--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want a blank spot on the map, you…" description: "\"If you want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind.\" — Jon Krakauer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/jon-krakauer-1557_behinds_if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you_2412315.png" --- # If you want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the… ![“If you want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind.” quote by Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/jon-krakauer-1557_behinds_if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you_2412315.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/jon-krakauer-1557_behinds_if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you_2412315.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/jon-krakauer-1557_behinds_if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you_2412315.png) > “If you want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind.” [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To discover untouched places, one must abandon familiar maps and expectations, embracing uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Leaving the known opens new possibilities. Key Takeaway Let go of preconceptions, explore. Themes exploration freedom uncertainty self‑discovery Mood adventurous reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - travel planning - career change - creative projects Key Concepts adventure philosophy personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What map are you clinging to? - How can you safely step into the unknown? A Different Perspective Risk of loss and lack of direction can be high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank/) [Blank Spot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-spot-3096792/) [Geography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/geography/) [Gotta Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotta-leave-622342/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Leave Map](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-map-4567003/) [Maps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maps/) [Spot Map](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spot-map-6077548/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-blank-6077547/) ## Related quotes > [“People don't get it. He didn't even have a fuckin' map; what kind of idiot? THAT was the point. There's no blank spots on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/people-don-t-get-it-he-didn-t-even-have-a-fuckin-map-what-kind-of/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [What avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldo-leopold/what-avail-are-forty-freedoms-without-a-blank-spot-on-the-map/) [Aldo Leopold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldo-leopold/) > [I have always had a blank spot where my regret is supposed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/i-have-always-had-a-blank-spot-where-my-regret-is-supposed-to-be/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [Sometimes you gotta leave when you're on top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/sometimes-you-gotta-leave-when-you-re-on-top/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [I really love your company, hate it when you gotta leave another oppurtunity, for me to say everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/day-26/i-really-love-your-company-hate-it-when-you-gotta-leave-another/) [Day 26](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/day-26/) > [She said, she said, what if I could? But I gotta leave you alone...ah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/she-said-she-said-what-if-i-could-but-i-gotta-leave-you-alone-ah/) [Ne-yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [Pack your shit get your keys get your shit gotta leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/pack-your-shit-get-your-keys-get-your-shit-gotta-leave/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [The older I get the more things I gotta leave behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/the-older-i-get-the-more-things-i-gotta-leave-behind/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [I got missed calls and emails all goin' into detail, bout' how you're just not happy and you think you gotta leave. So go.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/i-got-missed-calls-and-emails-all-goin-into-detail-bout-how-you-re/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [Gotta leave the past behind you if you want to move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gotta-leave-the-past-behind-you-if-you-want-to-move-forward/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wanted you right here with me but I have no choice you've gotta leave. Because my heart is breakin' With every word I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo/i-wanted-you-right-here-with-me-but-i-have-no-choice-you-ve-gotta/) [Jojo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo/) > [Said that I was your all and I believed you. That's why it hurts to the core I gotta leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/said-that-i-was-your-all-and-i-believed-you-that-s-why-it-hurts-to/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [I gotta go. I gotta leave. So please dont make it hard for me. Ive gave enough, Im tired of love, I gotta let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-green/i-gotta-go-i-gotta-leave-so-please-dont-make-it-hard-for-me-ive-gave/) [Vivian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-green/) > [Too late, my time has come, Sent shivers down my spine, Body's aching all the time. Goodbye, everybody, I've got to go, Gotta leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen/too-late-my-time-has-come-sent-shivers-down-my-spine-body-s-aching/) [Queen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen/) > [Baby I got missed calls and e-mails all going into details about how you're not happy, and you think you gotta leave so go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/baby-i-got-missed-calls-and-e-mails-all-going-into-details-about-how/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) ## More by Jon Krakauer > [Early on a difficult climb, especially a solo climb, you’re hyper-aware of the abyss pulling at your back, constantly feeling its call, its immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/early-on-a-difficult-climb-especially-a-solo-climb-you-re-hyper-aware/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“Climbing mattered. The danger bathed the world in a halogen glow that caused everything—the sweep of the rock, the orange and yellow lichens, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/climbing-mattered-the-danger-bathed-the-world-in-a-halogen-glow-that/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“It is easy, when you are young, to believe that what you desire is no less than what you deserve, to assume that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/it-is-easy-when-you-are-young-to-believe-that-what-you-desire-is-no/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [He read a lot. He used a lot of big words. I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/he-read-a-lot-he-used-a-lot-of-big-words-i-think-maybe-part-of-what/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [ But \[Everett\] and McCandless, at least they tried to follow their dream. That’s what was great about them. They tried. Not many do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/but-everett-and-mccandless-at-least-they-tried-to-follow-their-dream/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“he was ready, perhaps, to shed a little of the armor he wore around his heart, that upon returning to civilization, he intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/he-was-ready-perhaps-to-shed-a-little-of-the-armor-he-wore-around-his/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [ “Continually question climbing pursuits. Do they draw one back to the climbing community? Or do they lead along the \[inner-directed\] path? This questioning generates… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/continually-question-climbing-pursuits-do-they-draw-one-back-to-the/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“The boy unmasked the gaping void in Franz's life even as he helped fill it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/the-boy-unmasked-the-gaping-void-in-franz-s-life-even-as-he-helped/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“Unlike Muir and Thoreau, McCandless went into the wilderness not primarily to ponder nature or the world at large but, rather, to explore the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/unlike-muir-and-thoreau-mccandless-went-into-the-wilderness-not/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [I'm intrigued by fanatics - people who are seduced by the promise, or the illusion, of the absolute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/i-m-intrigued-by-fanatics-people-who-are-seduced-by-the-promise-or/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [You are wrong if you think Joy emanates only or principally from human relationships. God has placed it all around us. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/you-are-wrong-if-you-think-joy-emanates-only-or-principally-from/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [I mean, how can you not be a feminist if you have a brain in your head? If you’re not a feminist, then you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/i-mean-how-can-you-not-be-a-feminist-if-you-have-a-brain-in-your-head/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“...I quickly came to understand that climbing Everest was primarily about enduring pain. And in subjecting ourselves to week after week of toil, tedium,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/i-quickly-came-to-understand-that-climbing-everest-was-primarily/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“going to have to be real careful not to accept any gifts from them in the future because they will think they have bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/going-to-have-to-be-real-careful-not-to-accept-any-gifts-from-them-in/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“He must have been very brave and very strong, at the end, not to do himself in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/he-must-have-been-very-brave-and-very-strong-at-the-end-not-to-do/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) [Explore all 221 Jon Krakauer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/) [Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/) > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) [Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jon Krakauer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you-gotta-leave-the-map-behind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behinds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you-gotta-leave-the-map-behind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/jon-krakauer-1557_behinds_if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you_2412315.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/jon-krakauer-1557_behinds_if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you_2412315.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/jon-krakauer-1557_behinds_if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you_2412315.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want a blank spot on the map, you gotta leave the map behind.” — Jon Krakauer", "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": "Jon Krakauer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you want a blank spot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you-gotta-leave-the-map-behind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/if-you-want-a-blank-spot-on-the-map-you-gotta-leave-the-map-behind/#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 } } ] } ```