--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can do something that walks a line…" description: "\"You can do something that walks a line, and invariably, whatever that line is, it will be crossed by people who don't know any better and want to ape t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/david-fincher-7615_apes_you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-a_1909391.jpg" --- # You can do something that walks a line, and invariably… ![“You can do something that walks a line, and invariably, whatever that line is, it will be crossed by people who don't know any better and want to ape the success.” quote by David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/david-fincher-7615_apes_you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-a_1909391.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/david-fincher-7615_apes_you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-a_1909391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/david-fincher-7615_apes_you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-a_1909391.jpg) > “You can do something that walks a line, and invariably, whatever that line is, it will be crossed by people who don't know any better and want to ape the success.” [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote warns that any successful approach invites imitation by uninformed imitators, crossing ethical lines and diluting originality. **In simple terms:** Success attracts copycats who may misuse it. Key Takeaway Guard your ideas and set clear ethical boundaries. Themes creativity ethics imitation originality influence Mood cautious analytical pragmatic Type creative ethical When to use this quote - business strategy - artistic development - media production Key Concepts intellectual property moral responsibility cultural diffusion Questions to Reflect On - How can innovators protect their work while encouraging healthy inspiration? - What safeguards deter unethical imitation? A Different Perspective Copycats can also spread ideas positively, not just harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Can do something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do-something/) [Invariably Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invariably-line-2865187/) [Know Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-better/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Line Crossed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line-crossed-972942/) [Line Invariably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line-invariably-2865186/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Walks Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks-line-1479836/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [True genius walks along a line, and, perhaps, our greatest pleasure is in seeing it so often near falling, without being ever actually down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/true-genius-walks-along-a-line-and-perhaps-our-greatest-pleasure-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/the-soul-walks-not-upon-a-line-neither-does-it-grow-like-a-reed/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [“...a little recognition of the escapes we made, of the finish line we crossed, only to find so many other finish lines waiting after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/a-little-recognition-of-the-escapes-we-made-of-the-finish-line-we/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Why is it he feels some line has been crossed, some boundary transgressed? How much is too much, how far is too far?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/why-is-it-he-feels-some-line-has-been-crossed-some-boundary/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“We set limits for ourselves all the time. This imaginary line that you're positive you won't ever cross. An action that you are positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-g-bailey/we-set-limits-for-ourselves-all-the-time-this-imaginary-line-that-you/) [Alison G. Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-g-bailey/) > [A line, once crossed, can never be uncrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mairs/a-line-once-crossed-can-never-be-uncrossed/) [Nancy Mairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mairs/) > [As we make our way toward the finish line that some of us have already crossed, I never thought I'd get a Grammy Award.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/as-we-make-our-way-toward-the-finish-line-that-some-of-us-have/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [One thing is to escape from prison, but what the Texas 7 did that night crossed the line they should have never crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-travis/one-thing-is-to-escape-from-prison-but-what-the-texas-7-did-that/) [David Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-travis/) > [There's only so much you can do to save a relationship. Once that line is crossed ther;s no more to be done. And no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayla-alexander/there-s-only-so-much-you-can-do-to-save-a-relationship-once-that-line/) [Kayla Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayla-alexander/) > [“She grinned. “Things are fine. What most men don’t seem to understand is that it is a fine line between discomfort and fear. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-grace/she-grinned-things-are-fine-what-most-men-don-t-seem-to-understand-is/) [Viola Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-grace/) > [I am not in favor of killing - that for me is the line not to be crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margarethe-von-trotta/i-am-not-in-favor-of-killing-that-for-me-is-the-line-not-to-be-crossed/) [Margarethe von Trotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margarethe-von-trotta/) > [“Neither knew it at the time, but a line had been crossed that could not be uncrossed- a running leap over a chasm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berkeley-breathed/neither-knew-it-at-the-time-but-a-line-had-been-crossed-that-could/) [Berkeley Breathed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berkeley-breathed/) > [A moment comes in war when the last line must be crossed. The line that separates what you hold dear from what total war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/a-moment-comes-in-war-when-the-last-line-must-be-crossed-the-line/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Government can do something for the people only in proportion as it can do something to the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/government-can-do-something-for-the-people-only-in-proportion-as-it/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Every medium has its own kind of freedom. I don't want to just cross from one to the next. I want to enjoy the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/every-medium-has-its-own-kind-of-freedom-i-don-t-want-to-just-cross/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) ## More by David Fincher > [Again, a franchise to me doesn't have to be a billion dollar title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/again-a-franchise-to-me-doesn-t-have-to-be-a-billion-dollar-title/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [“If you think that you can hide what your interests are, what your prurient interests are, what your noble interests are, what your fascinations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/if-you-think-that-you-can-hide-what-your-interests-are-what-your/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [I learned just to be a belligerent asshole, which was really: "You have to get what you need to get out of it." You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-learned-just-to-be-a-belligerent-asshole-which-was-really-you-have/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [A movie is made for an audience and a film is made for both the audience and the film-makers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/a-movie-is-made-for-an-audience-and-a-film-is-made-for-both-the/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [For me, the scariest thing about a serial killer is that there's somebody who lives next door to you, running power tools late into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/for-me-the-scariest-thing-about-a-serial-killer-is-that-there-s/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [I like studios. I just don't like bureaucracies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-like-studios-i-just-don-t-like-bureaucracies/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [Filmmaking isn’t if you can just strap on a camera onto an actor, and steadicam, and point it at their face, and follow them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/filmmaking-isn-t-if-you-can-just-strap-on-a-camera-onto-an-actor-and/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [Entertainment has to come hand in hand with a little bit of medicine. Some people go to the movies to be reminded that everything's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/entertainment-has-to-come-hand-in-hand-with-a-little-bit-of-medicine/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [Directing ain't about drawing a neat little picture and showing it to the cameraman. I didn't want to go to film school. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/directing-ain-t-about-drawing-a-neat-little-picture-and-showing-it-to/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [When you go and you tell a studio and that it's an ensemble, that doesn't mean a lot to them. But, my hats off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/when-you-go-and-you-tell-a-studio-and-that-it-s-an-ensemble-that/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [You can’t take everything on. That’s why when people ask how does this film fit into my oeuvre. I say 'I don’t know. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/you-can-t-take-everything-on-that-s-why-when-people-ask-how-does-this/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [Look, it's nice. I like the fact that critics liked this movie, but most of the movies that I've made, you'll find a handful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/look-it-s-nice-i-like-the-fact-that-critics-liked-this-movie-but-most/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [I don't know how to depict intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-don-t-know-how-to-depict-intelligence/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [When I'm watching somebody act, it's a behavior editorial function - I look at someone act, and I might say, 'I don't believe him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/when-i-m-watching-somebody-act-it-s-a-behavior-editorial-function-i/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [In film, we sculpt time, we sculpt behavior and we sculpt light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/in-film-we-sculpt-time-we-sculpt-behavior-and-we-sculpt-light/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) [Explore all 89 David Fincher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) ## More Apes quotes > [Television's perfect. You turn a few knobs, a few of those mechanical adjustments at which the higher apes are so proficient, and lean back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/television-s-perfect-you-turn-a-few-knobs-a-few-of-those-mechanical/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Battle For The Planet Of The Apes', was just a film for kids and didn't have any deep meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lee-thompson/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-was-just-a-film-for-kids-and-didn-t/) [J. Lee Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lee-thompson/) > [Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/far-out-in-the-uncharted-backwaters-of-the-unfashionable-end-of-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Civilization is only a pretense; in the crisis, we become mere apes again, forgetting the rational biped of our pretensions and becoming instead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/civilization-is-only-a-pretense-in-the-crisis-we-become-mere-apes/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The idea that war should be conducted within a moral framework may seem like a quaint medieval practice, but as speech separates humans from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-idea-that-war-should-be-conducted-within-a-moral-framework-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I think the problem we have as apes is we're asking far bigger questions than we could possibly process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-think-the-problem-we-have-as-apes-is-we-re-asking-far-bigger/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [We admit that we are like apes, but we seldom realise that we are apes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-admit-that-we-are-like-apes-but-we-seldom-realise-that-we-are-apes/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Lower your gaze because you become less of a human every time you stare at a woman and you stare at her like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/lower-your-gaze-because-you-become-less-of-a-human-every-time-you/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [It was their individuality combined with the shyness of their behavior that remained the most captivating impression of this first encounter with the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/it-was-their-individuality-combined-with-the-shyness-of-their/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [Apes had it worked out. No ape would philosophize, "The mountain is, and is not." They would think, "The banana is. I will eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/apes-had-it-worked-out-no-ape-would-philosophize-the-mountain-is-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Browse all 444 Apes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can do something that walks a line, and invariably, whatever that line is, it will be crossed by people who don't know any better and want to ape the success.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Fincher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-and-invariably-whatever-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-and-invariably-whatever-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/david-fincher-7615_apes_you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-a_1909391.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/david-fincher-7615_apes_you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-a_1909391.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/david-fincher-7615_apes_you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-a_1909391.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can do something that walks a line, and invariably, whatever that line is, it will be crossed by people…” — David Fincher", "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": "David Fincher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can do something that walks...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-and-invariably-whatever-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/you-can-do-something-that-walks-a-line-and-invariably-whatever-that/#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 } } ] } ```