--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's when you start doing things for…" description: "\"“It's when you start doing things for free, that you start to grow wings.”\" — Gus Van Sant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/gus-van-sant-5023_doing-things_it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-fre_369725.png" --- # It's when you start doing things for free, that you start… ![“It's when you start doing things for free, that you start to grow wings.” quote by Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/gus-van-sant-5023_doing-things_it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-fre_369725.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/gus-van-sant-5023_doing-things_it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-fre_369725.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/gus-van-sant-5023_doing-things_it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-fre_369725.png) > ““It's when you start doing things for free, that you start to grow wings.”” [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating value without immediate reward fosters personal growth and new capabilities. **In simple terms:** Giving freely leads to growth. Key Takeaway Offer help without expectation. Themes generosity growth creativity Mood inspirational reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - collaborative projects - skill development - networking Key Concepts psychology self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How can you protect your time while giving freely? - What personal skills have you gained from unpaid work? A Different Perspective Free work can be exploited if boundaries aren't set. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [But one day, the things that make you free start to keep you down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jardine-libaire/but-one-day-the-things-that-make-you-free-start-to-keep-you-down/) [Jardine Libaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jardine-libaire/) > [Of course, women are free to start any kind of company they want. But women sometimes identify different problems than men do and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/of-course-women-are-free-to-start-any-kind-of-company-they-want-but/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I feel like I grow wings on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-max/i-feel-like-i-grow-wings-on-stage/) [Ava Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-max/) > [“It is as simple as that. Birds fly because they have wings and so when you can’t grow the wings, you can’t be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-as-simple-as-that-birds-fly-because-they-have-wings-and-so-when/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Don’t start doing things until you understand the ethos of the neighborhood. Let the spirit of the place make its impression. Fall in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-ford/don-t-start-doing-things-until-you-understand-the-ethos-of-the/) [Lance Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-ford/) > [“you’ve spent so much of your life doing what others expect of you. i think it’s time you start doing things for yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-azizian/you-ve-spent-so-much-of-your-life-doing-what-others-expect-of-you-i/) [Kiana Azizian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-azizian/) > [Jump, then grow wings on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/jump-then-grow-wings-on-the-way-down/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [“Because of you, Michael, my heart begins to grow wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-kennedy/because-of-you-michael-my-heart-begins-to-grow-wings/) [C. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-kennedy/) > [“one day I am gonna grow wings a chemical reaction hysterical but useless hysterical and a let down”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radiohead/one-day-i-am-gonna-grow-wings-a-chemical-reaction-hysterical-but/) [radiohead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radiohead/) > [If I could grow wings, I could fly. Only people can't grow wings," he say's. "Real or not real?" "Real," I say. "But people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/if-i-could-grow-wings-i-could-fly-only-people-can-t-grow-wings-he-say/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Leap and grow your wings on the way down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/leap-and-grow-your-wings-on-the-way-down/) [Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/) > [Sometimes, if you aren't sure about something, you have to just jump off the bridge and grow wings on your way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/sometimes-if-you-aren-t-sure-about-something-you-have-to-just-jump/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [It’s all right if you grow your wings on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bly/it-s-all-right-if-you-grow-your-wings-on-the-way-down/) [Robert Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bly/) > [The contemplation of beauty causes the soul to grow wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-contemplation-of-beauty-causes-the-soul-to-grow-wings/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“Sleep little one Sleep Grow strong And grow wings The world is waiting for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-schroeder/sleep-little-one-sleep-grow-strong-and-grow-wings-the-world-is/) [Lisa Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-schroeder/) ## More by Gus Van Sant > [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I mean, I think I'm pretty sentimental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-mean-i-think-i-m-pretty-sentimental/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [Usually people just hire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/usually-people-just-hire-me/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [My family moved a lot as a kid. We started in Colorado, where I lived for five years. We moved to Chicago for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/my-family-moved-a-lot-as-a-kid-we-started-in-colorado-where-i-lived/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [No construction stiff working overtime takes more stress and straining than we did just to stay high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/no-construction-stiff-working-overtime-takes-more-stress-and/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I've told people who have just started to make a film that the one thing you might experience is this feeling that everybody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-ve-told-people-who-have-just-started-to-make-a-film-that-the-one/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [A lot of times, I relied on connections through my agency, just for financing and things like that. Even when I'm looking for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/a-lot-of-times-i-relied-on-connections-through-my-agency-just-for/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I'm a junkie. I like drugs, I like the whole lifestyle, but it just didn't pay off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-m-a-junkie-i-like-drugs-i-like-the-whole-lifestyle-but-it-just-didn/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [There are all kinds of ways that people present their films, but that's kind of a good feeling, if you can make it seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/there-are-all-kinds-of-ways-that-people-present-their-films-but-that/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I find it interesting, the different rules that apply to journalism and drama, even though journalism has become more and more about entertainment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-find-it-interesting-the-different-rules-that-apply-to-journalism/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [As I do with most films, I try and find some music that you could use throughout, not just a sampling of lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/as-i-do-with-most-films-i-try-and-find-some-music-that-you-could-use/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [When you're on a film and you're doubting something, it's usually because you don't think the audience is going to like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/when-you-re-on-a-film-and-you-re-doubting-something-it-s-usually/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [I don't usually direct actors in the classic sense of that word. Instead, I try to remind the characters before the shoot what's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/i-don-t-usually-direct-actors-in-the-classic-sense-of-that-word/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [When you get to be 23, 24 or 25, you start to freeze up and become an adult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/when-you-get-to-be-23-24-or-25-you-start-to-freeze-up-and-become-an/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [The artist himself is actually the subject in everything after, say, 1900. Eventually, art becomes so removed from the community that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-artist-himself-is-actually-the-subject-in-everything-after-say/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) [Explore all 102 Gus Van Sant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) ## More Doing things quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [“Standards are just the most accepted ways of doing things. They're usually unquestioned, not challenged, not the most efficient, and not the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-otton/standards-are-just-the-most-accepted-ways-of-doing-things-they-re/) Rick Otton > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Either you let your life slip away by not doing the things you want to do, or you get up & do them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-von-oech/either-you-let-your-life-slip-away-by-not-doing-the-things-you-want/) [Roger von Oech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-von-oech/) > [Life is all about doing things you like and being surrounded by people you like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/life-is-all-about-doing-things-you-like-and-being-surrounded-by/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [I'm closer to being happy. I'm doing things that make me happy. In football I loved to practice and I loved to play, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-m-closer-to-being-happy-i-m-doing-things-that-make-me-happy-in/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [“If you aren't in love, Willow Vaughn, then my name isn't Miriam Brigham." Willow started out of her daydreaming and glanced up from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mcpherren/if-you-aren-t-in-love-willow-vaughn-then-my-name-isn-t-miriam-brigham/) [Charlotte McPherren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mcpherren/) > [The story being told in 'Star Wars' is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/the-story-being-told-in-star-wars-is-a-classic-one-every-few-hundred/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [When you study history and look at every civilization that has grown up and died off, they all leave one remnant: a major sports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-study-history-and-look-at-every-civilization-that-has-grown/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [It's sad that women characters have lost so much ground in popular movies. Didn't 'Thelma and Louise' prove that women want to see women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-quivers/it-s-sad-that-women-characters-have-lost-so-much-ground-in-popular/) [Robin Quivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-quivers/) > [I spent a lot of my life schlepping around New York with people not doing things for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-gibson/i-spent-a-lot-of-my-life-schlepping-around-new-york-with-people-not/) [Debbie Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-gibson/) > [This is your life do wat you love, and do it often. if you don't like something, change it. if you don't like your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amiea/this-is-your-life-do-wat-you-love-and-do-it-often-if-you-don-t-like/) Amiea Browse all 1,822 Doing things quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's when you start doing things for free, that you start to grow wings.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gus Van Sant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-free-that-you-start-to-grow-wings/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doing things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-free-that-you-start-to-grow-wings/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/gus-van-sant-5023_doing-things_it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-fre_369725.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/gus-van-sant-5023_doing-things_it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-fre_369725.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db8/gus-van-sant-5023_doing-things_it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-fre_369725.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's when you start doing things for free, that you start to grow wings.” — Gus Van Sant", "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": "Gus Van Sant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It's when you start doing things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-free-that-you-start-to-grow-wings/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/it-s-when-you-start-doing-things-for-free-that-you-start-to-grow-wings/#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 } } ] } ```