--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time I was a young man, I was…" description: "\"By the time I was a young man, I was pretty independent.\" — Ben Lewin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af8/ben-lewin-56638_by-the-time_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pret_2254314.jpg" --- # By the time I was a young man, I was pretty independent. ![“By the time I was a young man, I was pretty independent.” quote by Ben Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af8/ben-lewin-56638_by-the-time_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pret_2254314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af8/ben-lewin-56638_by-the-time_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pret_2254314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af8/ben-lewin-56638_by-the-time_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pret_2254314.jpg) > “By the time I was a young man, I was pretty independent.” [Ben Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early independence fosters self‑reliance and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Being independent early builds confidence. Key Takeaway Embrace responsibility early. Themes independence growth self‑reliance Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career start - education - entrepreneurship Key Concepts psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - How did early independence shape your choices? - What challenges did you face being self‑reliant? A Different Perspective Early independence can lead to isolation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [By the time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/by-the-time/) [Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Pretty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty/) [Pretty Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-independent-713650/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-young-349348/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-man/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [My father was pretty independent. He was - he was arrested once in Nashville when he was on one of his sales trips because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-hentoff/my-father-was-pretty-independent-he-was-he-was-arrested-once-in/) [Nat Hentoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-hentoff/) > [I did come from a pretty independent-minded family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/i-did-come-from-a-pretty-independent-minded-family/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [I was a pretty independent kid. I thought maybe I'd be a veterinarian or an environmental lawyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-parker/i-was-a-pretty-independent-kid-i-thought-maybe-i-d-be-a-veterinarian/) [Mark Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-parker/) > [I'm pretty independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-creel/i-m-pretty-independent/) [Gavin Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-creel/) > [I don't necessarily support Romney, I don't consider myself a Republican. I'm pretty much an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-duffy/i-don-t-necessarily-support-romney-i-don-t-consider-myself-a/) [Sean Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-duffy/) > [Generally, I was pretty independent and driven myself. We're like that as a family. Our mentality is to be strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-germanotta/generally-i-was-pretty-independent-and-driven-myself-we-re-like-that/) [Cynthia Germanotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-germanotta/) > [I'm a pretty serious Independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-franks/i-m-a-pretty-serious-independent/) [Tommy Franks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-franks/) > [I've always been pretty independent, no matter what situation: good, bad, ugly, happy, sad. I dig deep, and I get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-b/i-ve-always-been-pretty-independent-no-matter-what-situation-good-bad/) [Mel B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-b/) > [“It takes a very long time to become young.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-takes-a-very-long-time-to-become-young/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Why, I wonder, do people who at one time or another have all been young themselves, and who ought therefore to know better, generalize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-brittain/why-i-wonder-do-people-who-at-one-time-or-another-have-all-been-young/) [Vera Brittain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-brittain/) > [Now. Now is the most important time of all of your young lives. And what does now stand for - N-O-W? No Other Way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/now-now-is-the-most-important-time-of-all-of-your-young-lives-and/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [I realize my time is now because I'm young and things are hot and happening. I may be yesterday's news next year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/i-realize-my-time-is-now-because-i-m-young-and-things-are-hot-and/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [Young English managers don't get enough time, young black managers aren't given enough time, there are a lot of reasons why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/young-english-managers-don-t-get-enough-time-young-black-managers/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [It takes a long time to become young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/it-takes-a-long-time-to-become-young/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Perhaps love makes us old before our time - or young , if youth has passed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/perhaps-love-makes-us-old-before-our-time-or-young-if-youth-has-passed/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More by Ben Lewin > [When I watch a movie, I don't want to see the extra bits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/when-i-watch-a-movie-i-don-t-want-to-see-the-extra-bits/) [Ben Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/) > [I have always enjoyed the company of women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/i-have-always-enjoyed-the-company-of-women/) [Ben Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/) > [If you want a studio to back you, you want to be doing something that's been done to death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/if-you-want-a-studio-to-back-you-you-want-to-be-doing-something-that/) [Ben Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/) > [I am more connected to the world of the imagination, but you don't have to have polio to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/i-am-more-connected-to-the-world-of-the-imagination-but-you-don-t/) [Ben Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/) > [I'm what is known as a 40-year overnight success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/i-m-what-is-known-as-a-40-year-overnight-success/) [Ben Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/) [Explore all 6 Ben Lewin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/) ## More By the time quotes > [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [A supermodel is kind of that first-name recognition, but I'm not quite ready for that super part yet, and I'm afraid that by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-teigen/a-supermodel-is-kind-of-that-first-name-recognition-but-i-m-not-quite/) [Christine Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-teigen/) > [I have little children, 5 1/2 and 1 1/2, and I thought I should document my life, because by the time they're in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mottola/i-have-little-children-5-1-2-and-1-1-2-and-i-thought-i-should/) [Tommy Mottola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-mottola/) > [By the time I became chairman and there was more of a feeling of urgency, there was a willingness to accept more forceful measures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-volcker/by-the-time-i-became-chairman-and-there-was-more-of-a-feeling-of/) [Paul A. Volcker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-volcker/) > [When I was one day old, I learned how to read. When I was two days old, I started to write. By the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-scieszka/when-i-was-one-day-old-i-learned-how-to-read-when-i-was-two-days-old/) [Jon Scieszka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-scieszka/) > [By the time I'm old, I'm sure I'll have lived a full enough life. I think we're mortal for a reason. Life gets tiring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-furlong/by-the-time-i-m-old-i-m-sure-i-ll-have-lived-a-full-enough-life-i/) [Edward Furlong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-furlong/) > [By the time you are in your thirties, most of the time, you've got a job, you can pay for your rent, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/by-the-time-you-are-in-your-thirties-most-of-the-time-you-ve-got-a/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [You write a book, and after 50 pages you think it's about one thing, and then you write another hundred and you realize it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/you-write-a-book-and-after-50-pages-you-think-it-s-about-one-thing/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [By the time I was 29 I'd spent eight years with someone else's group of friends. I had no idea what it was like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hunter/by-the-time-i-was-29-i-d-spent-eight-years-with-someone-else-s-group/) [Rachel Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hunter/) > [By the time my first solo record came out, I was making a handsome living as a record producer. I had worked with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/by-the-time-my-first-solo-record-came-out-i-was-making-a-handsome/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [By the time of my ninth birthday, I had become a bit of a socialist, as I am said by conservative colleagues to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/by-the-time-of-my-ninth-birthday-i-had-become-a-bit-of-a-socialist-as/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [By the time I was 10 or 12, I had discovered the lure of the romance genre - and the dusty copy of 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/by-the-time-i-was-10-or-12-i-had-discovered-the-lure-of-the-romance/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [I started playing the violin at age 3, and I was very fortunate because there were people who heard me who were influential in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ramone/i-started-playing-the-violin-at-age-3-and-i-was-very-fortunate/) [Phil Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ramone/) > [I don't hate children. My wife and I just didn't think we would be good parents, and also by the time we got married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/i-don-t-hate-children-my-wife-and-i-just-didn-t-think-we-would-be/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) [Browse all 234 By the time quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/by-the-time/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By the time I was a young man, I was pretty independent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Lewin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pretty-independent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "By the time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pretty-independent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af8/ben-lewin-56638_by-the-time_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pret_2254314.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af8/ben-lewin-56638_by-the-time_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pret_2254314.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af8/ben-lewin-56638_by-the-time_by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pret_2254314.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By the time I was a young man, I was pretty independent.” — Ben Lewin", "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": "Ben Lewin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lewin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By the time I was a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pretty-independent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lewin/by-the-time-i-was-a-young-man-i-was-pretty-independent/#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 } } ] } ```