--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I devote myself to other pursuits and…" description: "\"If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man's shoulders. I ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/henry-david-thoreau-20_another-man_if-i-devote-myself-to-other-pursuits-and_1306881.jpg" --- # If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I… ![“If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man's shoulders. I must get off him first, that he may pursue his contemplations too.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/henry-david-thoreau-20_another-man_if-i-devote-myself-to-other-pursuits-and_1306881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/henry-david-thoreau-20_another-man_if-i-devote-myself-to-other-pursuits-and_1306881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b90/henry-david-thoreau-20_another-man_if-i-devote-myself-to-other-pursuits-and_1306881.jpg) > “If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man's shoulders. I must get off him first, that he may pursue his contemplations too.” [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. One must free oneself from relying on others' work before seeking personal growth. **In simple terms:** Free yourself before you can grow. Key Takeaway Release dependence to pursue your own path. Themes independence self‑reliance personal growth Mood reflective determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career development - academic study - creative projects - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism autonomy ethical responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What dependencies are you overlooking? - How can you identify when you are standing on someone else’s foundation? A Different Perspective Reliance on others can be subtle and hard to detect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Another man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-man/) [Civil disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-disobedience/) [Contemplation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplation/) [Contemplations Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemplations-pursue-3766961/) [Devote Pursuits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devote-pursuits-3766960/) [Disobedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disobedience/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nonviolent resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolent-resistance/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Pursue Contemplations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-contemplations-4310184/) [Pursue Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-sitting-4310186/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Pursuits Contemplations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuits-contemplations-4310185/) [Shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulders/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [It is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-is-not-a-man-s-duty-as-a-matter-of-course-to-devote-himself-to-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Negro's problem will not be solved by running away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-negro-s-problem-will-not-be-solved-by-running-away/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The principle of nonviolent resistance seeks to reconcile the truths of two opposites-Acquiescence and violence -while avoiding the extremes and immoralities of both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-principle-of-nonviolent-resistance-seeks-to-reconcile-the-truths/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [By nonviolent resistance, the Negro can also enlist all men of good will in his struggle for equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/by-nonviolent-resistance-the-negro-can-also-enlist-all-men-of-good/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The Indian government has managed to turn the concept of nonviolence on its head. 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