"The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages"

In this quote, Virginia Woolf is speaking with the concept that frequently the judgment of others can keep us trapped and limit our capacity. The "eyes of others" represent the look and attention of those around us, which can often seem like a jail that we can not get away. Likewise, the "ideas" of others can restrict us and limit our own beliefs and concepts. By acknowledging the power that the opinions of others can hold over us, we can break free from the restrictions that we impose upon ourselves and live more freely and authentically.