--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was never a keeper of sheep" description: "\"“I was never a keeper of sheep”\" — Alberto Caeiro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/alberto-caeiro-7759_keeper_i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep-702634_702634.jpg" --- # I was never a keeper of sheep ![“I was never a keeper of sheep” quote by Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/alberto-caeiro-7759_keeper_i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep-702634_702634.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/alberto-caeiro-7759_keeper_i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep-702634_702634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/alberto-caeiro-7759_keeper_i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep-702634_702634.jpg) > ““I was never a keeper of sheep”” [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker denies being a shepherd, symbolizing a rejection of traditional, pastoral responsibilities. **In simple terms:** I am not a shepherd. Key Takeaway Embrace your true role. Themes identity individualism rejection Mood reflective defiant Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - career choice - personal branding - life direction - social expectations Key Concepts existentialism self‑definition Questions to Reflect On - Do you resist roles that feel imposed? - What freedoms arise from rejecting expectations? A Different Perspective May overlook community value of guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Keeper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeper/) [Keeper Sheep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeper-sheep-5559312/) [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) [Sheep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sheep/) [Shepherds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shepherds/) ## Related quotes > [Do exactly the opposite of what the sheep are doing in order to become the Shepherd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-sylver/do-exactly-the-opposite-of-what-the-sheep-are-doing-in-order-to/) [Marshall Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-sylver/) > [Sheep are always looking for a new shepherd when the terrain gets rocky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sheep-are-always-looking-for-a-new-shepherd-when-the-terrain-gets/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Sheep are not the docile, pleasant creatures of the pastoral idyll. Any countryman will tell you that. They are sly, occasionally vicious, pathologically stupid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/sheep-are-not-the-docile-pleasant-creatures-of-the-pastoral-idyll-any/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I remember being in church. We would do the live nativity in my little town and I remember pulling the sheep. I was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-tomlin/i-remember-being-in-church-we-would-do-the-live-nativity-in-my-little/) [Chris Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-tomlin/) > [Shepherds don't look after sheep because they love them - although I do think some shepherds like their sheep too much. They look after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/shepherds-don-t-look-after-sheep-because-they-love-them-although-i-do/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The heart set to do the Father's will need never fear defeat. His promises of guidance may be fully counted upon. Does it make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-heart-set-to-do-the-father-s-will-need-never-fear-defeat-his/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [They would be the shepherds over us, their sheep. Certainly such an arrangement presupposes that they are naturally superior to the rest of us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/they-would-be-the-shepherds-over-us-their-sheep-certainly-such-an/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [“By prolonged and continued fellowship, the sheep who follow nearby enjoy the shepherd's presence and become his familiar companions. To those closest to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/by-prolonged-and-continued-fellowship-the-sheep-who-follow-nearby/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [If, therefore, the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they necessarily say that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-boniface-viii/if-therefore-the-greeks-or-others-say-that-they-are-not-committed-to/) [Pope Boniface VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-boniface-viii/) > [I'm Irish as hell: Kelly on one side, Shanley on the other. My father had been born on a farm in the Irish Midlands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-patrick-shanley/i-m-irish-as-hell-kelly-on-one-side-shanley-on-the-other-my-father/) [John Patrick Shanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-patrick-shanley/) > [A God who draws near out of love, the Holy Father continued, walks with His people, and this walk comes to an unimaginable point.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/a-god-who-draws-near-out-of-love-the-holy-father-continued-walks-with/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [This is the blessed life-not anxious to see far in front, nor eager to choose the path, but quietly following behind the Shepherd, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/this-is-the-blessed-life-not-anxious-to-see-far-in-front-nor-eager-to/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [What shepherd feeds his sheep with his own blood? But Christ feeds us with His own Blood and in all things unites us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-shepherd-feeds-his-sheep-with-his-own-blood-but-christ-feeds-us/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [I want no Christmas without a burden for lost souls, a message for sinners, a heart to bring in the lost sheep so dear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-rice/i-want-no-christmas-without-a-burden-for-lost-souls-a-message-for/) [John R. Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-rice/) > [Power, after all, is not just military strength. It is the social power that comes from democracy, the cultural power that comes from freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-said/power-after-all-is-not-just-military-strength-it-is-the-social-power/) [Edward Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-said/) ## More by Alberto Caeiro > [“Even so, I’m somebody. I’m the Discoverer of Nature. I’m the Argonaut of true sensations. I bring a new Universe to the Universe Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/even-so-i-m-somebody-i-m-the-discoverer-of-nature-i-m-the-argonaut-of/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“the world wasn't made for us to think about it (to think is to have eyes that aren't well) but to look at it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/the-world-wasn-t-made-for-us-to-think-about-it-to-think-is-to-have/) [alberto caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“And I find a happiness in the fact of accepting — In the sublimely scientific and difficult fact of accepting the inevitable natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/and-i-find-a-happiness-in-the-fact-of-accepting-in-the-sublimely/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“I’m a keeper of flocks. The flock is my thoughts And my thoughts are all sensations. I think with my eyes and with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/i-m-a-keeper-of-flocks-the-flock-is-my-thoughts-and-my-thoughts-are/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“But if God is the trees and the flowers And the hills and the moonlight and the sun, Why should I call him God?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/but-if-god-is-the-trees-and-the-flowers-and-the-hills-and-the/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“A stagecoach passed by on the road and went on; And the road didn’t become more beautiful or even more ugly. That’s human action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/a-stagecoach-passed-by-on-the-road-and-went-on-and-the-road-didn-t/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“There are no roses in my yard: what wind brought you? But I suddenly come from far away. I was sick for a moment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/there-are-no-roses-in-my-yard-what-wind-brought-you-but-i-suddenly/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“But if God is the flowers and the trees And the hills and the sun and the moonlight, Then I believe in him, Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/but-if-god-is-the-flowers-and-the-trees-and-the-hills-and-the-sun-and/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“I was born subject like others to errors and defects, But never to the error of wanting to understand too much, Never to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/i-was-born-subject-like-others-to-errors-and-defects-but-never-to-the/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“My look blue as the sky Is as calm as water in the sun. It’s that way, blue and calm, Because it doesn’t question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/my-look-blue-as-the-sky-is-as-calm-as-water-in-the-sun-it-s-that-way/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“I don’t regret anything I was before because I still am. I only regret not having loved you. Put your hands in mine And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/i-don-t-regret-anything-i-was-before-because-i-still-am-i-only-regret/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“Pensar é não compreender.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/pensar-n-o-compreender/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“If I die very young, hear this: I was never anything but a kid playing. I was a heathen like the sun and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/if-i-die-very-young-hear-this-i-was-never-anything-but-a-kid-playing/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“Now I sense the perfume of flowers like seeing a new thing. I know they smell just as well as I know I existed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/now-i-sense-the-perfume-of-flowers-like-seeing-a-new-thing-i-know/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [“The man stopped talking and was looking at the sunset. But what does someone who hates and loves want with a sunset?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/the-man-stopped-talking-and-was-looking-at-the-sunset-but-what-does/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) [Explore all 78 Alberto Caeiro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) ## More Keeper quotes > [Protect her , fight 4 her , kiss her , love her , hold her , laugh with her ... but dnt make her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-aveyro/protect-her-fight-4-her-kiss-her-love-her-hold-her-laugh-with-her-but/) [Nathaniel Aveyro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-aveyro/) > [Traditionally I'm not a very good secret-keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/traditionally-i-m-not-a-very-good-secret-keeper/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [A Loyal ass female is a keeper in my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-myers-jr/a-loyal-ass-female-is-a-keeper-in-my-eyes/) [Michael Myers Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-myers-jr/) > [Don't ever compare a girl to a bulldog. You may see the side you don't want to. Now if you compare her to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-whalen/don-t-ever-compare-a-girl-to-a-bulldog-you-may-see-the-side-you-don-t/) [Savannah Whalen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-whalen/) > [“I AM my Brother's Keeper!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/i-am-my-brother-s-keeper/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [I generally try to bowl one-on-one with the 'keeper and bowl all the deliveries in my arsenal so that he can have a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-kumble/i-generally-try-to-bowl-one-on-one-with-the-keeper-and-bowl-all-the/) [Anil Kumble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-kumble/) > [Her attitude is based on how you treat her. Treat her right and she'll treat you better. Do her wrong and she'll do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/her-attitude-is-based-on-how-you-treat-her-treat-her-right-and-she-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If she drinks beer, she's a keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/granger-smith/if-she-drinks-beer-she-s-a-keeper/) [Granger Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/granger-smith/) > [Ain't trickin I just treat her like she need allowance .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/ain-t-trickin-i-just-treat-her-like-she-need-allowance/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [Every single game you play you learn as a keeper and become a better keeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/every-single-game-you-play-you-learn-as-a-keeper-and-become-a-better/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [WITHOUT FORGETTING TO: 44. give her compliments regularly 45. go shopping with her 46. be honest 47. be very rich 48. not stress her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-forgetting-to-44-give-her-compliments-regularly-45-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['''When a girl walks for miles to see you,... When a girl says sorry even though she didn't do anything,.. When a girl cries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/when-a-girl-walks-for-miles-to-see-you-when-a-girl-says-sorry-even/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Fitz? What kind of name was Fitz?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-messenger/fitz-what-kind-of-name-was-fitz/) [Shannon Messenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-messenger/) > [If he still sees the beauty in you and still falls more in love with you after seeing your weird facial expressions, your unusual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-he-still-sees-the-beauty-in-you-and-still-falls-more-in-love-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [After Memory Keepers Daughter, it took me a few months to shut out the world. I really had to turn off the Internet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-edwards/after-memory-keepers-daughter-it-took-me-a-few-months-to-shut-out-the/) [Kim Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-edwards/) [Browse all 281 Keeper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeper/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I was never a keeper of sheep”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alberto Caeiro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Keeper" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/alberto-caeiro-7759_keeper_i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep-702634_702634.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/alberto-caeiro-7759_keeper_i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep-702634_702634.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7cf/alberto-caeiro-7759_keeper_i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep-702634_702634.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was never a keeper of sheep” — Alberto Caeiro", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alberto Caeiro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I was never a keeper of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/i-was-never-a-keeper-of-sheep/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```