--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I make my own time. I make my own terms…" description: "\"I make my own time. I make my own terms. I cannot see how God or Nature can ever get the start of me.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/henry-david-thoreau-20_freedom_i-make-my-own-time-i-make-my-own-terms-i_2854882.jpg" --- # I make my own time. I make my own terms. I cannot see how… ![“I make my own time. I make my own terms. I cannot see how God or Nature can ever get the start of me.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/henry-david-thoreau-20_freedom_i-make-my-own-time-i-make-my-own-terms-i_2854882.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/henry-david-thoreau-20_freedom_i-make-my-own-time-i-make-my-own-terms-i_2854882.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/henry-david-thoreau-20_freedom_i-make-my-own-time-i-make-my-own-terms-i_2854882.jpg) > “I make my own time. I make my own terms. I cannot see how God or Nature can ever get the start of me.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts personal autonomy, believing neither divine nor natural forces can dominate them. **In simple terms:** Self‑determination over external forces. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal independence. Themes philosophy individualism autonomy Mood reflective determined Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual reflection - creative work Key Concepts self‑reliance nature vs. self Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑control with external influence? - What limits your independence? A Different Perspective Complete autonomy is unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Privacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privacy/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When I get to make a movie, I really try to make it on my own terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobcat-goldthwait/when-i-get-to-make-a-movie-i-really-try-to-make-it-on-my-own-terms/) [Bobcat Goldthwait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobcat-goldthwait/) > [God created the law of free will, and God created the law of cause and effect. And he himself will not violate the law.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/god-created-the-law-of-free-will-and-god-created-the-law-of-cause-and/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [You don't even know the sequences to the Human-Gnome Project, you haven't come to terms with your God yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/canibus/you-don-t-even-know-the-sequences-to-the-human-gnome-project-you/) [Canibus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/canibus/) > [I don't think in terms of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-don-t-think-in-terms-of-god/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [“If you think you can't make time to invest into your life at once now, you will be compelled to make time to count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-think-you-can-t-make-time-to-invest-into-your-life-at-once-now/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [It will never be a perfect time, you can only make time perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/it-will-never-be-a-perfect-time-you-can-only-make-time-perfect/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [The first step towards mastering time is always to make time meaningless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aickman/the-first-step-towards-mastering-time-is-always-to-make-time/) [Robert Aickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aickman/) > [“You will always have time for what you make time for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hopkins/you-will-always-have-time-for-what-you-make-time-for/) [Gary Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hopkins/) > [“What good is time to you if it's not yours? Make it your time!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-nipperess/what-good-is-time-to-you-if-it-s-not-yours-make-it-your-time/) Jessica Nipperess > [Quit saying you don't have time. You have time for what you make time for in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-h-mcgill/quit-saying-you-don-t-have-time-you-have-time-for-what-you-make-time/) [Bryant H. McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-h-mcgill/) > [I make time for those who make time for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/i-make-time-for-those-who-make-time-for-me/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) > [“After all, it's not just what you make of your time, it's whether you have the time to make it your own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-john-payne/after-all-it-s-not-just-what-you-make-of-your-time-it-s-whether-you/) [Kim John Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-john-payne/) > [There's no time to make time it's well done already](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/there-s-no-time-to-make-time-it-s-well-done-already/) C-DASH > [My profession is to always find God in nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/my-profession-is-to-always-find-god-in-nature/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [My profession is to be always on the alert to find God in nature, to know his lurking-places, to attend all the oratorios, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/my-profession-is-to-be-always-on-the-alert-to-find-god-in-nature-to/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Men say they know many things; But lo! they have taken wings, — The arts and sciences, And a thousand appliances; The wind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-say-they-know-many-things-but-lo-they-have-taken-wings-the-arts/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or back gammon, with a slight moral tinge to it, a playing with right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/all-voting-is-a-sort-of-gaming-like-checkers-or-back-gammon-with-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A traveler who looks at things with an impartial eye may see what the oldest inhabitant has not observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-traveler-who-looks-at-things-with-an-impartial-eye-may-see-what-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Concord's little arch does not span all our fate, nor is what transpires under it law for the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/concord-s-little-arch-does-not-span-all-our-fate-nor-is-what/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The lumberers rarely trouble themselves to put out their fires, such is the dampness of the primitive forest; and this is one cause, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-lumberers-rarely-trouble-themselves-to-put-out-their-fires-such/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“When he has obtained those things which are necessary to life, there is another alternative than to obtain the superfluities; and that is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-he-has-obtained-those-things-which-are-necessary-to-life-there/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Explore all 3,376 Henry David Thoreau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I make my own time. I make my own terms. 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