--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Behind him, the sheep, left to their own…" description: "\"“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.”\" — Erin Morgenstern" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/erin-morgenstern-806_gate_behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-d_180016.png" --- # Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide… ![“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.” quote by Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/erin-morgenstern-806_gate_behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-d_180016.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/erin-morgenstern-806_gate_behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-d_180016.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/erin-morgenstern-806_gate_behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-d_180016.png) > ““Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.”” [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A herd of sheep, left unsupervised, chooses to wander beyond a gate into an open field. **In simple terms:** Sheep wander freely when left alone. Key Takeaway Allow freedom, but set boundaries. Themes freedom choice consequence control wildness Mood reflective thoughtful Type narrative observational When to use this quote - pasture management - livestock farming - wildlife observation - garden design Key Concepts animal behavior autonomy environmental influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance autonomy with responsibility? - What boundaries are needed for safe exploration? A Different Perspective Uncontrolled freedom can lead to loss of safety or order. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lion/) ## Related quotes > [“You’d better open the gate soon, or your mother’s going to put you in time-out when she finally gets in the house,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-oram/you-d-better-open-the-gate-soon-or-your-mother-s-going-to-put-you-in/) [Kelly Oram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-oram/) > [“Fear is what keeps the walls up, so open the gate and let what you want, in when you want”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wright/fear-is-what-keeps-the-walls-up-so-open-the-gate-and-let-what-you/) [Joshua Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wright/) > [“ADAM AND EVE, sitting in Paradise, chatting: "If we could only open the gate and leave," says Eve. "To go where, my dearest?" "If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/adam-and-eve-sitting-in-paradise-chatting-if-we-could-only-open-the/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [We still got a lot to do, open the gate water the mule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-moore/we-still-got-a-lot-to-do-open-the-gate-water-the-mule/) [Justin Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-moore/) > [Just write, if you open the gate it gets better and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-redmon/just-write-if-you-open-the-gate-it-gets-better-and-better/) Dusty Redmon > [But oh, to him I loved Who loved me not at all,I owe the little open gate That led thru heaven's wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/but-oh-to-him-i-loved-who-loved-me-not-at-all-i-owe-the-little-open/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [Let me arise and open the gate, / to breathe the wild warm air of the heath...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-fane/let-me-arise-and-open-the-gate-to-breathe-the-wild-warm-air-of-the-2/) [Violet Fane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-fane/) > [Dogs are just wolves in sheep's clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-coren/dogs-are-just-wolves-in-sheep-s-clothing/) [Stanley Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-coren/) > [History would indicate that the majority of people have always been sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/history-would-indicate-that-the-majority-of-people-have-always-been/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“A shepherd may like to travel, but he should never forget his sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-shepherd-may-like-to-travel-but-he-should-never-forget-his-sheep/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [A Tiger does not lose sleep... over the opinion of Sheep...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-tiger-does-not-lose-sleep-over-the-opinion-of-sheep/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Change is a sheep in wolf's clothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-lacroix/change-is-a-sheep-in-wolf-s-clothing/) [Darren LaCroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-lacroix/) > [The herd instinct among forecasters makes sheep look like independent thinkers..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-fiedler/the-herd-instinct-among-forecasters-makes-sheep-look-like-independent/) [Edgar Fiedler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-fiedler/) > [Beware of a wolf in sheep's clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/beware-of-a-wolf-in-sheep-s-clothing/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [“When a wolf is hungry it befriends sheep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/when-a-wolf-is-hungry-it-befriends-sheep/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) ## More by Erin Morgenstern > [They are enthusiasts, devotees. 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Agreed?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/when-all-of-this-is-over-no-matter-which-one-of-us-wins-i-will-not/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Even the ground beneath his feet feels unsatisfying to his boots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/even-the-ground-beneath-his-feet-feels-unsatisfying-to-his-boots/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“Why haven’t you asked me how I do my tricks?” Celia asks, once they have reached the point where she is certain he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/why-haven-t-you-asked-me-how-i-do-my-tricks-celia-asks-once-they-have/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And there are really never endings, happy or otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-there-are-really-never-endings-happy-or-otherwise/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I binge write. I think it's because I started seriously writing by participating in National Novel Writing Month, an online-based challenge to write 50,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-binge-write-i-think-it-s-because-i-started-seriously-writing-by/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I have absurdly vivid dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-have-absurdly-vivid-dreams/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [I made a wish on this tree years ago," Marco says. "What did you wish for?" Bailey asks. Marco leans forward and whispers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/i-made-a-wish-on-this-tree-years-ago-marco-says-what-did-you-wish-for/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“He reads histories and mythologies and fairy tales, wondering why it seems that only girls are ever swept away from their mundane lives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/he-reads-histories-and-mythologies-and-fairy-tales-wondering-why-it/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [Marco moves to close the distance between them, kissing away her tears before catching her lip with his own. As he kisses her, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/marco-moves-to-close-the-distance-between-them-kissing-away-her-tears/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [“«Importa más ser que parecer.»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/importa-m-s-ser-que-parecer/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [And before he can tell her to tell Widget goodbye for him if need be, she leans forward and kisses him, not on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/and-before-he-can-tell-her-to-tell-widget-goodbye-for-him-if-need-be/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) > [The night that seemed endless hours before is now slipping through your fingers, ticking by as it falls into the past and pushes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/the-night-that-seemed-endless-hours-before-is-now-slipping-through/) [Erin Morgenstern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) [Explore all 339 Erin Morgenstern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/) ## More Gate quotes > [That's why there are ten gates to pass through before you reach the garden. If life were easy there would be one gate. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/that-s-why-there-are-ten-gates-to-pass-through-before-you-reach-the/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [One of my favorite albums is Bob Gibson and Bob Camp, 'At the Gate of Horn.' It was a really dynamic album, almost like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-mcguinn/one-of-my-favorite-albums-is-bob-gibson-and-bob-camp-at-the-gate-of/) [Roger McGuinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-mcguinn/) > [I use the volume control on my guitar, both for dynamics and as a manual noise gate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-use-the-volume-control-on-my-guitar-both-for-dynamics-and-as-a/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [He who wants to do good knocks at the gate: he who loves finds the door open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/he-who-wants-to-do-good-knocks-at-the-gate-he-who-loves-finds-the/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Go through the gate. Let our love support you through your own self-judgment. Over you the dark shall have no power. Farewell—we release you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-l-paxson/go-through-the-gate-let-our-love-support-you-through-your-own-self/) Diana L. Paxson > [My first time out of the gate, I made three movies in four years, and they were all very back to back to back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/my-first-time-out-of-the-gate-i-made-three-movies-in-four-years-and/) [Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/) > [There was someone from China who came down to my house and locked himself outside the gate. He wanted to marry me and created…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-parekh/there-was-someone-from-china-who-came-down-to-my-house-and-locked/) [Asha Parekh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-parekh/) > [“I had no idea that the gate I would step through to finally enter this world would be the space my brother’s body made.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-howe/i-had-no-idea-that-the-gate-i-would-step-through-to-finally-enter/) [Marie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-howe/) > [I wish people who came into my life and left used the same door, but no! They came through the happy-door and chosed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-wish-people-who-came-into-my-life-and-left-used-the-same-door-but/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Since September 11, security has been increased everywhere, and we have new IDs to get on to the Fox lot. I drove to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-cartwright/since-september-11-security-has-been-increased-everywhere-and-we-have/) [Nancy Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-cartwright/) > [War is a form of really bad manners, in a strange way. Invading a country I think is just the worst possible manners. 'You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/war-is-a-form-of-really-bad-manners-in-a-strange-way-invading-a/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [“You don't have to see me out," I told him as he came back to the table. "Unless you're going home too." "No. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-keaton/you-don-t-have-to-see-me-out-i-told-him-as-he-came-back-to-the-table/) [Kelly Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-keaton/) > [Wheelchairs get lost or damaged during transit because some staff don't always understand how important the equipment is, or the cost of it. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanni-grey-thompson/wheelchairs-get-lost-or-damaged-during-transit-because-some-staff-don/) [Tanni Grey-Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanni-grey-thompson/) > [“The gate is the key to the kingdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-gate-is-the-key-to-the-kingdom/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The Gate is Straight, Deep and Wide; Break On Through to the other side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/the-gate-is-straight-deep-and-wide-break-on-through-to-the-other-side/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) Browse all 162 Gate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field beyond.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erin Morgenstern" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/erin-morgenstern-806_gate_behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-d_180016.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/erin-morgenstern-806_gate_behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-d_180016.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/erin-morgenstern-806_gate_behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-d_180016.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Behind him, the sheep, left to their own devices, decide to wander through the open gate into the field…” — Erin Morgenstern", "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": "Erin Morgenstern", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-morgenstern/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Behind him, the sheep, left to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-morgenstern/behind-him-the-sheep-left-to-their-own-devices-decide-to-wander/#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 } } ] } ```