A peacock that rests on his feathers is just another turkey.

Using barnyard imagery, the line contrasts the peacock—valued for its showy plumage—with the turkey, a more ordinary bird. The point is that beauty, talent, or past achievements don’t amount to much if one becomes complacent: a “peacock” who merely sits on his feathers (i.e., relies on appearance or reputation) is functionally no better than anyone else. Read as a piece of Parton-style folk wisdom, it encourages continued effort, humility, and usefulness over vanity. It also hints at the fragility of status: distinction must be enacted and renewed, not simply possessed.