--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men will live like billy goats if they…" description: "\"“Men will live like billy goats if they are let alone.”\" — Charles Portis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/charles-portis-10753_billy_men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-a_3229494.jpg" --- # Men will live like billy goats if they are let alone. ![“Men will live like billy goats if they are let alone.” quote by Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/charles-portis-10753_billy_men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-a_3229494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/charles-portis-10753_billy_men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-a_3229494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/charles-portis-10753_billy_men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-a_3229494.jpg) > ““Men will live like billy goats if they are let alone.”” [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People left unchecked become selfish and destructive, much like goats that roam without guidance. **In simple terms:** Without guidance people can become selfish. Key Takeaway Provide structure and accountability. Themes responsibility human nature guidance Mood reflective concerned Type cautionary observational When to use this quote - leadership - parenting - team management - community building Key Concepts ethics self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How does freedom become chaos without limits? - What structures foster healthy autonomy? A Different Perspective Even with guidance, individuals may still resist authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy/) [Billy Goats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy-goats-6103362/) [Goats Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goats-let-6103363/) [Like Billy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-billy-496616/) [Men Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-live/) ## Related quotes > [“Billy's native arrogance might well have been a gift of miffed genes, then come to splendid definition through the tests to which a street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kennedy/billy-s-native-arrogance-might-well-have-been-a-gift-of-miffed-genes/) [William Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kennedy/) > [“You're not like anyone else, Billy - that's what's the matter with you," Donna said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/you-re-not-like-anyone-else-billy-that-s-what-s-the-matter-with-you/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I want to play someone like Billy the Kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-keoghan/i-want-to-play-someone-like-billy-the-kid/) [Barry Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-keoghan/) > [“It’s rainin’ like Billy-be-damned out there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-torode/it-s-rainin-like-billy-be-damned-out-there/) [Sam Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-torode/) > [When you get to heaven God won't ask you why you weren't more like Billy Graham. He may ask you why you weren't more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/when-you-get-to-heaven-god-won-t-ask-you-why-you-weren-t-more-like/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I like Billy Beane for the fact that he - his idiosyncrasies, that he can't watch the games without getting too emotional, that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/i-like-billy-beane-for-the-fact-that-he-his-idiosyncrasies-that-he/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [I do not see anybody in the world train like Billy Blanks. The man is in great shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toney/i-do-not-see-anybody-in-the-world-train-like-billy-blanks-the-man-is/) [James Toney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toney/) > [Dylan is so brilliant. To me, he makes William Shakespeare look like Billy Joel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/dylan-is-so-brilliant-to-me-he-makes-william-shakespeare-look-like/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [With a haircut like that and a face like that, it looks like Billy Ray Cyrus went and had sex with a retarded hyena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/with-a-haircut-like-that-and-a-face-like-that-it-looks-like-billy-ray/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [You know how a dog and his owner start to look alike after a while? Well, that's like me and Billy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-hill/you-know-how-a-dog-and-his-owner-start-to-look-alike-after-a-while/) [Dusty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-hill/) > [When you are the avatar for the writer/director, a lot of times, I just trusted him. If he had a choice, even if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bomer/when-you-are-the-avatar-for-the-writer-director-a-lot-of-times-i-just/) [Matt Bomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bomer/) > [That's happened a couple times: Billy Joel. It was just, "You sound like Billy Joel." And I get really upset about that. No offense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-goldsmith/that-s-happened-a-couple-times-billy-joel-it-was-just-you-sound-like/) [Taylor Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-goldsmith/) > [“Sometimes you'll see a story about a kid like Billy on the news and wonder how nobody stepped in, how nobody saw what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wade/sometimes-you-ll-see-a-story-about-a-kid-like-billy-on-the-news-and/) [Tobias Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wade/) > [Men. You can't live with them, you can't shoot them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/men-you-can-t-live-with-them-you-can-t-shoot-them/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) ## More by Charles Portis > [“Who is the best marshal they have?' The sheriff thought on it for a minute. He said, 'I would have to weigh that proposition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/who-is-the-best-marshal-they-have-the-sheriff-thought-on-it-for-a/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [I always go backwards when I am backing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/i-always-go-backwards-when-i-am-backing-up/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“Rooster said, "Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!" and he took the reins in his teeth and pulled the other saddle revolver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/rooster-said-fill-your-hand-you-son-of-a-bitch-and-he-took-the-reins/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [Nothing I like to do pays well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/nothing-i-like-to-do-pays-well/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [I didn't care for beat reporting, covering the same thing day after day - short attention span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/i-didn-t-care-for-beat-reporting-covering-the-same-thing-day-after/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“In South Texas I saw three interesting things. The first was a tiny girl, maybe ten years old, driving in a 1965 Cadillac. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/in-south-texas-i-saw-three-interesting-things-the-first-was-a-tiny/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“With that, Quincy brought the bowie knife down on Moon's cuffed hand and chopped off four fingers which flew up before my eyes like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/with-that-quincy-brought-the-bowie-knife-down-on-moon-s-cuffed-hand/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [My Master of Arts degree means nothing at all to these monkeys and I have come to share their indifference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/my-master-of-arts-degree-means-nothing-at-all-to-these-monkeys-and-i/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [I would not put a thief in my mouth to steal my brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/i-would-not-put-a-thief-in-my-mouth-to-steal-my-brains/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [I had hated these ponies for the part they played in my father's death but now I realized the notion was fanciful, that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/i-had-hated-these-ponies-for-the-part-they-played-in-my-father-s/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“I will go further and say all cats are wicked, though often useful”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/i-will-go-further-and-say-all-cats-are-wicked-though-often-useful/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“If I had received good instruction as a child I would be with my family today and at peace with my neighbors. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/if-i-had-received-good-instruction-as-a-child-i-would-be-with-my/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [“He drank even as he rode, which looked difficult. I cannot say it slowed him down any, but it did make him silly. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/he-drank-even-as-he-rode-which-looked-difficult-i-cannot-say-it/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [You must pay for everything in this world one way and another. There is nothing free except the Grace of God. You cannot earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/you-must-pay-for-everything-in-this-world-one-way-and-another-there/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) > [It was old President Diaz who said that nothing ever happens in Mexico until it happens. Things rock along from day to day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/it-was-old-president-diaz-who-said-that-nothing-ever-happens-in/) [Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) [Explore all 63 Charles Portis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/) ## More Billy quotes > [“When I first met Billy I thought about sucking his eyes right out of their sockets. They’re like turquoise gum drops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-treggiari/when-i-first-met-billy-i-thought-about-sucking-his-eyes-right-out-of/) [Jo Treggiari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-treggiari/) > [ We're really fleshing out the whole world of the show \[Difficult People\]. It's more of an ensemble now, whereas last season we were very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/we-re-really-fleshing-out-the-whole-world-of-the-show-difficult/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > ['Billy Elliot' embodies the idea that anyone can achieve anything regardless of their socio-economic background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fellner/billy-elliot-embodies-the-idea-that-anyone-can-achieve-anything/) [Eric Fellner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fellner/) > [Look at Greg Jbara! I've watched him work for years, always switching. He's literally a different human being when he's onstage in 'Billy Elliot.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-chase/look-at-greg-jbara-i-ve-watched-him-work-for-years-always-switching/) [Will Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-chase/) > [As any opera fan knows, lawyers and judges do not fare well in most operas. Just consider the productions of 'Andrea Chenier,' 'Aida, Norma,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/as-any-opera-fan-knows-lawyers-and-judges-do-not-fare-well-in-most/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [I know that this sounds grand, but I don't try to compete with other people. I like to think there's enough pie for everyone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-merchant/i-know-that-this-sounds-grand-but-i-don-t-try-to-compete-with-other/) [Stephen Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-merchant/) > [“That last voice in his head. It hadn't been Billy's. It was his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/that-last-voice-in-his-head-it-hadn-t-been-billy-s-it-was-his-own/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [It is said that a hundred gamecocks will live in perfect harmony together it you do not put a hen with them; and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/it-is-said-that-a-hundred-gamecocks-will-live-in-perfect-harmony/) [Augustus Baldwin Longstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-baldwin-longstreet/) > [I think you and the referee were in a minority of one, Billy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-armfield/i-think-you-and-the-referee-were-in-a-minority-of-one-billy/) [Jimmy Armfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-armfield/) > [“Most Tralfamadorians had no way of knowing Billy's body and face were not beautiful. They supposed that he was a splendid specimen. This had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/most-tralfamadorians-had-no-way-of-knowing-billy-s-body-and-face-were/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [My great-grandfather was a variety hall comedian called Billy Mack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/my-great-grandfather-was-a-variety-hall-comedian-called-billy-mack/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [“Billy's at 44 north, 56 west and heading straight into meteorological hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-junger/billy-s-at-44-north-56-west-and-heading-straight-into-meteorological/) [Sebastian Junger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-junger/) > [First off, I love Woody Allen. His early movies, like 'Hannah and Her Sisters,' are incredible. I also love anything by Billy Wilder, Ron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-story/first-off-i-love-woody-allen-his-early-movies-like-hannah-and-her/) [Tim Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-story/) > [I can tell you the actor who I admire the most. Billy Crudup. Do you know who he is? He's awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tucker/i-can-tell-you-the-actor-who-i-admire-the-most-billy-crudup-do-you/) [Jonathan Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tucker/) > [When they told me there would be a statue erected at Wrigley Field, I was happy with that. I know there will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-williams/when-they-told-me-there-would-be-a-statue-erected-at-wrigley-field-i/) [Billy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-williams/) [Browse all 228 Billy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/billy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Men will live like billy goats if they are let alone.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Portis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-are-let-alone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Billy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-are-let-alone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/charles-portis-10753_billy_men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-a_3229494.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/charles-portis-10753_billy_men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-a_3229494.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/280/charles-portis-10753_billy_men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-a_3229494.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men will live like billy goats if they are let alone.” — Charles Portis", "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": "Charles Portis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-portis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Men will live like billy goats...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-are-let-alone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-portis/men-will-live-like-billy-goats-if-they-are-let-alone/#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 } } ] } ```