User:Mirrorparrot

The one who teaches speech to a bird hides behind a mirror to teach it. Whenever the bird has turned to the place of the speaking, she finds her own image before her eyes, and speaks with it, believing it to be her companion. He has fixed his image before you, for you to learn his speech through it.

That bird is like a person, but though similar, they are also like strangers.

- Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns on Faith 31