--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: go in over your head, not just up to your…" description: "\"go in over your head, not just up to your neck.\" — Dorothea Lange" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/dorothea-lange-13986_head_go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your_2748596.png" --- # go in over your head, not just up to your neck. ![“go in over your head, not just up to your neck.” quote by Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/dorothea-lange-13986_head_go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your_2748596.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/dorothea-lange-13986_head_go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your_2748596.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/dorothea-lange-13986_head_go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your_2748596.png) > “go in over your head, not just up to your neck.” [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The advice suggests tackling challenges that exceed your current capacity, encouraging ambition beyond comfort zones. **In simple terms:** Take on challenges beyond current level. Key Takeaway Push beyond perceived limits. Themes ambition growth challenge Mood encouraging cautious Type motivational advisory When to use this quote - career - personal development - learning Key Concepts self‑improvement risk taking Questions to Reflect On - When is ambition harmful? - How to gauge appropriate challenge size? A Different Perspective May lead to overwhelm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) ## Related quotes > [ \[When to have a facelift:\] If you're tripping over your neck. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/when-to-have-a-facelift-if-you-re-tripping-over-your-neck/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [No one wants to hear everything that's in your head. They just want you to live up to what comes out of your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/no-one-wants-to-hear-everything-that-s-in-your-head-they-just-want/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [I try not to be in my head too much, I just try to do what feels right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/i-try-not-to-be-in-my-head-too-much-i-just-try-to-do-what-feels-right/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [I realize more and more what it takes to be a really good photographer. You go in over your head, not just up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/i-realize-more-and-more-what-it-takes-to-be-a-really-good/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I have nothing left to prove. I've already done enough to my neck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-fielder/i-have-nothing-left-to-prove-i-ve-already-done-enough-to-my-neck/) [Prince Fielder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-fielder/) > [You cannot put a rope around the neck of an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-sands/you-cannot-put-a-rope-around-the-neck-of-an-idea/) [Bobby Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-sands/) > [If the hairs on my neck stand up while Im writing, I figure the reader will get the same kind of shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-pyper/if-the-hairs-on-my-neck-stand-up-while-im-writing-i-figure-the-reader/) [Andrew Pyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-pyper/) > [Take eloquence and wring its neck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-verlaine/take-eloquence-and-wring-its-neck/) [Paul Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-verlaine/) > [Your head will be fine,” said Miri. “It’s your neck you should worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/your-head-will-be-fine-said-miri-it-s-your-neck-you-should-worry-about/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [When a man has the rope about his neck, you don't ask him about his health!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonid-andreyev/when-a-man-has-the-rope-about-his-neck-you-don-t-ask-him-about-his/) [Leonid Andreyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonid-andreyev/) > [You're gonna meet tons of different people throughout your life, and it's totally worth it to stick your neck out a little bit if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/you-re-gonna-meet-tons-of-different-people-throughout-your-life-and/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [Grab this day by the neck and kiss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/grab-this-day-by-the-neck-and-kiss-it/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [I do have cellulite. I have it everywhere. From the neck down!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-kensit/i-do-have-cellulite-i-have-it-everywhere-from-the-neck-down/) [Patsy Kensit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-kensit/) > [I have been up to my head just with calling people, I call about 50 to 100 people a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-have-been-up-to-my-head-just-with-calling-people-i-call-about-50-to/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) ## More by Dorothea Lange > [Bring the viewer to your side, include him in your thought. He is not a bystander. You have the power to increase his perceptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/bring-the-viewer-to-your-side-include-him-in-your-thought-he-is-not-a/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [The good photograph is not the object, the consequences of the photograph are the objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/the-good-photograph-is-not-the-object-the-consequences-of-the/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/one-should-really-use-the-camera-as-though-tomorrow-you-d-be-stricken/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [I believe that what we call beautiful is generally a by-product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/i-believe-that-what-we-call-beautiful-is-generally-a-by-product/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [That frame of mind that you need to make fine pictures of a very wonderful subject, you cannot do it by not being lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/that-frame-of-mind-that-you-need-to-make-fine-pictures-of-a-very/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [You go into a room and you know where you're welcome; you know where you're unwelcome.Sometimes in a hostile situation you stick around because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/you-go-into-a-room-and-you-know-where-you-re-welcome-you-know-where/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [No country has ever closely scrutinized itself visually ... I know what we could make of it if people only thought we could dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/no-country-has-ever-closely-scrutinized-itself-visually-i-know-what/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Photography today appears to be in a state of flight... The familiar is made strange, the unfamiliar grotesque. The amateur forces his Sundays into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/photography-today-appears-to-be-in-a-state-of-flight-the-familiar-is/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [I realize more and more what it takes to be a really good photographer. You go in over your head, not just up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/i-realize-more-and-more-what-it-takes-to-be-a-really-good/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [You know there are moments such as these when time stands still and all you do is hold your breath and hope it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/you-know-there-are-moments-such-as-these-when-time-stands-still-and/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [To me, beauty appears when one feels deeply, and art is an act of total attention,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/to-me-beauty-appears-when-one-feels-deeply-and-art-is-an-act-of-total/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/the-camera-is-an-instrument-that-teaches-people-how-to-see-without-a/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [I trust my instincts. I don't distrust them. They haven't led me astray. It's when I've made up my mind to be efficient that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/i-trust-my-instincts-i-don-t-distrust-them-they-haven-t-led-me-astray/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [Pick a theme and work it to exhaustion... the subject must be something you truly love or truly hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/pick-a-theme-and-work-it-to-exhaustion-the-subject-must-be-something/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) > [A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/a-camera-is-a-tool-for-learning-how-to-see-without-a-camera/) [Dorothea Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) [Explore all 48 Dorothea Lange quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/) ## More Head quotes > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [I used a psychologist when I was playing, It's one of the most powerful things: how you can have a concrete head and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/i-used-a-psychologist-when-i-was-playing-it-s-one-of-the-most/) [Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/) > [This is how McGregor is, waging mental warfare before the fights. There's no way that guy is going to get in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-how-mcgregor-is-waging-mental-warfare-before-the-fights-there/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [Love is in the heart not the head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shadow/love-is-in-the-heart-not-the-head/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shadow/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/) [Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I chose a career in the kitchen because the thought of sitting and doing the same thing every day and being stationary was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-tosi/i-chose-a-career-in-the-kitchen-because-the-thought-of-sitting-and/) [Christina Tosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-tosi/) > [“All the tools, techniques and technology in the world are nothing without the head, heart and hands to use them wisely, kindly and mindfully”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/all-the-tools-techniques-and-technology-in-the-world-are-nothing/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [I'm just insane. So what usually drives me is pure joy for something stupid. I'm also very visual. I'll have an idea in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-roiland/i-m-just-insane-so-what-usually-drives-me-is-pure-joy-for-something/) [Justin Roiland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-roiland/) > [We did a 'Vanity Fair' spread for 'The Hunger Games,' and we were on set, and I saw a little head pop up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ludwig/we-did-a-vanity-fair-spread-for-the-hunger-games-and-we-were-on-set/) [Alexander Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ludwig/) > [I say characters who are strong and wrong just have an assuredness about them that you can't even wrap your head around, you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ego-nwodim/i-say-characters-who-are-strong-and-wrong-just-have-an-assuredness/) [Ego Nwodim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ego-nwodim/) Browse all 3,145 Head quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "go in over your head, not just up to your neck.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothea Lange" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your-neck/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Head" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your-neck/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/dorothea-lange-13986_head_go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your_2748596.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/dorothea-lange-13986_head_go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your_2748596.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dd/dorothea-lange-13986_head_go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your_2748596.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“go in over your head, not just up to your neck.” — Dorothea Lange", "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": "Dorothea Lange", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothea-lange/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "go in over your head, not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your-neck/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothea-lange/go-in-over-your-head-not-just-up-to-your-neck/#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 } } ] } ```