---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do your work for six years; but in the…"
description: "\"Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into solitude or among strangers, so that the memory of your friends does not hinder you from being ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/leo-szilard-22264_friends_do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-se_1857075.jpg"
---

#  Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into…

![“Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into solitude or among strangers, so that the memory of your friends does not hinder you from being what you have become.” quote by Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/leo-szilard-22264_friends_do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-se_1857075.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/leo-szilard-22264_friends_do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-se_1857075.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/leo-szilard-22264_friends_do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-se_1857075.jpg)

> “Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into solitude or among strangers, so that the memory of your friends does not hinder you from being what you have become.”

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

## About This Quote

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

Advocates withdrawing from familiar circles after years of work to prevent past influences from limiting personal growth.

**In simple terms:** Suggests solitude after long work periods.

Key Takeaway

Seek fresh perspectives periodically.

Themes

growth solitude reflection

Mood

introspective neutral

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- spiritual retreats

Key Concepts

philosophy personal development

Questions to Reflect On

- What ties may past relationships impose on you?
- How can solitude foster new identity?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Hinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hinder/) [Seventh Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seventh-solitude-2475431/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Solitude Strangers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude-strangers-2475432/) [Work Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-years-738967/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Seventh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-seventh-2475433/)

## Related quotes

> [“We will achieve freatness only through an enormous amount of hard work over many years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-colvin/we-will-achieve-freatness-only-through-an-enormous-amount-of-hard/)

[Geoffrey Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-colvin/)

> [Even when I went to America I didn't work for four years. It wasn't like I came to New York and it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idris-elba/even-when-i-went-to-america-i-didn-t-work-for-four-years-it-wasn-t/)

[Idris Elba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idris-elba/)

> [“Work is a four letter word. It conjures up the same image the world over getting up in the morning to do something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harris/work-is-a-four-letter-word-it-conjures-up-the-same-image-the-world/)

[John Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harris/)

> [I have a name in the TV industry, built by hard work of five years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/i-have-a-name-in-the-tv-industry-built-by-hard-work-of-five-years/)

[Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/)

> [I've been lucky enough to primarily work for myself over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-courier/i-ve-been-lucky-enough-to-primarily-work-for-myself-over-the-years/)

[Jim Courier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-courier/)

> [When 'MADtv' got cancelled, I didn't work at all - for three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/when-madtv-got-cancelled-i-didn-t-work-at-all-for-three-years/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [It's a remarkable exercise to sit and look at your own work over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-wang/it-s-a-remarkable-exercise-to-sit-and-look-at-your-own-work-over-the/)

[Vera Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-wang/)

> [You have to work years in hit shows to make people sick and tired of you, but you can accomplish this in a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-slezak/you-have-to-work-years-in-hit-shows-to-make-people-sick-and-tired-of/)

[Walter Slezak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-slezak/)

> [With the art films I've done, you know, I got to work in a way that so few actors get to work in, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-martin/with-the-art-films-i-ve-done-you-know-i-got-to-work-in-a-way-that-so/)

[Stacy Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-martin/)

> [The truth is, one can work for another ten years and be playing parts, pushing yourself as hard as you can, and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-law/the-truth-is-one-can-work-for-another-ten-years-and-be-playing-parts/)

[Jude Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-law/)

> [I have had hundreds of people work for me over the years, and I don't think I ever fired anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/i-have-had-hundreds-of-people-work-for-me-over-the-years-and-i-don-t/)

[Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/)

> [I was only in LA for two weeks when I got that job. And I didn't work again for two years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-sullivan/i-was-only-in-la-for-two-weeks-when-i-got-that-job-and-i-didn-t-work/)

[Nicole Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-sullivan/)

> [A lot of people went to posh universities, but I left at 17 to work for three years at Frank Newton's Gentleman's Outfitters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-timothy/a-lot-of-people-went-to-posh-universities-but-i-left-at-17-to-work/)

[Christopher Timothy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-timothy/)

> [The greatest thing for your career is a well publicized flop. You can work for five years on that. If you've got four or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-don-baker/the-greatest-thing-for-your-career-is-a-well-publicized-flop-you-can/)

[Joe Don Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-don-baker/)

> [Some years you have more work and some years less. That does not bother me. What matters is the end product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmapriya-janakiraman/some-years-you-have-more-work-and-some-years-less-that-does-not/)

[Padmapriya Janakiraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmapriya-janakiraman/)

## More by Leo Szilard

> [A scientist's aim in a discussion with his colleagues is not to persuade, but to clarify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/a-scientist-s-aim-in-a-discussion-with-his-colleagues-is-not-to/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [In science it is not enough to think of an important problem on which to work. It is also necessary to know the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/in-science-it-is-not-enough-to-think-of-an-important-problem-on-which/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [I have been asked whether I would agree that the tragedy of the scientist is that he is able to bring about great advances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/i-have-been-asked-whether-i-would-agree-that-the-tragedy-of-the/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [If one knows only what one is told, one does not know enough to be able to arrive at a well-balanced decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/if-one-knows-only-what-one-is-told-one-does-not-know-enough-to-be/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [Don't lie if you don't have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/don-t-lie-if-you-don-t-have-to/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [If you want to succeed in the world, you don't have to be much cleverer than other people. You just have to be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/if-you-want-to-succeed-in-the-world-you-don-t-have-to-be-much/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [In life you must often choose between getting a job done or getting credit for it. In science, the most important thing is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/in-life-you-must-often-choose-between-getting-a-job-done-or-getting/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [Science is progressing at such a rapid rate that when you make a prediction and think you are ahead of your time by 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/science-is-progressing-at-such-a-rapid-rate-that-when-you-make-a/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [Pronouncement of experts to the effect that something cannot be done has always irritated me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/pronouncement-of-experts-to-the-effect-that-something-cannot-be-done/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [Even if we accept, as the basic tenet of true democracy, that one moron is equal to one genius, is it necessary to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/even-if-we-accept-as-the-basic-tenet-of-true-democracy-that-one-moron/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [We turned the switch, saw the flashes, watched for ten minutes, then switched everything off and went home. That night I knew the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/we-turned-the-switch-saw-the-flashes-watched-for-ten-minutes-then/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [You may assume infinite ignorance and unlimited intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/you-may-assume-infinite-ignorance-and-unlimited-intelligence/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [Byrnes... was concerned about Russia's postwar behavior. Russian troops had moved into Hungary and Rumania, and Byrnes thought it would be very difficult to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/byrnes-was-concerned-about-russia-s-postwar-behavior-russian-troops/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [I'm looking for a market for wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/i-m-looking-for-a-market-for-wisdom/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

> [Those individuals who give moral considerations a much greater weight than considerations of expediency represent a comparatively small minority, five percent of the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/those-individuals-who-give-moral-considerations-a-much-greater-weight/)

[Leo Szilard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

[Explore all 27 Leo Szilard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/)

## More Friends quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/)

[Unknwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknwon/)

> [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/)

[Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/)

> [“Light it up, bitch.' 'Light it up, asshole,' ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/light-it-up-bitch-light-it-up-asshole/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [In life, we never lose friends we only get to know who the true ones are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/in-life-we-never-lose-friends-we-only-get-to-know-who-the-true-ones/)

[Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/)

> [I always bump into people that Ive met. Not great friends, but if I bump into somebody Ive known and I wont recognise them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-franchitti/i-always-bump-into-people-that-ive-met-not-great-friends-but-if-i/)

[Dario Franchitti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-franchitti/)

> [It's hard to be JUST FRIENDS with the ONE YOU LOVE when every time you look at that person, all you see is EVERYTHING…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hard-to-be-just-friends-with-the-one-you-love-when-every-time/)

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

> [One of the things that touches me most when I play for an audience is that although we may be unable to communicate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/one-of-the-things-that-touches-me-most-when-i-play-for-an-audience-is/)

[Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [Family over friends, because real friends are family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/family-over-friends-because-real-friends-are-family/)

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

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [“Cops aren't really your friends, they are trying to be your friends but they are not… - They are searching evidence to PIN YOU.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deyth-banger/cops-aren-t-really-your-friends-they-are-trying-to-be-your-friends/)

[Deyth Banger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deyth-banger/)

> [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [Back home I get to see my old friends!(: But they don't understand the change in me and I can't explain it to them...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/back-home-i-get-to-see-my-old-friends-but-they-don-t-understand-the/)

[Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/)

[Browse all 13,428 Friends quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into solitude or among strangers, so that the memory of your friends does not hinder you from being what you have become.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Leo Szilard"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-seventh-go-into-solitude-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Friends"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-seventh-go-into-solitude-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/leo-szilard-22264_friends_do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-se_1857075.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/leo-szilard-22264_friends_do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-se_1857075.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe0/leo-szilard-22264_friends_do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-se_1857075.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do your work for six years; but in the seventh, go into solitude or among strangers, so that the memory of…” — Leo Szilard",
                "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": "Leo Szilard",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-szilard/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Do your work for six years;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-seventh-go-into-solitude-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-szilard/do-your-work-for-six-years-but-in-the-seventh-go-into-solitude-or/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
