--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't always save someone by getting…" description: "\"“You can't always save someone by getting in the water with them. Sometimes, you must lead by example and show them how to get on the boat.”\" — Gillian..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/gillian-duce-26508_guidance_you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting_1642257.jpg" --- # You can't always save someone by getting in the water with… ![“You can't always save someone by getting in the water with them. Sometimes, you must lead by example and show them how to get on the boat.” quote by Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/gillian-duce-26508_guidance_you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting_1642257.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/gillian-duce-26508_guidance_you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting_1642257.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/gillian-duce-26508_guidance_you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting_1642257.jpg) > ““You can't always save someone by getting in the water with them. Sometimes, you must lead by example and show them how to get on the boat.”” [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership sometimes requires stepping back and modeling behavior rather than rescuing directly. **In simple terms:** Lead by example, not always rescue. Key Takeaway Show the way, then let others follow. Themes leadership modeling empowerment Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice leadership When to use this quote - team building - crisis management - mentorship - coaching Key Concepts example leadership psychology of influence Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to guide than to act? - How do you model behavior without taking over? A Different Perspective Not all problems can be solved by personal involvement; sometimes distance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boat/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Example Boat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example-boat-578265/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Helping others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-others/) [Lead by example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-by-example/) [Lead Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lead-example/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Save Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-getting-578266/) [Saved-souls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved-souls/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [I always wanted someone looking up to me and trying to understand where I'm coming from as a leader. I'm ready for that. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-brooks/i-always-wanted-someone-looking-up-to-me-and-trying-to-understand/) [Dillon Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-brooks/) > [You lead with direction, and you try to lead by example. I try to be there when things are not good and obviously share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penske/you-lead-with-direction-and-you-try-to-lead-by-example-i-try-to-be/) [Roger Penske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penske/) > [To lead by example is to offer your life as a living diarry for others to read. Never make your life pages blank; make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-lead-by-example-is-to-offer-your-life-as-a-living-diarry-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would say I'm not like the loudest guy, but I lead by example, and I just make sure all my teammates are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-trubisky/i-would-say-i-m-not-like-the-loudest-guy-but-i-lead-by-example-and-i/) [Mitchell Trubisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-trubisky/) > [One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/one-of-the-most-important-actions-things-a-leader-can-do-is-to-lead/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [I'm the kind of person that when I saw a lack of African Americans in the apparel business, that was something I set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/i-m-the-kind-of-person-that-when-i-saw-a-lack-of-african-americans-in/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [Those who lead by example and demonstrate passion for what they do make it much easier for their followers to do the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/those-who-lead-by-example-and-demonstrate-passion-for-what-they-do/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [“Follow the advice of those that lead by example, instead of those lost in the norms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-e-olmedo/follow-the-advice-of-those-that-lead-by-example-instead-of-those-lost/) [Cynthia E. Olmedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-e-olmedo/) > [I like to lead by example. I like to lead by my actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/i-like-to-lead-by-example-i-like-to-lead-by-my-actions/) [Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/) > [“Lead by example. That’s what I learnt and now I was practicing that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arun-prabhu-aradhya/lead-by-example-that-s-what-i-learnt-and-now-i-was-practicing-that/) [Arun Prabhu- aradhya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arun-prabhu-aradhya/) > [I think that's kind of who I am. I just try to be vocal and try to lead by example.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaylen-brown/i-think-that-s-kind-of-who-i-am-i-just-try-to-be-vocal-and-try-to/) [Jaylen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaylen-brown/) > [I will try to lead by example, by my voice in the dressing room and then one-on-one if necessary. It's not top of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/i-will-try-to-lead-by-example-by-my-voice-in-the-dressing-room-and/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [I'm kind of a quiet leader, and I just try to lead by example. But then sometimes you have to say something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamique-holdsclaw/i-m-kind-of-a-quiet-leader-and-i-just-try-to-lead-by-example-but-then/) [Chamique Holdsclaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamique-holdsclaw/) > [I'm not the most vocal guy, but I try to lead by example every single day with how I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-m-not-the-most-vocal-guy-but-i-try-to-lead-by-example-every-single/) [Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/) > [“It is the leader’s job to lead by example and enforce the values and the behaviors to set the culture for any company or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ramsay/it-is-the-leader-s-job-to-lead-by-example-and-enforce-the-values-and/) [Beth Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ramsay/) ## More by Gillian Duce > [“Don't give up on your faith just to please someone who has no faith at all; That is like giving up a treasure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/don-t-give-up-on-your-faith-just-to-please-someone-who-has-no-faith/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“To free my heart, To restore my mind, I cry out, "I am!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/to-free-my-heart-to-restore-my-mind-i-cry-out-i-am/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“Take time to be a butterfly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/take-time-to-be-a-butterfly/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“Light your life with purpose and all shadows will disappear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/light-your-life-with-purpose-and-all-shadows-will-disappear/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“Be the peace you would like to see in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/be-the-peace-you-would-like-to-see-in-the-world/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“One does not hold their breath and say that they are breathing; Just the same, One cannot advance in life and remain the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/one-does-not-hold-their-breath-and-say-that-they-are-breathing-just/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“How can the heart and mind work together? The mind wants logic and to travel in straight lines, while the heart wants to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/how-can-the-heart-and-mind-work-together-the-mind-wants-logic-and-to/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“When happiness pours out of your heart, good pours out into the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/when-happiness-pours-out-of-your-heart-good-pours-out-into-the-world/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“You do not blame your shadow for the shape of your body: Just the same: Do not blame others for the shape of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/you-do-not-blame-your-shadow-for-the-shape-of-your-body-just-the-same/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“If believed that life is a hologram; find the awe in its design. If believed that life is strange; find the awe in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/if-believed-that-life-is-a-hologram-find-the-awe-in-its-design-if/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“It is that truth sometimes feels like cruelty to hear, makes it no less the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/it-is-that-truth-sometimes-feels-like-cruelty-to-hear-makes-it-no/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“Feeling the anguish does not make you weak, but conceding and hiding from it makes a coward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/feeling-the-anguish-does-not-make-you-weak-but-conceding-and-hiding/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“The wildest thing in life is your own mind and the extremes it can take you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/the-wildest-thing-in-life-is-your-own-mind-and-the-extremes-it-can/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“Love reached across space and time to find you. You are the smile of a million stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/love-reached-across-space-and-time-to-find-you-you-are-the-smile-of-a/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) > [“Find the beautiful; the perfect; the wonderful in life and then remind yourself that you are part of it; therein you are all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/find-the-beautiful-the-perfect-the-wonderful-in-life-and-then-remind/) [Gillian Duce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) [Explore all 21 Gillian Duce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/) ## More Boat quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Fly-fishing for wild trout on quiet waters must be one of the toughest and craziest ways to catch fish ever invented by man, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-voelker/fly-fishing-for-wild-trout-on-quiet-waters-must-be-one-of-the/) [John D. Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [It was just the sort of yatch you'd expect a rock promoter to have. Mirrored ceilings, marble, Jacuzzis and leopard-skin everything, it made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/it-was-just-the-sort-of-yatch-you-d-expect-a-rock-promoter-to-have/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) > [It's a hindrance in trying to get a serious acting role. The minute a producer has a script and my name comes up, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/it-s-a-hindrance-in-trying-to-get-a-serious-acting-role-the-minute-a/) [Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/) > [Something I like to do a lot is just sit by water when there’s a current and just stare into the water. I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/something-i-like-to-do-a-lot-is-just-sit-by-water-when-there-s-a/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The trouble is, you can't properly present something you don't believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mcguane/the-trouble-is-you-can-t-properly-present-something-you-don-t-believe/) [Thomas McGuane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mcguane/) > [You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/you-know-how-this-is-if-i-look-at-the-crystal-moon-at-the-red-branch/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [A film is a boat which is always on the point of sinking-it always tends to break up as you go along and drag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-truffaut/a-film-is-a-boat-which-is-always-on-the-point-of-sinking-it-always/) [Francois Truffaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-truffaut/) > [I took one guitar lesson, and they wanted me to play 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' or 'Michael Row the Boat Ashore,' and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-took-one-guitar-lesson-and-they-wanted-me-to-play-mary-had-a-little/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I was 35 years old and in a position to take a shot at whatever I wanted to try. The Air Force said I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-doyle/i-was-35-years-old-and-in-a-position-to-take-a-shot-at-whatever-i/) [Jerry Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-doyle/) > [We wanted a musical number that would capture the exhilaration of being out on a boat as they were and sailing with the stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-musker/we-wanted-a-musical-number-that-would-capture-the-exhilaration-of/) [John Musker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-musker/) > [I thought I would try my hand at sailing. It was too small and kept sinking, so I decided to try a boat instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-jolly/i-thought-i-would-try-my-hand-at-sailing-it-was-too-small-and-kept/) [Arthur M. Jolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-jolly/) > [I once went down the Amazon and our boat got charged by Columbian policemen with guns and we all had to get on motorbikes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-skelton/i-once-went-down-the-amazon-and-our-boat-got-charged-by-columbian/) [Helen Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-skelton/) > [Most of the world is covered by water. A fisherman's job is simple: Pick out the best parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-waterman/most-of-the-world-is-covered-by-water-a-fisherman-s-job-is-simple/) [Charles W. Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-waterman/) [Browse all 1,788 Boat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You can't always save someone by getting in the water with them. Sometimes, you must lead by example and show them how to get on the boat.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gillian Duce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting-in-the-water-with-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting-in-the-water-with-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/gillian-duce-26508_guidance_you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting_1642257.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/gillian-duce-26508_guidance_you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting_1642257.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cd/gillian-duce-26508_guidance_you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting_1642257.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't always save someone by getting in the water with them. Sometimes, you must lead by example and…” — Gillian Duce", "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": "Gillian Duce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-duce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You can't always save someone by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting-in-the-water-with-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-duce/you-can-t-always-save-someone-by-getting-in-the-water-with-them/#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 } } ] } ```