"Did St. Francis preach to the birds? Whatever for? If he really liked birds he would have done better to preach to the cats"

Rebecca West's quote, "Did St. Francis preach to the birds? Whatever for? If he actually liked birds he would have done much better to preach to the cats", provides a sharp and amusing review of St. Francis of Assisi's renowned act of preaching to birds. To unload this statement, one should acknowledge St. Francis as a symbol of consistency between humanity and nature. His preaching to the birds is extensively translated as a demonstration of love and respect for all animals, reflecting his belief that nature is an expression of magnificent charm and knowledge.

West, nevertheless, utilizes paradox in her review. Her statement suggests that if St. Francis truly took care of the well-being of birds, his efforts to influence behavior would be much better directed at predators like felines. In this sense, she indicates that preaching to non-threatening beings, the birds, is an act doing not have pragmatic impact, as they are not the ones who threaten themselves. By recommending that Francis needs to "preach to the felines", she humorously deals with the notion of resolving the origin of dispute or danger, instead of preaching to the choir, so to speak.

Underlying West's witticism is a more comprehensive commentary on humanity and the propensity to engage in symbolic acts instead of reliable actions. The quote may be viewed as a reflection on the futility of resolving problems where they are least impactful, advocating rather for a focus on procedures that acknowledge and alleviate genuine threats and difficulties. This encapsulates a practical view of advocacy and modification, valuably reminding us to channel our efforts towards those who have the power to effect considerable modification.

Additionally, West's words can be valued as a reflection on the intricacy of interaction and influence-- recognizing the requirement to attend to diverse audiences, including those whose actions might hurt the susceptible. In the larger context, her observation acts as a suggestion to go for services that attend to underlying issues, rather than merely participating in symbolic gestures.