Penman

"I used to think I was a night owl. I realized I'm not, because I have energy at night, but I'm not as focused and productive when I try to get things done." -Caroline Ghosn #trvst #quotes #bethechange #ecoconscious #night #owl #nocturnal #productivity #work
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"I used to think I was a night owl. I realized I'm not, because I have energy at night, but I'm not as focused and productive when I try to get things done."

- Caroline Ghosn

"I am both a night owl and an early bird. So I am wise and I have worms." -Michael Scott #trvst #quotes #gogreen #bethechange #night #owl #early #bird #theoffice
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"I am both a night owl and an early bird. So I am wise and I have worms."

- Michael Scott

"The owl is one of the most curious creatures. A bird that stays awake when the rest of the world sleeps. They can see in the dark. I find that so interesting, to be mired in reality when the rest of the world is dreaming. What does he see and what does he know that the rest of the world is missing?" -M.J. Rose #trvst #quotes #beinspired #socialimpact #owl #world #nocturnal #bird #curious
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"The owl is one of the most curious creatures. A bird that stays awake when the rest of the world sleeps. They can see in the dark. I find that so interesting, to be mired in reality when the rest of the world is dreaming. What does he see and what does he know that the rest of the world is missing?"

- M.J. Rose

I'm the worst night owl, because I'm a self-loathing night owl who thinks, 'No, I should be getting up early.' It feels unproductive. I must get over that.

~ Ronny Chieng

More Owl Sayings About How To Deal With Melancholy

Owls, like other animals, have their own colorful language. Aside from hooting, they also screech, shriek, and scream to protect their territories and attract a mate. These birds transmit different emotions through a variety of sounds. Sometimes people mistake them for other animals. Depending on the species, owls can sound like monkeys, dogs, or coyotes.

May these owl quotes encourage you to accept your feelings even if others misunderstand you.

"The wailing owl screams solitary to the mournful moon." -David Mallett #trvst #quotes #thinkgreen #impact #wailing #owl #moon #mentalhealth #solitary
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"The wailing owl screams solitary to the mournful moon."

- David Mallett

"Do not trap yourself into an owl's hooting sound where sad nights linger through the blackness of a hound." -Munia Khan #trvst #quotes #bethechange #collectiveaction #silent #night #mentalhealth #owl #hoot
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"Do not trap yourself into an owl's hooting sound where sad nights linger through the blackness of a hound."

- Munia Khan

"The owl flies, in the moonlight, over a field where the wounded cry out. Like the owl, I fly in the night over my own misfortune." -Georges Bataille #trvst #quotes #dogood #thinkgreen #owl #moonlight #mentalhealth #fly #silent
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"The owl flies, in the moonlight, over a field where the wounded cry out. Like the owl, I fly in the night over my own misfortune."

- Georges Bataille

"If we cannot sing of faith and triumph, we will sing our despair. We will be that kind of bird. There are day owls, and there are night owls, and each is beautiful and even musical while about its business." -Henry David Thoreau #trvst #quotes #bethechange #beinspired #owl #bird #mentalhealth #beautiful #sing
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"If we cannot sing of faith and triumph, we will sing our despair. We will be that kind of bird. There are day owls, and there are night owls, and each is beautiful and even musical while about its business."

- Henry David Thoreau

"The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders at our quaint spirits." -William Shakespeare #trvst #quotes #collectiveaction #thinkgreen #owls #silent #bird #mentalhealth #night
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"The clamorous owl that nightly hoots and wonders at our quaint spirits."

- William Shakespeare

"Lamentation is the only musician that always, like a screech-owl, alights and sits on the roof of any angry man." -Plutarch #trvst #quotes #socialimpact #bethechange #owl #silent #mentalhealth #solitary #bird
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"Lamentation is the only musician that always, like a screech-owl, alights and sits on the roof of any angry man."

- Plutarch

Noteworthy Owl Quotes In Art And Literature

Owls, in general, are not extinct. But habit loss, fragmentation, and invasive species threaten some species, such as burrowing and snowy owls. The laughing owl from New Zealand became extinct in 1914.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared Blakiston's fish owl, the largest among the species, endangered in 2016. As of the time of writing,  IUCN's list has 35 vulnerable, 20 endangered, 18 critically endangered, and 11 extinct owl species. 

We gathered these owl quotes from art and literature to inspire everyone to protect these magnificent birds for future generations to admire.

"Those who drink whiskey with the owls at night, cannot soar with the eagles the next day." -Brian D. Ratty #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #collectiveaction #night #owl #soar #eagle #bird
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"Those who drink whiskey with the owls at night, cannot soar with the eagles the next day."

- Brian D. Ratty

"Only the worm of conscience consorts with the owl. Sinners and evil spirits shun the light." -Friedrich Schiller #trvst #quotes #bethechange #dogood #owl #literature #bird #intelligent #wisdom
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"Only the worm of conscience consorts with the owl. Sinners and evil spirits shun the light."

- Friedrich Schiller

"The crow wished everything was black, the owl, that everything was white." -William Blake #trvst #quotes #changetheworld #ecoconscious #owl #crow #wise #literature #bird
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"The crow wished everything was black, the owl, that everything was white."

- William Blake

"The inauspiciousness of the owl is nothing but the inauspiciousness of the man who thinks that owl is inauspicious!" -Mehmet Murat ildan #trvst #quotes #takeaction #beinspired #wise #owl #literature #bird #wisdom
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"The inauspiciousness of the owl is nothing but the inauspiciousness of the man who thinks that owl is inauspicious!"

- Mehmet Murat ildan

"The little owls call to each other with tremulous, quavering voices throughout the livelong night, as they sit in the creaking trees." -Theodore Roosevelt #trvst #quotes #gogreen #socialimpact #owl #bird #literature #night #nature
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"The little owls call to each other with tremulous, quavering voices throughout the livelong night, as they sit in the creaking trees."

- Theodore Roosevelt

"A wise old owl once lived in a wood, the more he heard the less he said, the less he said the more he heard, let's emulate that wise old bird." -Flann O'Brien #trvst #quotes #beinspired #ecoconscious #wise #owl #bird #wisdom #intelligent
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"A wise old owl once lived in a wood, the more he heard the less he said, the less he said the more he heard, let's emulate that wise old bird."

- Flann O'Brien

"The large white owl that with eye is blind, that hath sate for years in the old tree hollow, is carried away in a gust of wind." -Elizabeth Barret #trvst #quotes #bethechange #impact #white #owl #tree #wind #literature
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"The large white owl that with eye is blind, that hath sate for years in the old tree hollow, is carried away in a gust of wind."

- Elizabeth Barret

Short Owl Captions For Instagram

As stated above, we associate owls with intelligence. But in reality, they cannot solve complex situations as crows and ravens do. Owls depend more on their heightened hearing and sight than their problem-solving skills. 

Here are some short captions showing how different cultures from different generations describe owls. You’ll find these short owl captions perfect for inspiring people across your socials to consider the owl, what they might reflect in life, and their own circumstances.

"There’s always a hidden owl in “knowledge.”" -E.I. Jane #trvst #quotes #beinspired #ecoconscious #owl #wise #owls #knowledge #intelligent
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"There’s always a hidden owl in “knowledge.”"

- E.I. Jane

"The owl of ignorance lays the egg of pride." -Proverb  #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #beinspired #owls #wise #intelligent #wisdom #proverb
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"The owl of ignorance lays the egg of pride."

- Proverb

"Have you ever stared into the owl's eyes?" -Robert Penn #trvst #quotes #bethechange #gogreen #wisdom #owls #eye #silent #bird
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"Have you ever stared into the owl's eyes?"

- Robert Penn

"Thou ominous and fearful owl of death." -William Shakespeare #trvst #quotes #thinkgreen #beinspired #shakespeare #owls #wise #literature #bird
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"Thou ominous and fearful owl of death."

- William Shakespeare

"Owl hasn't exactly got brain, but he knows things." -A. A. Milne #trvst #quotes #socialchange #changetheworld #owl #wise #literature #bird #winniethepooh
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"Owl hasn't exactly got brain, but he knows things."

- A. A. Milne

"Sometimes an owl is just an owl." -Mark Frost #trvst #quotes #impact #thinkgreen #wisdom #bird #owl #wise #silent
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"Sometimes an owl is just an owl."

- Mark Frost

The owl and the pussy cat went to sea, in a beautiful pea green boat. They took some honey, and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five pound note.

~ Edward Lear.

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