--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A young man, be his merit what it will…" description: "\"A young man, be his merit what it will, can never raise himself; but must, like the ivy round the oak, twine himself round some man of great power and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/anonymous-1_great_a-young-man-be-his-merit-what-it-will-ca_2881867.jpg" --- # A young man, be his merit what it will, can never raise… ![“A young man, be his merit what it will, can never raise himself; but must, like the ivy round the oak, twine himself round some man of great power and interest.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/anonymous-1_great_a-young-man-be-his-merit-what-it-will-ca_2881867.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/anonymous-1_great_a-young-man-be-his-merit-what-it-will-ca_2881867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ca/anonymous-1_great_a-young-man-be-his-merit-what-it-will-ca_2881867.jpg) > “A young man, be his merit what it will, can never raise himself; but must, like the ivy round the oak, twine himself round some man of great power and interest.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person without influence must align with powerful allies to advance. **In simple terms:** Without power you must attach to the powerful. Key Takeaway Seek mentors and networks. Themes influence networking ambition Mood reflective cautious Type advice observational When to use this quote - career advancement - political maneuvering - social climbing Key Concepts social hierarchy dependency Questions to Reflect On - How can you build independent influence? - What risks arise from over‑reliance on powerful allies? A Different Perspective Reliance on others limits autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“Young people ask why I became a writer, as if it were something I decided. I didn't decide; it grew on me like ivy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-v-carey/young-people-ask-why-i-became-a-writer-as-if-it-were-something-i/) M.V. Carey > [Speak but little and well, if you would be esteemed as a man of merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/speak-but-little-and-well-if-you-would-be-esteemed-as-a-man-of-merit/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [There is a season for man's merit as well as for fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-duc-de-la-rochefoucauld/there-is-a-season-for-man-s-merit-as-well-as-for-fruit/) [Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-duc-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A coxcomb is one whom simpletons believe to be a man of merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-coxcomb-is-one-whom-simpletons-believe-to-be-a-man-of-merit/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [A coxcomb is the blockhead's man of merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-coxcomb-is-the-blockhead-s-man-of-merit/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [“Man's merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baha-u-llah/man-s-merit-lieth-in-service-and-virtue-and-not-in-the-pageantry-of/) [Bahá'u'lláh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baha-u-llah/) > [A fool is one whom simpletons believe to be a man on merit. \[Fr., Un fat celui que les sots croient un homme de…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-fool-is-one-whom-simpletons-believe-to-be-a-man-on-merit-fr-un-fat/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [There is a sort of natural instinct of human dignity in the heart of man which steels his very nerves not to bend beneath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajos-kossuth/there-is-a-sort-of-natural-instinct-of-human-dignity-in-the-heart-of/) [Lajos Kossuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajos-kossuth/) > [The same principle leads us to neglect a man of merit that induces us to admire a fool. \[Fr., Du meme fonds dont on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-same-principle-leads-us-to-neglect-a-man-of-merit-that-induces-us-2/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, as long as he be a man of merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/it-is-of-no-consequence-of-what-parents-a-man-is-born-as-long-as-he/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [A man of merit owes himself to the homage of the rest of mankind who recognize his worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/a-man-of-merit-owes-himself-to-the-homage-of-the-rest-of-mankind-who/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [The same principle leads us to neglect a man of merit that induces us to admire a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-same-principle-leads-us-to-neglect-a-man-of-merit-that-induces-us/) [Jean De La Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [True friends, like ivy and the wall Both stand together, and together fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/true-friends-like-ivy-and-the-wall-both-stand-together-and-together/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Ask any soldier. To kill a man is to merit a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-giraudoux/ask-any-soldier-to-kill-a-man-is-to-merit-a-woman/) [Jean Giraudoux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-giraudoux/) > [It is of no consequence of what parents a man is born, so he be man of merit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/it-is-of-no-consequence-of-what-parents-a-man-is-born-so-he-be-man-of/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Great quotes > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [No matter how many great things you say about Jacques Pepin, there's always more. Through his books and videos, he taught me the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/no-matter-how-many-great-things-you-say-about-jacques-pepin-there-s/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [I always bump into people that Ive met. Not great friends, but if I bump into somebody Ive known and I wont recognise them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/i-always-bump-into-people-that-ive-met-not-great-friends-but-if-i/) [Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/) > [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [I'm a lot of things, but none of them are great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-nelson/i-m-a-lot-of-things-but-none-of-them-are-great/) [Don Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-nelson/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've always been a believer in research. 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