--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Up until then it had only been himself…" description: "\"Up until then it had only been himself. Up to then it had been a private wrestle between him and himself. Nobody else much entered into it. After the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-jones-13898_changed_up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-u_1955996.jpg" --- # Up until then it had only been himself. Up to then it had… ![“Up until then it had only been himself. Up to then it had been a private wrestle between him and himself. Nobody else much entered into it. After the people came into it he was, of course, a different man. Everything had changed then and he was no longer the virgin, with the virgin's right to…” quote by James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-jones-13898_changed_up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-u_1955996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-jones-13898_changed_up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-u_1955996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-jones-13898_changed_up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-u_1955996.jpg) > “Up until then it had only been himself. Up to then it had been a private wrestle between him and himself. Nobody else much entered into it. After the people came into it he was, of course, a different man. Everything had changed then and he was no longer the virgin, with the virgin's right to insist upon platonic love. Life, in time, takes every maidenhead, even if it has to dry it up; it does not matter how the owner wants to keep it. Up to then he had been the young idealist. But he could not stay there. Not after the other people entered into it.” [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth is reshaped by relationships; youthful ideals change when others influence us. **In simple terms:** People change us, altering our ideals. Key Takeaway Embrace change as part of personal evolution. Themes identity relationships growth loss of innocence Mood nostalgic reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - career transitions - creative projects Key Concepts Self‑concept interpersonal influence Questions to Reflect On - How have relationships reshaped your goals? - Do you resist or welcome personal transformation? A Different Perspective External pressures may force unwanted changes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idealist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealist/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love & life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-life-2/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Platonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/platonic/) [Platonic love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/platonic-love/) [Virgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virgin/) ## Related quotes > [“Virgin, right?" the voice asks again. It comes from the tall one with white-blond hair falling into his eyes. Frankie is still giggling, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/virgin-right-the-voice-asks-again-it-comes-from-the-tall-one-with/) [Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/) > [“Platonic or Divine Love: The boy is so handsome! God has created him so beautifully! Vulgar or Earthly Love: The girl is so hot!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/md-ziaul-haque/platonic-or-divine-love-the-boy-is-so-handsome-god-has-created-him-so/) [Md. Ziaul Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/md-ziaul-haque/) > [There's different kinds of love, and I'd never experienced that kind of totally platonic love. All the love I've experienced has always been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/there-s-different-kinds-of-love-and-i-d-never-experienced-that-kind/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [PLATONIC, adj. Pertaining to the philosophy of Socrates. Platonic Love is a fool's name for the affection between a disability and a frost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/platonic-adj-pertaining-to-the-philosophy-of-socrates-platonic-love/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Platonic love is love from the neck up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thyra-samter-winslow/platonic-love-is-love-from-the-neck-up/) Thyra Samter Winslow > [Even before I met you I was far from indifferent to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/even-before-i-met-you-i-was-far-from-indifferent-to-you/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“That men of this kind despise women, though a not uncommon belief, is one which hardly appears to be justified. Indeed, though naturally not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-carpenter/that-men-of-this-kind-despise-women-though-a-not-uncommon-belief-is/) [Edward Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-carpenter/) > [And those who only know the non-platonic love have no need to talk of tragedy. In such love there can be no sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/and-those-who-only-know-the-non-platonic-love-have-no-need-to-talk-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [ “\[A\]s people are beginning to see that the sexes form in a certain sense a continuous group, so they are beginning to see that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-carpenter/a-s-people-are-beginning-to-see-that-the-sexes-form-in-a-certain/) [Edward Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-carpenter/) > [People make films about all kinds of relationships, but they won't do these extremely intense platonic love affairs that happen between young girls. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/people-make-films-about-all-kinds-of-relationships-but-they-won-t-do/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [Theres different kinds of love, and Id never experienced that kind of totally platonic love. All the love Ive experienced has always been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/theres-different-kinds-of-love-and-id-never-experienced-that-kind-of/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I know nothing about platonic love except that it is not to be found in the works of Plato.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-jepson/i-know-nothing-about-platonic-love-except-that-it-is-not-to-be-found/) Edgar Jepson > [Russian ladies, for the most part, cherish only Platonic love, without mingling any thought of matrimony with it; and Platonic love is exceedingly embarrassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-lermontov/russian-ladies-for-the-most-part-cherish-only-platonic-love-without/) [Mikhail Lermontov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-lermontov/) > [“For Plato, the quickening of the heart that occurred when a person saw his or her loved one was just a step in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amidon/for-plato-the-quickening-of-the-heart-that-occurred-when-a-person-saw/) Stephen Amidon > [U can never have the same person again once you've hurt them.No matter how platonic that love is! Maybe they will forgive you,but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/u-can-never-have-the-same-person-again-once-you-ve-hurt-them-no/) Unkown ## More by James Jones > [I'm an American, and always will be. I happen to love that big, awkward, sprawling country very much - and its big, awkward, sprawling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/i-m-an-american-and-always-will-be-i-happen-to-love-that-big-awkward/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“I've owned a thousand houses that I've never built," she said. "Never had the money to build. Couldn't have used if I had had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/i-ve-owned-a-thousand-houses-that-i-ve-never-built-she-said-never-had/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“There is, in the Army, a little known but very important activity appropriately called Fatigue. Fatigue, in the Army, is the very necessary cleaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/there-is-in-the-army-a-little-known-but-very-important-activity/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“Billions of hard, bright stars shone with relentless glitter across the tropic night sky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/billions-of-hard-bright-stars-shone-with-relentless-glitter-across/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“When compared to the fact that he might very well be dead by this time tomorrow, whether he was courageous or not today was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/when-compared-to-the-fact-that-he-might-very-well-be-dead-by-this/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“He had studied, and worked, and slaved, and eaten untold buckets of shit, to have this opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/he-had-studied-and-worked-and-slaved-and-eaten-untold-buckets-of-shit/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“When compared to the fact that he might very well be dead by this time tomorrow, whether he was courageous or not today was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/when-compared-to-the-fact-that-he-might-very-well-be-dead-by-this-2/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“So a new element darkled in their already darkling mood: a somber, deep-rooted bitterness which would grow and grow until it would make of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/so-a-new-element-darkled-in-their-already-darkling-mood-a-somber-deep/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“He could not blame the Army, Angelo could blame the Army; Angelo hated the Army. But he didnt hate the Army, not even now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/he-could-not-blame-the-army-angelo-could-blame-the-army-angelo-hated/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“I write to reach eternity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/i-write-to-reach-eternity/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“A man loves a thing. That don't mean it's gotta love him back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/a-man-loves-a-thing-that-don-t-mean-it-s-gotta-love-him-back/) [james jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“All right, he thought, okay; if thats the way it is; a savagery of anger in him now at the picture. They call them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/all-right-he-thought-okay-if-thats-the-way-it-is-a-savagery-of-anger/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“He had not the makings of that honest man to whom success comes naturally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/he-had-not-the-makings-of-that-honest-man-to-whom-success-comes/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [That was one of the virtues of being a pessimist: nothing was ever as bad as you thought it would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/that-was-one-of-the-virtues-of-being-a-pessimist-nothing-was-ever-as/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) > [“Sitting on the porch alone, listening to them fixing supper, he felt again the indignation he had felt before, the sense of loss and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/sitting-on-the-porch-alone-listening-to-them-fixing-supper-he-felt/) [James Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) [Explore all 48 James Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/) ## More Changed quotes > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [You made me hate my own reflection Question every choice I make So I could try to be perfect But I will try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn/you-made-me-hate-my-own-reflection-question-every-choice-i-make-so-i/) [Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn/) > [Everything has changed and nothing has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lowery/everything-has-changed-and-nothing-has-changed/) [Joseph Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lowery/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. I used to sleep with my crown because I was scared someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/when-i-became-miss-world-i-couldn-t-believe-i-had-won-it-i-used-to/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-light-changed-from-red-to-green-to-yellow-and-back-to-red/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Working with Rihanna has changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/working-with-rihanna-has-changed-my-life/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [The international game has changed for bidding cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ueberroth/the-international-game-has-changed-for-bidding-cities/) [Peter Ueberroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ueberroth/) > [You changed my life, don't know what you're doing to me with your love. You got me feeling super human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-changed-my-life-don-t-know-what-you-re-doing-to-me-with-your-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) Browse all 6,529 Changed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Up until then it had only been himself. Up to then it had been a private wrestle between him and himself. Nobody else much entered into it. After the people came into it he was, of course, a different man. Everything had changed then and he was no longer the virgin, with the virgin's right to insist upon platonic love. Life, in time, takes every maidenhead, even if it has to dry it up; it does not matter how the owner wants to keep it. Up to then he had been the young idealist. But he could not stay there. Not after the other people entered into it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Jones" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-up-to-then-it-had-been-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Changed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-up-to-then-it-had-been-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-jones-13898_changed_up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-u_1955996.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-jones-13898_changed_up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-u_1955996.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-jones-13898_changed_up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-u_1955996.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Up until then it had only been himself. Up to then it had been a private wrestle between him and himself…” — James Jones", "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": "James Jones", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-jones/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Up until then it had only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-up-to-then-it-had-been-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-jones/up-until-then-it-had-only-been-himself-up-to-then-it-had-been-a/#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 } } ] } ```