--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't let bridges you cross be bridges…" description: "\"Don't let bridges you cross be bridges you burn.\" — J. Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/j-cole-2-3527_bridge_don-t-let-bridges-you-cross-be-bridges-y_600294.jpg" --- # Don't let bridges you cross be bridges you burn. ![“Don't let bridges you cross be bridges you burn.” quote by J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/j-cole-2-3527_bridge_don-t-let-bridges-you-cross-be-bridges-y_600294.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/j-cole-2-3527_bridge_don-t-let-bridges-you-cross-be-bridges-y_600294.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa1/j-cole-2-3527_bridge_don-t-let-bridges-you-cross-be-bridges-y_600294.jpg) > “Don't let bridges you cross be bridges you burn.” [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advises against destroying opportunities while still using them for personal gain. **In simple terms:** Don’t ruin the paths you still need. Key Takeaway Preserve useful connections. Themes responsibility opportunity self‑interest Mood cautious reflective Type advice ethical When to use this quote - career advancement - networking - collaboration - resource management Key Concepts strategic thinking ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - What valuable relationship might you be risking? - How can you use a bridge without damaging it? A Different Perspective Burning bridges can limit future options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) ## Related quotes > [One if the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/one-if-the-hardest-things-in-life-to-learn-are-which-bridges-to-cross/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Ignite the past. Let the bridges burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ignite-the-past-let-the-bridges-burn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Important life skill: cross your bridges before you burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/important-life-skill-cross-your-bridges-before-you-burn-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be careful of the bridges you burn cause you may need to cross one someday and it won't be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/be-careful-of-the-bridges-you-burn-cause-you-may-need-to-cross-one/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Always be aware...the bridges you burn today will be the bridges you'll need tomorrow...:O)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-hernandez/always-be-aware-the-bridges-you-burn-today-will-be-the-bridges-you-ll/) [Rosie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-hernandez/) > [Be careful of the bridges you burn, because one day, you might need to cross that same bridge to get where you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/be-careful-of-the-bridges-you-burn-because-one-day-you-might-need-to/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/we-cross-our-bridges-when-we-come-to-them-and-burn-them-behind-us/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [You may cross many bridges and you may travel many roads, but you will always carry your own nature with you! Your nature is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-may-cross-many-bridges-and-you-may-travel-many-roads-but-you-will/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The bridges you burn today, are the ones you'll need tomorrow. &I'm not wasting my day helping you rebuild them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-bridges-you-burn-today-are-the-ones-you-ll-need-tomorrow-i-m-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most people say never burn your bridges. I say if your bridges damage and can not be repaired, may the bridges I burn light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-people-say-never-burn-your-bridges-i-say-if-your-bridges-damage/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people illuminate their lives with the bridges they burn!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-illuminate-their-lives-with-the-bridges-they-burn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm the type of person, I cross the bridges once I get to 'em. I don't try to plan my life three, four months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/i-m-the-type-of-person-i-cross-the-bridges-once-i-get-to-em-i-don-t/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [I do not like the phrase: Never cross a bridge till you come to it. The world is owned by men who cross bridges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barton/i-do-not-like-the-phrase-never-cross-a-bridge-till-you-come-to-it-the/) [Bruce Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barton/) > [Burning bridges before you cross them? Hope you can swim...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/burning-bridges-before-you-cross-them-hope-you-can-swim/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the hardest lessons in life to learn is figuring out which bridges to cross and which to burn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-in-life-to-learn-is-figuring-out-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by J. Cole > [The same ones you love will bring you pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/the-same-ones-you-love-will-bring-you-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [It's the way I enjoy making art - I like sitting down and making five beats; I enjoy that process. I can go two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-the-way-i-enjoy-making-art-i-like-sitting-down-and-making-five/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That's the biggest risk I've taken so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/producing-all-my-own-songs-and-refusing-to-go-to-the-hot-producer/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Sold my soul to Satan. I've been dancing with the devil. So when you get to hell you can say you know me. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/sold-my-soul-to-satan-i-ve-been-dancing-with-the-devil-so-when-you/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and-i-set-my-course-and-where-i/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [My parents were divorced by the time I was even conscious - like, I don't remember them ever being together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/my-parents-were-divorced-by-the-time-i-was-even-conscious-like-i-don/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You hate it before you played it. I already forgave ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-hate-it-before-you-played-it-i-already-forgave-ya/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Yeah school girl, cool girl. Your dress is sexy and your momma is a cougar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/yeah-school-girl-cool-girl-your-dress-is-sexy-and-your-momma-is-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When I first started rapping, when I switched my style to more like a punch line style - this is when I'm like 13…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-i-first-started-rapping-when-i-switched-my-style-to-more-like-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I'm not gonna be bad at anything, and I want to actually be the best at anything I'm doing. So if I'm playing basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-m-not-gonna-be-bad-at-anything-and-i-want-to-actually-be-the-best/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [We got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em, Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/we-got-dreams-and-we-got-the-right-to-chase-em-look-at-the-nation/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I seen a baby cry seconds later he laughs... the beauty of life, the pain never lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-seen-a-baby-cry-seconds-later-he-laughs-the-beauty-of-life-the-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [If I'm a character, it's a biographical movie. My character is as close to me as possible. As close to being myself as possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/if-i-m-a-character-it-s-a-biographical-movie-my-character-is-as-close/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You can't take yourself too seriously. Like, yeah, I'm doin' all that, but still I don't feel like I've done anything, really. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-can-t-take-yourself-too-seriously-like-yeah-i-m-doin-all-that-but/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When you're headlining, people are paying to come see you specifically. It's a different kind of pressure, because you've got to deliver. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-you-re-headlining-people-are-paying-to-come-see-you-specifically/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) [Explore all 128 J. Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## More Bridge quotes > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Art is what gets us beyond what is real. It makes reality more real. It also shortens the distance we gotta travel to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-pritchett/art-is-what-gets-us-beyond-what-is-real-it-makes-reality-more-real-it/) [Laura Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-pritchett/) > [People who have lost relationships often wonder why they can't just let it be water under the bridge. It is water under the bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-fairley/people-who-have-lost-relationships-often-wonder-why-they-can-t-just/) [Grant Fairley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-fairley/) > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [“Mr Benz, the parapet of an Italian bridge doesn’t look like the proper place for you,” said Chase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/mr-benz-the-parapet-of-an-italian-bridge-doesn-t-look-like-the-proper/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [“Houses built on bridges are scandals. A bridge wants to not be. If it could choose its shape, a bridge would be no shape,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/houses-built-on-bridges-are-scandals-a-bridge-wants-to-not-be-if-it/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [My parents wielded disposal cameras and Polaroids with the best of them, occasionally begging for at least one decent photo of my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/my-parents-wielded-disposal-cameras-and-polaroids-with-the-best-of/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [“Love is a bridge between your future and mine. A bridge constructed entirely out of trust, honesty, and in our case, wooden planks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-bridge-between-your-future-and-mine-a-bridge-constructed/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What I do is I'm trying to bridge the gap between yoga and fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/what-i-do-is-i-m-trying-to-bridge-the-gap-between-yoga-and-fitness/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Historically, Hong Kong has served as an important bridge between China and the world. Our freedoms, stability and the rule of law have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/historically-hong-kong-has-served-as-an-important-bridge-between/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Tower Bridge would make a cool house. I like the idea of living over the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-broad/tower-bridge-would-make-a-cool-house-i-like-the-idea-of-living-over/) [Stuart Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-broad/) Browse all 736 Bridge quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't let bridges you cross be bridges you burn.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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