--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been up the mountain and I had a…" description: "\"I've been up the mountain and I had a choice. Should I come down? So I came down. God said, Okay, you've been up on the mountain, now you go down. You'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/bob-dylan-168_checks_i-ve-been-up-the-mountain-and-i-had-a-ch_1052069.jpg" --- # I've been up the mountain and I had a choice. Should I… ![“I've been up the mountain and I had a choice. Should I come down? So I came down. God said, Okay, you've been up on the mountain, now you go down. You're on your own, free. Check in later, but now you're on your own.” quote by Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/bob-dylan-168_checks_i-ve-been-up-the-mountain-and-i-had-a-ch_1052069.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/bob-dylan-168_checks_i-ve-been-up-the-mountain-and-i-had-a-ch_1052069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bc/bob-dylan-168_checks_i-ve-been-up-the-mountain-and-i-had-a-ch_1052069.jpg) > “I've been up the mountain and I had a choice. Should I come down? So I came down. God said, Okay, you've been up on the mountain, now you go down. You're on your own, free. Check in later, but now you're on your own.” [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A decision to leave a high place leads to personal responsibility and freedom, with divine acceptance of independence. **In simple terms:** Leaving a high place means taking responsibility for yourself. Key Takeaway Embrace independence after a pivotal choice. Themes responsibility freedom choice spirituality Mood reflective hopeful Type lyilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career transition - spiritual awakening - personal crisis - decision making Key Concepts existentialism self-reliance divine acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What does freedom feel like after a major decision? - How do you handle the loneliness of self-reliance? A Different Perspective Independence can bring isolation and uncertainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) ## Related quotes > [We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/langston-hughes/we-build-our-temples-for-tomorrow-strong-as-we-know-how-and-we-stand/) [Langston Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/langston-hughes/) > [When Manchester City came for me it was the best choice to come here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-nasri/when-manchester-city-came-for-me-it-was-the-best-choice-to-come-here/) [Samir Nasri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-nasri/) > [“I must’ve wished for you so hard and so often you had no choice but to come true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-must-ve-wished-for-you-so-hard-and-so-often-you-had-no-choice-but/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“Need is choice come to fruition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/need-is-choice-come-to-fruition/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [You have no choices about how you lose, but you do have a choice about how you come back and prepare to win again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/you-have-no-choices-about-how-you-lose-but-you-do-have-a-choice-about/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [Whether it's choosing a career or deciding what charity to get involved with, the choice should come from your heart. Ultimately you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-thomas/whether-it-s-choosing-a-career-or-deciding-what-charity-to-get/) [Dave Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-thomas/) > [I made the right choice to come to Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-golo-kante/i-made-the-right-choice-to-come-to-chelsea/) [N'Golo Kante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-golo-kante/) > [“I was told that there was nothing for me but to come here. But, as with life itself, it may not be our choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-marsh/i-was-told-that-there-was-nothing-for-me-but-to-come-here-but-as-with/) [Katherine Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-marsh/) > [Christ came from God and a woman. Man had nothing to do with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sojourner-truth/christ-came-from-god-and-a-woman-man-had-nothing-to-do-with-him/) [Sojourner Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sojourner-truth/) > [Existence came from God; death came by Adam; and immortality and eternal life come through Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-r-mcconkie/existence-came-from-god-death-came-by-adam-and-immortality-and/) [Bruce R. McConkie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-r-mcconkie/) > [The greatest gift I ever had Came from God; I call him Dad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-gift-i-ever-had-came-from-god-i-call-him-dad/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first person I came out to was God. And the first conversation I ever had with anybody was in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/the-first-person-i-came-out-to-was-god-and-the-first-conversation-i/) [Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/) > [“I am done with the monster of "We," the word of serfdom, of plunder, of misery, falsehood and shame. And now I see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/i-am-done-with-the-monster-of-we-the-word-of-serfdom-of-plunder-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I will prove that the world is wrong, by showing what God is...God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-will-prove-that-the-world-is-wrong-by-showing-what-god-is-god/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [“In my travels I have encountered worship styles that are so varied. Lately I have been thinking of the loud nature of much worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-holdsworth/in-my-travels-i-have-encountered-worship-styles-that-are-so-varied/) [David Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-holdsworth/) ## More by Bob Dylan > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Don't forget to support your public library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/don-t-forget-to-support-your-public-library/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [You don't count the dead, when god's on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/you-don-t-count-the-dead-when-god-s-on-your-side/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [She makes love just like a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-makes-love-just-like-a-woman/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Silvio, I gotta go, find out something only dead men know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/silvio-i-gotta-go-find-out-something-only-dead-men-know/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I don't really have a retirement plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-don-t-really-have-a-retirement-plan/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Just a reminder, if you tell anyone about what happened with Jonah last night, I'll destroy all of my writing and never play music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/just-a-reminder-if-you-tell-anyone-about-what-happened-with-jonah/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Little red wagon, little red bike, I ain’t no monkey but I know what I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/little-red-wagon-little-red-bike-i-ain-t-no-monkey-but-i-know-what-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Twenty years of schooling and they put you on the day shift - look out out kid, they keep it all hid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/twenty-years-of-schooling-and-they-put-you-on-the-day-shift-look-out/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The drunken politician leaps upon the street where mothers weep, and the saviors who are fast asleep, they wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-drunken-politician-leaps-upon-the-street-where-mothers-weep-and/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Your eyes are like two jewels in the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/your-eyes-are-like-two-jewels-in-the-sky/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [I gotta friend who spends his life, stabbing my picture with a bowie knife. Dreams of strangling me with a scarf, when my name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/i-gotta-friend-who-spends-his-life-stabbing-my-picture-with-a-bowie/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [She speaks with a stutter and she and she walks with a hop. I don't know why I love her, but I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-speaks-with-a-stutter-and-she-and-she-walks-with-a-hop-i-don-t/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The man in the coon skin cap in the pig pen wants eleven dollar bills, you've only got ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-man-in-the-coon-skin-cap-in-the-pig-pen-wants-eleven-dollar-bills/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Don't put my faith in nobody, not even a scientist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/don-t-put-my-faith-in-nobody-not-even-a-scientist/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) [Explore all 1,018 Bob Dylan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) ## More Checks quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [I pay these niggas with a reality check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-pay-these-niggas-with-a-reality-check/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/if-you-find-your-feet-dragging-check-your-path-you-are-probably-on/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) Browse all 1,697 Checks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been up the mountain and I had a choice. Should I come down? So I came down. 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