--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No, I'm a man with a rule. People leave…" description: "\"No, I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they don't, I don't.\" — Lee Child" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/lee-child-980_leave_no-i-m-a-man-with-a-rule-people-leave-me_2697626.jpg" --- # No, I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave… ![“No, I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they don't, I don't.” quote by Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/lee-child-980_leave_no-i-m-a-man-with-a-rule-people-leave-me_2697626.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/lee-child-980_leave_no-i-m-a-man-with-a-rule-people-leave-me_2697626.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/lee-child-980_leave_no-i-m-a-man-with-a-rule-people-leave-me_2697626.jpg) > “No, I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they don't, I don't.” [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates personal boundaries: leave others alone unless they disturb you. **In simple terms:** Respect personal space and rules. Key Takeaway Set clear boundaries. Themes individualism rules privacy Mood pragmatic direct Type personal ethical When to use this quote - workplace - family - social interactions Key Concepts personal autonomy boundary setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle unavoidable conflicts? - When is flexibility preferable? A Different Perspective May seem overly rigid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [People will always leave,but don't let this get into you,..don't let it stress you at all...infact get used to it but most importantly learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winnie-victoria/people-will-always-leave-but-don-t-let-this-get-into-you-don-t-let-it/) Winnie Victoria > [People always leave. Don't worry, you get used to it and most importantly, learn to deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-always-leave-don-t-worry-you-get-used-to-it-and-most/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now go away then, and leave me alone. I don't want any more of your meretricious persiflage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-go-away-then-and-leave-me-alone-i-don-t-want-any-more-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Capitalism is what people do if you leave them alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-minogue/capitalism-is-what-people-do-if-you-leave-them-alone/) [Kenneth Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-minogue/) > [But if we leave them alone, just satisfying ourselves with social work, economic work and the building up of a national army, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulent-ecevit/but-if-we-leave-them-alone-just-satisfying-ourselves-with-social-work/) [Bulent Ecevit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulent-ecevit/) > [And I'm hoping that over the next 20, 50 years, whatever, the mystique of television and film and all that will diminish somewhat, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-slezak/and-i-m-hoping-that-over-the-next-20-50-years-whatever-the-mystique/) [Erika Slezak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-slezak/) > [A relationship consists of two people, not three. So why are you still here? Leave me be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cashai-perez/a-relationship-consists-of-two-people-not-three-so-why-are-you-still/) Cashai Perez > [No man can rule the unruly until he first rules himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-foreman-lewis/no-man-can-rule-the-unruly-until-he-first-rules-himself/) [Elizabeth Foreman Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-foreman-lewis/) > [By accident of fortune a man may rule the world for a time, but by virtue of love he may rule the world forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/by-accident-of-fortune-a-man-may-rule-the-world-for-a-time-but-by/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [As the king governs by his executive, so Reason in man must rule the mere appetites by means of the 'spirited element.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/as-the-king-governs-by-his-executive-so-reason-in-man-must-rule-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Man who man would be, must rule the empire of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/man-who-man-would-be-must-rule-the-empire-of-himself/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [Unhappy is the man, though he rule the world, who doesn't consider himself supremely blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-elder/unhappy-is-the-man-though-he-rule-the-world-who-doesn-t-consider/) [Seneca the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-elder/) > [“Look, I know you’re a guy—” “Damn straight.” “And there’s some man rule that you’ve got to be all macho—” “Rule number three, actually.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindi-madsen/look-i-know-you-re-a-guy-damn-straight-and-there-s-some-man-rule-that/) [Cindi Madsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindi-madsen/) > [Ah, when shall all men's good Be each man's rule, and universal peace Lie like a shaft of light across the land, And like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/ah-when-shall-all-men-s-good-be-each-man-s-rule-and-universal-peace/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [ “\[N\]ow we have a clearer idea what this story is all about: The world was made for man, and man was made to rule… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-quinn/n-ow-we-have-a-clearer-idea-what-this-story-is-all-about-the-world/) [Daniel Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-quinn/) ## More by Lee Child > [“Reacher got to them on the plane. He put them out of action and stole their wallets.” “On the plane?” “He broke Lozano’s fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/reacher-got-to-them-on-the-plane-he-put-them-out-of-action-and-stole/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“A maintenance dose. It would keep her asleep all night. It would keep her warm, and gentle, and relaxed, and at peace, and cradled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/a-maintenance-dose-it-would-keep-her-asleep-all-night-it-would-keep/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“It had maroon paint and exposed brick and scarred wood, and a chalkboard menu about ninety percent full of things that don’t really belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/it-had-maroon-paint-and-exposed-brick-and-scarred-wood-and-a/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Spread love and understanding,” Reacher said. “Use force if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/spread-love-and-understanding-reacher-said-use-force-if-necessary/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“or especially fragile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/or-especially-fragile/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Now they broke my toothbrush, I don't own anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/now-they-broke-my-toothbrush-i-don-t-own-anything/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“The Zip Code is about the size of Chicago. With five people. But hey, welcome to Wyoming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/the-zip-code-is-about-the-size-of-chicago-with-five-people-but-hey/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“You got to imagine your memory is like an old bucket, you know? Once it’s filled up with old stuff there ain’t no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/you-got-to-imagine-your-memory-is-like-an-old-bucket-you-know-once-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“foreign legal systems. So I made”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/foreign-legal-systems-so-i-made/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [That should be your town motto. It's all I ever hear. Like: New Hampshire, Live Free or Die. It should be: Despair, You Need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/that-should-be-your-town-motto-it-s-all-i-ever-hear-like-new/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [Writing is showbusiness for shy people. That's how I see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/writing-is-showbusiness-for-shy-people-that-s-how-i-see-it/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“OK, Finlay, let’s get it done,” I said. “I don’t have an address because I don’t live anywhere. Maybe one day I’ll live somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/ok-finlay-let-s-get-it-done-i-said-i-don-t-have-an-address-because-i/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He changed his final wad up at the train station. Which was a sad place now. There were homeless people and disturbed people hanging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-changed-his-final-wad-up-at-the-train-station-which-was-a-sad/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“They had come for us in the night. Hey had come expecting a lot of blood. They had come with all their gear. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/they-had-come-for-us-in-the-night-hey-had-come-expecting-a-lot-of/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [“He hauled the right-hand guy next to the left-hand guy, close together, shoulder to shoulder, and he picked up the heavy box like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/he-hauled-the-right-hand-guy-next-to-the-left-hand-guy-close-together/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) [Explore all 306 Lee Child quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) ## More Leave quotes > [You've got to tell your money what to do or it will leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/you-ve-got-to-tell-your-money-what-to-do-or-it-will-leave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [“Congregating power to leave u… To control this love But I always go back to December!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moaz-zulfiqar/congregating-power-to-leave-u-to-control-this-love-but-i-always-go/) Moaz Zulfiqar > [“You are the queen, he ought to be begging leave of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/you-are-the-queen-he-ought-to-be-begging-leave-of-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Can't blame people for walking away. People get tired and can only take so much. Don't be surprised when they leave and don't come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/can-t-blame-people-for-walking-away-people-get-tired-and-can-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you leave someone for another person, don't be surprised if that person leaves you for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-leave-someone-for-another-person-don-t-be-surprised-if-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To have a future we have to live and leave the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akiane-kramarik/to-have-a-future-we-have-to-live-and-leave-the-present/) [Akiane Kramarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akiane-kramarik/) > [My parents and my sister always leave me over New Year, so I'm always on my own in London.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-dimoldenberg/my-parents-and-my-sister-always-leave-me-over-new-year-so-i-m-always/) [Amelia Dimoldenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-dimoldenberg/) > [I would leave at once, but it would be cruel to abandon a lady in a foreign land with a maniac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-would-leave-at-once-but-it-would-be-cruel-to-abandon-a-lady-in-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The fact that you can even make a record and leave a document that you were here, that's nothing to sneeze at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-trent-d-arby/the-fact-that-you-can-even-make-a-record-and-leave-a-document-that/) [Terence Trent D'Arby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-trent-d-arby/) > [Take what you LOVE , Leave what you don't :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psychefaye/take-what-you-love-leave-what-you-don-t/) PsycheFaye > [There is no reason why one should believe you should leave out politicians in cricket or any sport for that matter. There are ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roosevelt-skerrit/there-is-no-reason-why-one-should-believe-you-should-leave-out/) Roosevelt Skerrit > [Take your cap and leave my sweater cause we have nothing left to weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-urban/take-your-cap-and-leave-my-sweater-cause-we-have-nothing-left-to/) [Keith Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-urban/) > [I try to leave my work at the door when I leave the set. It's almost like summer camp. You go in hard, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/i-try-to-leave-my-work-at-the-door-when-i-leave-the-set-it-s-almost/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [It is our job to make a difference and leave the world a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/it-is-our-job-to-make-a-difference-and-leave-the-world-a-better-place/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [In a portrait, you always leave part of yourself behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ellen-mark/in-a-portrait-you-always-leave-part-of-yourself-behind/) [Mary Ellen Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ellen-mark/) Browse all 3,701 Leave quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No, I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave them alone. 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