---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to think that if someone asked for…"
description: "\"I used to think that if someone asked for help, they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jimmy-barnes-6327_ask-for-help_i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-fo_1796001.jpg"
---

#  I used to think that if someone asked for help, they were…

![“I used to think that if someone asked for help, they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I started to heal.” quote by Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jimmy-barnes-6327_ask-for-help_i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-fo_1796001.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jimmy-barnes-6327_ask-for-help_i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-fo_1796001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jimmy-barnes-6327_ask-for-help_i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-fo_1796001.jpg)

> “I used to think that if someone asked for help, they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I started to heal.”

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

## About This Quote

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

Recognizing that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness, and essential for healing.

**In simple terms:** Asking for help shows strength and aids healing.

Key Takeaway

Seek support when needed.

Themes

vulnerability healing strength

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal crisis
- mental health recovery
- relationship issues
- career setbacks

Key Concepts

Psychology self‑compassion

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you avoided asking for help?
- How does vulnerability change relationships?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on others can create dependency if not balanced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/)

## Related quotes

> [Ask for help. Not because you are weak. But because you want to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/ask-for-help-not-because-you-are-weak-but-because-you-want-to-remain/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [The most important thing I think we need to remember is that we're a work in progress. Do not be ashamed or afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carnie-wilson/the-most-important-thing-i-think-we-need-to-remember-is-that-we-re-a/)

[Carnie Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carnie-wilson/)

> [“She closed her eyes while he touched her with all the care in the world, and she started to heal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/she-closed-her-eyes-while-he-touched-her-with-all-the-care-in-the/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [When I finally started to heal, that was the inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-prepon/when-i-finally-started-to-heal-that-was-the-inspiration/)

[Laura Prepon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-prepon/)

> [What inspired me was that I knew there were so many other people who were struggling with the same things I was and didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-prepon/what-inspired-me-was-that-i-knew-there-were-so-many-other-people-who/)

[Laura Prepon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-prepon/)

> [“You can’t do everything for everyone, not even for yourself. It’s okay to ask for help when you need it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/you-can-t-do-everything-for-everyone-not-even-for-yourself-it-s-okay/)

[Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/)

> [The best advice I can give to anyone going through a rough patch is to never be afraid to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/the-best-advice-i-can-give-to-anyone-going-through-a-rough-patch-is/)

[Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/)

> [Ask for help when you need it. Even from your parents. There is no shame in needing help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ask-for-help-when-you-need-it-even-from-your-parents-there-is-no/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [One of the biggest defects in life is the inability to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/one-of-the-biggest-defects-in-life-is-the-inability-to-ask-for-help/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [When you ask for help listen. It's one thing to ask the question and it's another thing to listen to the answer. Many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-you-ask-for-help-listen-it-s-one-thing-to-ask-the-question-and/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [“I learned that when you ask for help it will always be given. If you try to work with spirit then they will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rathore/i-learned-that-when-you-ask-for-help-it-will-always-be-given-if-you/)

[Michelle Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rathore/)

> [In American culture at large, but especially in African American culture, it's a sign of weakness to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/in-american-culture-at-large-but-especially-in-african-american/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [“Most of those who think their strength is gone and ask for help from others do not know that the strength that seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-those-who-think-their-strength-is-gone-and-ask-for-help-from/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Don't be ashamed to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-ashamed-to-ask-for-help/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/)

[Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/)

## More by Jimmy Barnes

> [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I've had a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but I don't look back on anything with regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-ups-and-a-lot-of-downs-but-i-don-t-look-back-on/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [No matter what day we celebrate Australia Day, let's celebrate it together and give thanks to the original inhabitants of this vast country. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/no-matter-what-day-we-celebrate-australia-day-let-s-celebrate-it/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [Success isn't about reaching your goals; it's about striving for things, like the joy of trying to raise a family, trying to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/success-isn-t-about-reaching-your-goals-it-s-about-striving-for/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [The best thing about this country is the difference in all of us. We all come from different backgrounds. It's a really beautiful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/the-best-thing-about-this-country-is-the-difference-in-all-of-us-we/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I used to think I was tough, but there's a difference between bravado and courage, and I only started to show courage when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-i-was-tough-but-there-s-a-difference-between-bravado/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I was actually wilder before I joined Cold Chisel. I was really wild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-was-actually-wilder-before-i-joined-cold-chisel-i-was-really-wild/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I know that life is full of lessons to be learned, and my children will have to learn their own, but I hope I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-know-that-life-is-full-of-lessons-to-be-learned-and-my-children/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I love spending money. I always have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-love-spending-money-i-always-have/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I grew up in poverty. I was ashamed of the fact, when we were kids, we'd be at school hungry, our stomachs rumbling so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-grew-up-in-poverty-i-was-ashamed-of-the-fact-when-we-were-kids-we-d/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I'm happy to be recording and singing live. I have a great family, and a great bunch of people always come and see me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-m-happy-to-be-recording-and-singing-live-i-have-a-great-family-and/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [If there was one thing I tried to instil in my children as they were growing up, it was that you get nothing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/if-there-was-one-thing-i-tried-to-instil-in-my-children-as-they-were/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I'm not running out of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-m-not-running-out-of-inspiration/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I think it's criminal the way poverty is allowed to flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-think-it-s-criminal-the-way-poverty-is-allowed-to-flourish/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [I wanted my children to never feel like they were unsafe. I wanted them to have everything they needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-wanted-my-children-to-never-feel-like-they-were-unsafe-i-wanted/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

[Explore all 98 Jimmy Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

## More Ask for help quotes

> [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/)

[John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/)

> [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/)

[Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/)

> [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Don't be ashamed to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-ashamed-to-ask-for-help/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Is this okay with you, Jenna? For him to stay here?" "Yeah," I said. "It's good. You have no idea what it takes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/is-this-okay-with-you-jenna-for-him-to-stay-here-yeah-i-said-it-s/)

[Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/)

> [“Weep and ask for help. Lean on me with your runny nose. Cry when you feel like crying. Laugh when you feel like laughing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorachi-hideaki/weep-and-ask-for-help-lean-on-me-with-your-runny-nose-cry-when-you/)

[Sorachi Hideaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorachi-hideaki/)

> [“Most of those who think their strength is gone and ask for help from others do not know that the strength that seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-those-who-think-their-strength-is-gone-and-ask-for-help-from/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I used to think I was tough, but there's a difference between bravado and courage, and I only started to show courage when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-i-was-tough-but-there-s-a-difference-between-bravado/)

[Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/)

> [“Telling a true friend that you need something makes it unnecessary for you to ask them for that thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/telling-a-true-friend-that-you-need-something-makes-it-unnecessary/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> ["A closed mouth doesn't get fed." Oftentimes, we feel not worthy or we don't want to bother people. We forget to ask for help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-daniels/a-closed-mouth-doesn-t-get-fed-oftentimes-we-feel-not-worthy-or-we/)

[Kevin Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-daniels/)

> [In American culture at large, but especially in African American culture, it's a sign of weakness to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/in-american-culture-at-large-but-especially-in-african-american/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [“I learned that when you ask for help it will always be given. If you try to work with spirit then they will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rathore/i-learned-that-when-you-ask-for-help-it-will-always-be-given-if-you/)

[Michelle Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rathore/)

> [ “- \[Regret,Cause you didn't ask for help\] is better than \[Regret,cause you did\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-hosny/regret-cause-you-didn-t-ask-for-help-is-better-than-regret-cause-you/)

Omar Hosny

> [I am not embarrassed to say that when I was at my worst I took anti-depressants because I think people need to hear that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/i-am-not-embarrassed-to-say-that-when-i-was-at-my-worst-i-took-anti/)

[Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/)

Browse all 280 Ask for help quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I used to think that if someone asked for help, they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach out and ask for help. And that was when I started to heal.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jimmy Barnes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-for-help-they-were-weak-but-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ask for help"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-for-help-they-were-weak-but-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jimmy-barnes-6327_ask-for-help_i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-fo_1796001.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jimmy-barnes-6327_ask-for-help_i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-fo_1796001.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d5/jimmy-barnes-6327_ask-for-help_i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-fo_1796001.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I used to think that if someone asked for help, they were weak. But the toughest thing I ever did was reach…” — Jimmy Barnes",
                "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": "Jimmy Barnes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I used to think that if...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-for-help-they-were-weak-but-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-used-to-think-that-if-someone-asked-for-help-they-were-weak-but-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
