"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken"

This quote by Chuck Palahniuk is a funny and thought-provoking way of stating that just imitating or attempting to be something does not make you that thing. In this case, sticking plumes up your butt, which is a common quality of chickens, does not automatically make you a chicken. It is a metaphor for how individuals frequently attempt to suit or conform to specific expectations, however that does not alter who they genuinely are. It is a reminder to be real to oneself and not to attempt to be somebody or something else just for the sake of fitting in.