--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can…" description: "\"If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn themselves out, just as paper images and carriages burn out on the street during funerals.\" — Lu Xun" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/lu-xun-12813_burn-out_if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-o_1897452.jpg" --- # If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn… ![“If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn themselves out, just as paper images and carriages burn out on the street during funerals.” quote by Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/lu-xun-12813_burn-out_if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-o_1897452.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/lu-xun-12813_burn-out_if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-o_1897452.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/lu-xun-12813_burn-out_if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-o_1897452.jpg) > “If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn themselves out, just as paper images and carriages burn out on the street during funerals.” [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without inner motivation, efforts fizzle out like unlit sparks, leading to wasted potential. **In simple terms:** Lack of passion leads to wasted effort. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner drive to sustain actions. Themes motivation purpose self-discipline Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical self-help When to use this quote - career development - creative projects - learning new skills - habit formation Key Concepts psychology energy management personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What stirs your inner fire? - How can you sustain motivation over time? A Different Perspective Passion alone isn’t enough; external support may be needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burn out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burn-out/) [Carriages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carriages/) [Carriages Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carriages-burn-2779382/) [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Funeral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funeral/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kindled Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindled-sparks-2779383/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-refuse-2737894/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuse Kindled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse-kindled-2779381/) [Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparks/) [Sparks Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparks-burn-2779380/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [“Why,' I said, quite surprised by my own eloquence in inventing all this stuff, 'it happens every day. The old old story. Boys and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-cary/why-i-said-quite-surprised-by-my-own-eloquence-in-inventing-all-this/) [Joyce Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-cary/) > [“When sick men refuse to die. When innocent men find something to be guilty of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/when-sick-men-refuse-to-die-when-innocent-men-find-something-to-be/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [Some false representations contravene the law; some do not. ... The sensibilities of no two men are the same. Some would refuse to sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/some-false-representations-contravene-the-law-some-do-not-the/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [Men who refuse to worship the true God now worship themselves with tender devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/men-who-refuse-to-worship-the-true-god-now-worship-themselves-with/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Men who refuse to use condoms do not deserve to be fucked by anyone but other men who refuse to use condoms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inga-muscio/men-who-refuse-to-use-condoms-do-not-deserve-to-be-fucked-by-anyone/) [Inga Muscio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inga-muscio/) > [The Fate of good men who refuse to become involved in politics is to be ruled by evil men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-fate-of-good-men-who-refuse-to-become-involved-in-politics-is-to/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Mock and ridicule men who refuse to use reason and logic; use reason and logic against men who know only how to mock and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/mock-and-ridicule-men-who-refuse-to-use-reason-and-logic-use-reason/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“Arguments are never won by reason, but by men, who refuse to be reasonable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-caithness/arguments-are-never-won-by-reason-but-by-men-who-refuse-to-be/) [DR Caithness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-caithness/) > [War will cease when men refuse to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-will-cease-when-men-refuse-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As much as being in a rock band can be really glamorous and exciting - and it can be a lot of things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-robertson/as-much-as-being-in-a-rock-band-can-be-really-glamorous-and-exciting/) [Ed Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-robertson/) > [So many bright stars, bright in life, burn out quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/so-many-bright-stars-bright-in-life-burn-out-quickly/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [Everybody should be mad but anger only takes you so far. At some point, you'll have outrage fatigue and burn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/everybody-should-be-mad-but-anger-only-takes-you-so-far-at-some-point/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Climbing is this long term, lifelong journey. It's really important to just take your time with it and keep it fun. I've seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/climbing-is-this-long-term-lifelong-journey-it-s-really-important-to/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [I think writing kind of burns out the flaming question. Sometimes it might feel like when you're living with certain paradoxes and they're unarticulated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/i-think-writing-kind-of-burns-out-the-flaming-question-sometimes-it/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) ## More by Lu Xun > [The ability to forget the past enables people to free themselves gradually from the pain they once suffered; but it also often makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/the-ability-to-forget-the-past-enables-people-to-free-themselves/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [Hope is a path on the mountainside. At first there is no path. But then there are people passing that way. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/hope-is-a-path-on-the-mountainside-at-first-there-is-no-path-but-then/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [It is in the nature of things that some people should be unlucky enough to get their heads chopped off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/it-is-in-the-nature-of-things-that-some-people-should-be-unlucky/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [The most painful thing in life is to wake up from a dream and find no way out. Dreamers are fortunate people. If no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/the-most-painful-thing-in-life-is-to-wake-up-from-a-dream-and-find-no/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [I entreat fresh visions from the painters. Be lavish with your vermilion to portray the mountains in the spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/i-entreat-fresh-visions-from-the-painters-be-lavish-with-your/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [Though science has given us many marvels, it has also spoiled many of our pleasant dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/though-science-has-given-us-many-marvels-it-has-also-spoiled-many-of/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [Creation, even when it is a mere outpouring from the heart, wishes to find a public. By definition, creation is sociable. Yet it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/creation-even-when-it-is-a-mere-outpouring-from-the-heart-wishes-to/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [“With the weight of four thousand years of cannibalism bearing down upon me, even if I was once innocent how can I now face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/with-the-weight-of-four-thousand-years-of-cannibalism-bearing-down/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [True fighters dare face the sorrows of humanity, and look unflinchingly at bloodshed. What sorrow and joy are theirs! But the Creator's common device…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/true-fighters-dare-face-the-sorrows-of-humanity-and-look/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [I could not blot out hope, for hope belongs to the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/i-could-not-blot-out-hope-for-hope-belongs-to-the-future/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [Hope is like a path in the countryside. Originally, there is nothing - but as people walk this way again and again, a path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/hope-is-like-a-path-in-the-countryside-originally-there-is-nothing/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [Whoever thinks he is objective must already be half drunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/whoever-thinks-he-is-objective-must-already-be-half-drunk/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [When a great man has become petrified, and everyone begins to proclaim his greatness, he has already turned into a puppet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/when-a-great-man-has-become-petrified-and-everyone-begins-to-proclaim/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [Men who have not known the horror of death are not likely to be awed by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/men-who-have-not-known-the-horror-of-death-are-not-likely-to-be-awed/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) > [Like students going to school, the planes on their bombing missions fly over Beijing each morning. And each time I hear their engines attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/like-students-going-to-school-the-planes-on-their-bombing-missions/) [Lu Xun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) [Explore all 49 Lu Xun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/) ## More Burn out quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [I think writing kind of burns out the flaming question. Sometimes it might feel like when you're living with certain paradoxes and they're unarticulated,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/i-think-writing-kind-of-burns-out-the-flaming-question-sometimes-it/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [Climbing is this long term, lifelong journey. It's really important to just take your time with it and keep it fun. I've seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/climbing-is-this-long-term-lifelong-journey-it-s-really-important-to/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [Everybody should be mad but anger only takes you so far. At some point, you'll have outrage fatigue and burn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/everybody-should-be-mad-but-anger-only-takes-you-so-far-at-some-point/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [So many bright stars, bright in life, burn out quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/so-many-bright-stars-bright-in-life-burn-out-quickly/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [As much as being in a rock band can be really glamorous and exciting - and it can be a lot of things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-robertson/as-much-as-being-in-a-rock-band-can-be-really-glamorous-and-exciting/) [Ed Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-robertson/) > [These days with the web, you can burn out a character really quick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-moynihan/these-days-with-the-web-you-can-burn-out-a-character-really-quick/) [Bobby Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-moynihan/) > [Each individual has to burn out his own karma and escape from the chains of maya (illusion), reincarnation, and all that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/each-individual-has-to-burn-out-his-own-karma-and-escape-from-the/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [Its like if you take acid, it burns out brain cells and they dont regrow. Rock is like that-it has killed beautiful people musically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bolan/its-like-if-you-take-acid-it-burns-out-brain-cells-and-they-dont/) [Marc Bolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bolan/) > [ When you see those in healthcare who don't get this burn-out, they are very motherly, fatherly, or loving and attentive with the patients. \[These\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/when-you-see-those-in-healthcare-who-don-t-get-this-burn-out-they-are/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [“Love and ever more love is the only solution to every problem that comes up. If we love each other enough, we will bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/love-and-ever-more-love-is-the-only-solution-to-every-problem-that/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [If I write too much of anything for too long, I burn out on it. So it helps to vary my output from year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/if-i-write-too-much-of-anything-for-too-long-i-burn-out-on-it-so-it/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Methinks I am a prophet new inspired And thus, expiring, do foretell of him: His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last, For violent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/methinks-i-am-a-prophet-new-inspired-and-thus-expiring-do-foretell-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [For a long time I thought-'I've got to buck up and be strong. I've got to put on a brave face-and get through this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-st-james/for-a-long-time-i-thought-i-ve-got-to-buck-up-and-be-strong-i-ve-got/) [Rebecca St. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-st-james/) > [“You won't fit in around here, Skid," he said lightly. "A do-gooder like you can burn out fast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-newell/you-won-t-fit-in-around-here-skid-he-said-lightly-a-do-gooder-like/) [Ashley Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-newell/) [Browse all 125 Burn out quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burn-out/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn themselves out, just as paper images and carriages burn out on the street during funerals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lu Xun" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-only-burn-themselves-out-just/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Burn out" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-only-burn-themselves-out-just/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/lu-xun-12813_burn-out_if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-o_1897452.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/lu-xun-12813_burn-out_if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-o_1897452.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/968/lu-xun-12813_burn-out_if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-o_1897452.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If men refuse to be kindled, sparks can only burn themselves out, just as paper images and carriages burn…” — Lu Xun", "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": "Lu Xun", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lu-xun/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If men refuse to be kindled,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-only-burn-themselves-out-just/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lu-xun/if-men-refuse-to-be-kindled-sparks-can-only-burn-themselves-out-just/#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 } } ] } ```