---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I put away my brushes; resolutely…"
description: "\"I put away my brushes; resolutely crucified my divine gift, and while it hung writhing on the cross, spent my best years and powers cooking cabbage. \"A..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/jane-swisshelm-28261_best-year_i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucifi_1933882.jpg"
---

#  I put away my brushes; resolutely crucified my divine…

![“I put away my brushes; resolutely crucified my divine gift, and while it hung writhing on the cross, spent my best years and powers cooking cabbage. &quot;A servant of servants shall she be,&quot; must have been spoken of women, not Negroes.” quote by Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/jane-swisshelm-28261_best-year_i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucifi_1933882.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/jane-swisshelm-28261_best-year_i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucifi_1933882.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/jane-swisshelm-28261_best-year_i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucifi_1933882.jpg)

> “I put away my brushes; resolutely crucified my divine gift, and while it hung writhing on the cross, spent my best years and powers cooking cabbage. "A servant of servants shall she be," must have been spoken of women, not Negroes.”

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author laments sacrificing her talents, reflecting on gender and racial stereotypes of her era.

**In simple terms:** She regrets wasted potential due to societal expectations.

Key Takeaway

Value and use your gifts despite constraints.

Themes

gender race self‑realization

Mood

thoughtful determined

Type

historical feminist

When to use this quote

- career reflection
- social critique
- personal growth

Key Concepts

Social expectations personal sacrifice historical context

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we honor overlooked talents today?
- What barriers still silence voices?

A Different Perspective

Historical context may limit modern relevance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/)

## Related quotes

> [Let us remember, there is One who daily records all we do for Him, and sees more beauty in His servants' work than His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-us-remember-there-is-one-who-daily-records-all-we-do-for-him-and/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [Sing the songs of joy to the Lord, serve the Name of the Lord, and become the servant of His servants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/sing-the-songs-of-joy-to-the-lord-serve-the-name-of-the-lord-and/)

[Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/)

> [Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/therefore-thus-saith-the-lord-god-behold-my-servants-shall-eat-but-ye/)

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/)

> [It looks like a waste of life, that mowing down of our best years by a relentless passion which itself falls dead on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cholmondeley/it-looks-like-a-waste-of-life-that-mowing-down-of-our-best-years-by-a/)

[Mary Cholmondeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cholmondeley/)

> [I've found that a person does not need protein from meat to be a successful athlete. In fact, my best year of track competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-ve-found-that-a-person-does-not-need-protein-from-meat-to-be-a/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [I have spent the best years of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/i-have-spent-the-best-years-of-my-life-giving-people-the-lighter/)

[Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/)

> [I am the entertainer, I've come to do my show You've heard my latest record, it's been on the radio It took me years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-am-the-entertainer-i-ve-come-to-do-my-show-you-ve-heard-my-latest/)

[Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/)

> [I was known as a Yankee killer. My best year against them was 1953. I beat them five times and shut them out four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-parnell/i-was-known-as-a-yankee-killer-my-best-year-against-them-was-1953-i/)

Mel Parnell

> [Peter Forsberg's skills and determination made him one of the most powerful forwards in the NHL during the best years of his career. Hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-roy/peter-forsberg-s-skills-and-determination-made-him-one-of-the-most/)

[Patrick Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-roy/)

> [My best year was probably 1948, and after that, it's been downhill for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/my-best-year-was-probably-1948-and-after-that-it-s-been-downhill-for/)

[Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/)

> [Maybe this year, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives not looking for flaws, but looking for potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/maybe-this-year-we-ought-to-walk-through-the-rooms-of-our-lives-not/)

[Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/)

> [I would mark 2015 down as the best year of my life. Now, I beat a couple of legends, became World Heavyweight Champion, ascended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-carter-iii/i-would-mark-2015-down-as-the-best-year-of-my-life-now-i-beat-a/)

[Ethan Carter III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-carter-iii/)

> [“Any year can be the best year if we make use of the graces that God keeps in store for us and which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-fernandez/any-year-can-be-the-best-year-if-we-make-use-of-the-graces-that-god/)

[Francis Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-fernandez/)

> [Freud pointed out, in his Problem of Lay Analysis, that it is extremely unlikely that a young man who would throw the best years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/freud-pointed-out-in-his-problem-of-lay-analysis-that-it-is-extremely/)

[Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/)

> [As for the (Ballon d'Or) criteria, I'm not really sure how it works. Sometimes it's a World Cup year, sometimes it isn't. Let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/as-for-the-ballon-d-or-criteria-i-m-not-really-sure-how-it-works/)

[David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/)

## More by Jane Swisshelm

> [I must be the mate of the man I had chosen; and if he would not come to my level, I must go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/i-must-be-the-mate-of-the-man-i-had-chosen-and-if-he-would-not-come/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [I had gone into the hospital with the stupid notion that its primary object was the care and comfort of the sick and wounded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/i-had-gone-into-the-hospital-with-the-stupid-notion-that-its-primary/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [If I wrote at all, I must throw myself headlong into the great political maelstrom, and would of course be swallowed up like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/if-i-wrote-at-all-i-must-throw-myself-headlong-into-the-great/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [As our boys and men are all expecting to be Presidents, so our girls and women must all hold themselves in readiness to preside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/as-our-boys-and-men-are-all-expecting-to-be-presidents-so-our-girls/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [Let the erring sisters depart in peace; the idea of getting up a civil war to compel the weaker States to remain in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/let-the-erring-sisters-depart-in-peace-the-idea-of-getting-up-a-civil/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [The diagnosis of drunkenness was that it was a disease for which the patient was in no way responsible, that it was created by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/the-diagnosis-of-drunkenness-was-that-it-was-a-disease-for-which-the/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [When a woman starts out in the world on a mission, secular or religious, she should leave her feminine charms at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/when-a-woman-starts-out-in-the-world-on-a-mission-secular-or/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [It appears to be a matter of national pride that the President is to have more mud, and blacker mud, and filthier mud in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/it-appears-to-be-a-matter-of-national-pride-that-the-president-is-to/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [Girls, do not scrub and cook and scour until you have no time left to plant a tree, or vine or flower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/girls-do-not-scrub-and-cook-and-scour-until-you-have-no-time-left-to/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [A woman with her two children was captured on the steps of the capitol building, whither she had fled for protection, and this, too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/a-woman-with-her-two-children-was-captured-on-the-steps-of-the/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [I cannot tell what I am as much afraid of, as a woman who invariably washes on Monday. It is a kind of key…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/i-cannot-tell-what-i-am-as-much-afraid-of-as-a-woman-who-invariably/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [It is an old adage, "All is fair in love as in war," but I thought not of general laws, and only felt a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/it-is-an-old-adage-all-is-fair-in-love-as-in-war-but-i-thought-not-of/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [So, instead of spending my strength quarreling with the hand, I would strike for the heart of that great tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/so-instead-of-spending-my-strength-quarreling-with-the-hand-i-would/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [Abolitionists were men of sharp angles. Organizing them was like binding crooked sticks in a bundle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/abolitionists-were-men-of-sharp-angles-organizing-them-was-like/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

> [We have not the slightest idea that women are made of such light material that the breath of any fool or knave may blow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/we-have-not-the-slightest-idea-that-women-are-made-of-such-light/)

[Jane Swisshelm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

[Explore all 19 Jane Swisshelm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/)

## More Best year quotes

> [As for the (Ballon d'Or) criteria, I'm not really sure how it works. Sometimes it's a World Cup year, sometimes it isn't. Let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-villa/as-for-the-ballon-d-or-criteria-i-m-not-really-sure-how-it-works/)

[David Villa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-villa/)

> [Freud pointed out, in his Problem of Lay Analysis, that it is extremely unlikely that a young man who would throw the best years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/freud-pointed-out-in-his-problem-of-lay-analysis-that-it-is-extremely/)

[Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/)

> [“Any year can be the best year if we make use of the graces that God keeps in store for us and which can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-fernandez/any-year-can-be-the-best-year-if-we-make-use-of-the-graces-that-god/)

[Francis Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-fernandez/)

> [I would mark 2015 down as the best year of my life. Now, I beat a couple of legends, became World Heavyweight Champion, ascended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-carter-iii/i-would-mark-2015-down-as-the-best-year-of-my-life-now-i-beat-a/)

[Ethan Carter III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-carter-iii/)

> [Maybe this year, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives not looking for flaws, but looking for potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/maybe-this-year-we-ought-to-walk-through-the-rooms-of-our-lives-not/)

[Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/)

> [My best year was probably 1948, and after that, it's been downhill for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/my-best-year-was-probably-1948-and-after-that-it-s-been-downhill-for/)

[Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/)

> [Peter Forsberg's skills and determination made him one of the most powerful forwards in the NHL during the best years of his career. Hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-roy/peter-forsberg-s-skills-and-determination-made-him-one-of-the-most/)

[Patrick Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-roy/)

> [I was known as a Yankee killer. My best year against them was 1953. I beat them five times and shut them out four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-parnell/i-was-known-as-a-yankee-killer-my-best-year-against-them-was-1953-i/)

Mel Parnell

> [I am the entertainer, I've come to do my show You've heard my latest record, it's been on the radio It took me years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/i-am-the-entertainer-i-ve-come-to-do-my-show-you-ve-heard-my-latest/)

[Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/)

> [I have spent the best years of my life giving people the lighter pleasures, helping them have a good time, and all I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/i-have-spent-the-best-years-of-my-life-giving-people-the-lighter/)

[Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/)

> [I've found that a person does not need protein from meat to be a successful athlete. In fact, my best year of track competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-ve-found-that-a-person-does-not-need-protein-from-meat-to-be-a/)

[Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/)

> [It looks like a waste of life, that mowing down of our best years by a relentless passion which itself falls dead on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cholmondeley/it-looks-like-a-waste-of-life-that-mowing-down-of-our-best-years-by-a/)

[Mary Cholmondeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cholmondeley/)

> [It is as the father of the Encyclopedia that Denis Diderot merits eternal recognition. Guilty as he was in almost every relation of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-beatrice-hall/it-is-as-the-father-of-the-encyclopedia-that-denis-diderot-merits/)

[Evelyn Beatrice Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-beatrice-hall/)

> [Another fresh new year is here. Another year to live! To Banish worry, doubt and fear, to love and give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/another-fresh-new-year-is-here-another-year-to-live-to-banish-worry-2/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Undisputed ends when I return to the WWE in 2007. There is already 3 ½ years of material including the 3 best years of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/undisputed-ends-when-i-return-to-the-wwe-in-2007-there-is-already-3/)

[Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/)

Browse all 96 Best year quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I put away my brushes; resolutely crucified my divine gift, and while it hung writhing on the cross, spent my best years and powers cooking cabbage. \"A servant of servants shall she be,\" must have been spoken of women, not Negroes.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jane Swisshelm"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucified-my-divine-gift-and-while/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best year"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucified-my-divine-gift-and-while/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/jane-swisshelm-28261_best-year_i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucifi_1933882.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/jane-swisshelm-28261_best-year_i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucifi_1933882.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/718/jane-swisshelm-28261_best-year_i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucifi_1933882.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I put away my brushes; resolutely crucified my divine gift, and while it hung writhing on the cross, spent…” — Jane Swisshelm",
                "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": "Jane Swisshelm",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-swisshelm/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I put away my brushes; resolutely...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucified-my-divine-gift-and-while/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-swisshelm/i-put-away-my-brushes-resolutely-crucified-my-divine-gift-and-while/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
