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For those like me who didn't understand the feathers reference, the analogy of the sage is that gathering up those feathers is the equivalent of taking back what you said. Once it has been said, it is out there forever, the damage has been done.

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I think it also means that gossip spreads really far and you never know where all those feathers end up. Even if you could take back what you say, it's hard to find where the gossip has spread to.

I'm reminded of the Friends episode where Ross sleeps with the copy girl.

Hmm. I also took from it that the man should just go spend time doing something other than gossiping. Say a task that would take a long time, like gathering the feathers.

(ie. you can be less transparent by spending your time doing rather than talking.)

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