--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I sit on a man's back choking him and…" description: "\"“I sit on a man's back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/leo-tolstoy-55_carry_i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-ma_735146.png" --- # I sit on a man's back choking him and making him carry me… ![“I sit on a man's back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible… except by getting off his back.” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/leo-tolstoy-55_carry_i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-ma_735146.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/leo-tolstoy-55_carry_i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-ma_735146.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/leo-tolstoy-55_carry_i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-ma_735146.png) > ““I sit on a man's back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible… except by getting off his back.”” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exploiting others while feigning compassion is hypocritical; true empathy requires self‑reflection and action. **In simple terms:** Don’t pretend to help while burdening others. Key Takeaway Practice genuine empathy. Themes ethics hypocrisy compassion Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - leadership - relationships - community work Key Concepts moral philosophy social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What would true compassion look like for you? - How can you avoid imposing burdens on others? A Different Perspective Self‑interest can masquerade as kindness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exploitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploitation/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Privilege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/privilege/) ## Related quotes > [I sit on a man's back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-making-him-carry-me-and-yet/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“You talk very easily of hours, sir! How long do you suppose, sir, that an hour is to a man who is choking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/you-talk-very-easily-of-hours-sir-how-long-do-you-suppose-sir-that-an/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [“If a man was choking, what would I do? Well, I’d remove my penis from his throat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-a-man-was-choking-what-would-i-do-well-i-d-remove-my-penis-from/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Planting images in my head of Oli grabbing the blond’s hair, guiding his head, and the sloppy sounds of the younger man choking on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santino-hassell/planting-images-in-my-head-of-oli-grabbing-the-blond-s-hair-guiding/) [Santino Hassell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santino-hassell/) > [“If a man is choking to death on a bite of steak, there is really only one thing to do—finish eating his steak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-a-man-is-choking-to-death-on-a-bite-of-steak-there-is-really-only/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [If you want to dry hump someone you don't know, just act like they were choking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/if-you-want-to-dry-hump-someone-you-don-t-know-just-act-like-they/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [When your rage is choking you, it is best to say nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-your-rage-is-choking-you-it-is-best-to-say-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is always hard to swallow if you're choking on your pride. Love the one you've got, and appreciate who you have, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/the-truth-is-always-hard-to-swallow-if-you-re-choking-on-your-pride/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [CONGRATULATIONS! You've won a lifetime supply of air: Not valid under water, in space, when dead, or while choking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-you-ve-won-a-lifetime-supply-of-air-not-valid-under/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Today coming to work, I saw one of those only in New York scenes. It was a rat who had passed out after choking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/today-coming-to-work-i-saw-one-of-those-only-in-new-york-scenes-it/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The truth is hard to swallow when you're choking on your pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-hard-to-swallow-when-you-re-choking-on-your-pride/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I need to learn how to start saying no. Like when someone says ‘please stop choking me.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayer/i-need-to-learn-how-to-start-saying-no-like-when-someone-says-please/) [John Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayer/) > [“I don't think we choked this time. We never played well enough to choke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-matthews/i-don-t-think-we-choked-this-time-we-never-played-well-enough-to-choke/) Craig Matthews > [“Nora-leggo it's choking me!! ow!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazunari-kakei/nora-leggo-it-s-choking-me-ow/) Kazunari Kakei > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) ## More by Leo Tolstoy > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The only significance of life consists in helping to establish the kingdom of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-only-significance-of-life-consists-in-helping-to-establish-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-already-love-in-you-your-beauty-but-i-am-only-beginning-to-love-in/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Energy rests upon love; and come as it will, there's no forcing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/energy-rests-upon-love-and-come-as-it-will-there-s-no-forcing-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“If you only knew what those society women are, and women in general! My father is right. Selfish, vain, stupid, trivial in everything—that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/if-you-only-knew-what-those-society-women-are-and-women-in-general-my/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To speak of it would be giving importance to that which has none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-speak-of-it-would-be-giving-importance-to-that-which-has-none/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Once we're thrown off our habitual paths, we think all is lost, but it's only here that the new and the good begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/once-we-re-thrown-off-our-habitual-paths-we-think-all-is-lost-but-it/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He knew she was there by the rapture and the terror that seized on his heart. She was standing talking to a lady at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-knew-she-was-there-by-the-rapture-and-the-terror-that-seized-on/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Rest, nature, books, music...such is my idea of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/rest-nature-books-music-such-is-my-idea-of-happiness/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [“He was not to blame for being born with an irrepressible charachter and a mind some how constrained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/he-was-not-to-blame-for-being-born-with-an-irrepressible-charachter/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [I ask one thing only: I ask for the right to hope, to suffer as I do. But if even that cannot be, command…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-ask-one-thing-only-i-ask-for-the-right-to-hope-to-suffer-as-i-do/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [The idea shared by many that life is a vale of tears is just as false as the idea shared by the great majority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-idea-shared-by-many-that-life-is-a-vale-of-tears-is-just-as-false/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [To say that a work of art is good, but incomprehensible to the majority of men, is the same as saying of some kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-say-that-a-work-of-art-is-good-but-incomprehensible-to-the/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [True life is lived when tiny changes occur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/true-life-is-lived-when-tiny-changes-occur/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) [Explore all 1,754 Leo Tolstoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More Carry quotes > [There's always gonna be people with a lot of money making film, and the goal is to make profit and carry on. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-howard/there-s-always-gonna-be-people-with-a-lot-of-money-making-film-and/) [Clint Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-howard/) > [“The prize of success is never a burden to carry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriett-antwi-boasiako/the-prize-of-success-is-never-a-burden-to-carry/) Harriett Antwi-Boasiako > [I don't know how to carry a tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-lancie/i-don-t-know-how-to-carry-a-tune/) [John de Lancie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-lancie/) > [I think we need national carry reciprocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-lapierre/i-think-we-need-national-carry-reciprocity/) [Wayne LaPierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-lapierre/) > [“Nat: I don't know. The weight of it, I guess. At some point it becomes bearable. It turns into something you can crawl out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay-abaire/nat-i-don-t-know-the-weight-of-it-i-guess-at-some-point-it-becomes/) [David Lindsay-Abaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay-abaire/) > [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/) [Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/) > [I will miss you, carry on and live for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-miss-you-carry-on-and-live-for-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Carry yourself as one who will change the world, because you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-morgan/carry-yourself-as-one-who-will-change-the-world-because-you-will/) [Robin Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-morgan/) > [“You want to carry my baby?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-smith/you-want-to-carry-my-baby/) [Andrea Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-smith/) > [You can hold onto anything to make you carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-winman/you-can-hold-onto-anything-to-make-you-carry-on/) [Sarah Winman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-winman/) > [I'm just becoming more and more aware of this truly profound responsibility that we carry as individuals. And it's a responsibility not only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/i-m-just-becoming-more-and-more-aware-of-this-truly-profound/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [“Carry on. Just be careful with whom you carry on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-peterson/carry-on-just-be-careful-with-whom-you-carry-on/) Dick Peterson > [“So long as you don't bleed in the shape of wing joints, you should pass for human. Oh, and don't let anyone pick you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ee/so-long-as-you-don-t-bleed-in-the-shape-of-wing-joints-you-should/) [Susan Ee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ee/) > [Never own more than you can carry in both hands at a dead run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/never-own-more-than-you-can-carry-in-both-hands-at-a-dead-run/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I wouldn't do a film like 'The Dirty Picture.' I have a husband and kids, and I won't be able to do justice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/i-wouldn-t-do-a-film-like-the-dirty-picture-i-have-a-husband-and-kids/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) Browse all 869 Carry quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I sit on a man's back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible… except by getting off his back.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Tolstoy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-making-him-carry-me-and-yet-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Carry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-making-him-carry-me-and-yet-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/leo-tolstoy-55_carry_i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-ma_735146.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/leo-tolstoy-55_carry_i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-ma_735146.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5a/leo-tolstoy-55_carry_i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-ma_735146.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I sit on a man's back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry…” — Leo Tolstoy", "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 Tolstoy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I sit on a man's back...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-making-him-carry-me-and-yet-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/i-sit-on-a-man-s-back-choking-him-and-making-him-carry-me-and-yet-2/#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 } } ] } ```