--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like the turtle's shell, the sense of…" description: "\"“Like the turtle's shell, the sense of self serves as a shield against stimulation and as a burden which limits mobility into possibly dangerous areas...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/luke-rhinehart-18898_fear-of-failure_like-the-turtle-s-shell-the-sense-of-sel_2192480.jpg" --- # Like the turtle's shell, the sense of self serves as a… ![“Like the turtle's shell, the sense of self serves as a shield against stimulation and as a burden which limits mobility into possibly dangerous areas. The turtle rarely has to think about what's on the other side of his shell; whatever it is, it can't hurt him, can't even touch him. So, too…” quote by Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/luke-rhinehart-18898_fear-of-failure_like-the-turtle-s-shell-the-sense-of-sel_2192480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/luke-rhinehart-18898_fear-of-failure_like-the-turtle-s-shell-the-sense-of-sel_2192480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/338/luke-rhinehart-18898_fear-of-failure_like-the-turtle-s-shell-the-sense-of-sel_2192480.jpg) > ““Like the turtle's shell, the sense of self serves as a shield against stimulation and as a burden which limits mobility into possibly dangerous areas. The turtle rarely has to think about what's on the other side of his shell; whatever it is, it can't hurt him, can't even touch him. So, too, adults insist on the shell of a consistent self for themselves and their children and appreciate turtles for friends; they wish to be protected from being hurt or touched or confused or having to think. If a man can rely on consistency, he can afford not to notice people after the first few times. But I imagined a world in which each individual might be about to play the lover, the benefactor, the sponger, the attacker, the friend: and once known as one of the next day he might yet be anything. Would we pay attention to this person? Would life be boring? Would life be livable? I saw then clearly for the first time that the fear of failure keeps us huddled in the cave of self - a group of behavior patterns we have mastered and have no intention of risking failure by abandoning.”” [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self-identity acts like a turtle shell: it protects but also restricts growth and openness to new experiences. **In simple terms:** Self protects but limits us. Key Takeaway Balance consistency with openness to change. Themes identity self protection growth flexibility fear Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career changes - personal relationships - creative projects - learning new skills Key Concepts philosophy psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - How can you safely shed limiting aspects of your identity? - What benefits arise from embracing multiple roles? A Different Perspective Rigid self-concepts can prevent authentic connections and personal evolution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciate Turtles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciate-turtles-4782014/) [Cave Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cave-self-4782015/) [Consistent Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consistent-self-837533/) [Fear of failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Like Turtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-turtle-315289/) [Next day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-day/) [Pattern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pattern/) [Pay attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-attention/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Sense of self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-self/) [Sense Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-self/) [Shell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shell/) [Shield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shield/) ## Related quotes > [Your subconscious mind makes all your words and actions fit a pattern consistent with your self-concept and your innermost beliefs about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-subconscious-mind-makes-all-your-words-and-actions-fit-a-pattern/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The person we believe ourselves to be will always act in a manner consistent with our self-image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-person-we-believe-ourselves-to-be-will-always-act-in-a-manner/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“A Man Needs A Woman Like A Turtle Needs A Shell on His Back" SINGLE AGAIN by Rod Cornelius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-cornelius/a-man-needs-a-woman-like-a-turtle-needs-a-shell-on-his-back-single/) [Rod Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-cornelius/) > [If you want success in life, then just learn how to walk like a turtle instead of flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/if-you-want-success-in-life-then-just-learn-how-to-walk-like-a-turtle/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Oh me oh my well well can't you tell. I'm just like a turtle crawling out of my shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/oh-me-oh-my-well-well-can-t-you-tell-i-m-just-like-a-turtle-crawling/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [Just like a turtle, we only make progress if we stick our neck out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/just-like-a-turtle-we-only-make-progress-if-we-stick-our-neck-out/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [I got a few speeding tickets when I was young, but I'm a little more like the turtle than the hare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/i-got-a-few-speeding-tickets-when-i-was-young-but-i-m-a-little-more/) [Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/) > [“Liv.” I looked at him. “Don’t hide,” North said. “I’m not.” “You remember I told you once you were like a turtle?” North asked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lane/liv-i-looked-at-him-don-t-hide-north-said-i-m-not-you-remember-i-told/) [Nina Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lane/) > [“To kiss her there was to intrude into something private and skeletal, like a turtle’s shoulder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/to-kiss-her-there-was-to-intrude-into-something-private-and-skeletal/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“You have to be like a turtle, she thought; you have to figure out how to bring your home along with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/you-have-to-be-like-a-turtle-she-thought-you-have-to-figure-out-how/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“In the end, everyone looses everyone. There was no invention to get around that, and so I felt, that night, like the turtle that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/in-the-end-everyone-looses-everyone-there-was-no-invention-to-get/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [No matter if you walk like a turtle until you dont stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/no-matter-if-you-walk-like-a-turtle-until-you-dont-stop/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Life is like a turtle. You wont get get very far unless you stick out your neck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-like-a-turtle-you-wont-get-get-very-far-unless-you-stick-out/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take me like a turtle whose shell must be cracked, whose heart is ice, who needs your heat. Love me like a warrior, sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/take-me-like-a-turtle-whose-shell-must-be-cracked-whose-heart-is-ice/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More by Luke Rhinehart > [Man must become comfortable in flowing from one role to another, one set of values to another, one life to another. Men must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/man-must-become-comfortable-in-flowing-from-one-role-to-another-one/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [To change man, the audience by which he judges himself must be changed. A man is defined by his audience: by the people, institutions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/to-change-man-the-audience-by-which-he-judges-himself-must-be-changed/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [“It's the way a man chooses to limit himself that determines his character. A man without habits, consistency, redundancy - and hence boredom -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/it-s-the-way-a-man-chooses-to-limit-himself-that-determines-his/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [“One desire, my friends, one: to kill yourself. You must desire this. You must feel that a voyage of discovery is more important than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/one-desire-my-friends-one-to-kill-yourself-you-must-desire-this-you/) [luke rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [“Dealing dreams and destruction to a pattern plagued world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/dealing-dreams-and-destruction-to-a-pattern-plagued-world/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [Give up all hope, all illusion, all desire..I've tried. I've tried and still I desire, I still desire not to desire and hope to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/give-up-all-hope-all-illusion-all-desire-i-ve-tried-i-ve-tried-and/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [“To change man, the audience by which he judges himself must be changed. A man is defined by his audience: by the people, institutions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/to-change-man-the-audience-by-which-he-judges-himself-must-be-changed-2/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [The thing the Buddhists and the Sufis have in common is a belief that religious certainties are destructive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/the-thing-the-buddhists-and-the-sufis-have-in-common-is-a-belief-that/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [Men must attempt to develop in themselves and their children liberation from the sense of self. Men must be free from boundaries, patterns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/men-must-attempt-to-develop-in-themselves-and-their-children/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > ['The Dice Man' is an anti-establishment cult novel, and you don't normally make studio films from such dark comedy material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/the-dice-man-is-an-anti-establishment-cult-novel-and-you-don-t/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [“But we must come to realise that every word is perfect, including those we scratch out. As my pen moves across this page the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/but-we-must-come-to-realise-that-every-word-is-perfect-including/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [“Nature’s accidents are the universe’s way of throwing chance into a system which would die of too much orderliness. Hurricanes, droughts, floods, volcanic eruptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/nature-s-accidents-are-the-universe-s-way-of-throwing-chance-into-a/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [I am George Cockcroft. But when I come to England or Europe, where the name Luke Rhinehart is better known, then I use that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/i-am-george-cockcroft-but-when-i-come-to-england-or-europe-where-the/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [“Tell me the manner in which a patient commits suicide and I'll tell you how he can be cured”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/tell-me-the-manner-in-which-a-patient-commits-suicide-and-i-ll-tell/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [Why did children seem to be so often spontaneous, joy-filled and concentrated while adults seemed controlled, anxiety-filled and diffused? It was the Goddam sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/why-did-children-seem-to-be-so-often-spontaneous-joy-filled-and/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) [Explore all 32 Luke Rhinehart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) ## More Fear of failure quotes > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [The fear of not being good enough, the fear of disappointing other people and the fear of failure can really hurt one's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-not-being-good-enough-the-fear-of-disappointing-other/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [Don't be afraid of failure, be afraid of not trying in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/don-t-be-afraid-of-failure-be-afraid-of-not-trying-in-the-first-place/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [Never be tired of a dream, if not fulfilled. Fear of failure should not deter you from your path of self belief. Your belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/never-be-tired-of-a-dream-if-not-fulfilled-fear-of-failure-should-not/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [Many people become bankrupt through having invested too heavily in the prose of life. To have ruined one's self over poetry is an honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/many-people-become-bankrupt-through-having-invested-too-heavily-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The truth is when you have a movie that was as successful as 'Chronicle' was, it's not as quick of a process. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-landis/the-truth-is-when-you-have-a-movie-that-was-as-successful-as/) [Max Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-landis/) > [The fear of failure. Failure definitely drives me more than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/the-fear-of-failure-failure-definitely-drives-me-more-than-anything/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [Fear of failure, what is that? It would never occur to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-david/fear-of-failure-what-is-that-it-would-never-occur-to-me/) [Laurie David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-david/) > [I'm not scared of anything in particular, but I am motivated by a fear of failure as opposed to a need to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/i-m-not-scared-of-anything-in-particular-but-i-am-motivated-by-a-fear/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [There are those who are so scrupulously afraid of doing wrong that they seldom venture to do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/there-are-those-who-are-so-scrupulously-afraid-of-doing-wrong-that/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [And my fear of failure has been lifelong and deep. If you are what you do- and I think my parents may have accidentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/and-my-fear-of-failure-has-been-lifelong-and-deep-if-you-are-what-you/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I went to a motivational training course once, a course of self-discovery, and I found out after a week that my fear - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-steward/i-went-to-a-motivational-training-course-once-a-course-of-self/) [Emanuel Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-steward/) > [“Evelyn wanted to be charming, provocative, desirable, attributes she had never aspired to before out of pride, perhaps, or fear of failure. Now they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-rule/evelyn-wanted-to-be-charming-provocative-desirable-attributes-she-had/) [Jane Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-rule/) > [You can never become a great man or woman until you have overcome anxiety, worry, and fear. It is impossible for an anxious person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/you-can-never-become-a-great-man-or-woman-until-you-have-overcome/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) [Browse all 432 Fear of failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Like the turtle's shell, the sense of self serves as a shield against stimulation and as a burden which limits mobility into possibly dangerous areas. The turtle rarely has to think about what's on the other side of his shell; whatever it is, it can't hurt him, can't even touch him. So, too, adults insist on the shell of a consistent self for themselves and their children and appreciate turtles for friends; they wish to be protected from being hurt or touched or confused or having to think. If a man can rely on consistency, he can afford not to notice people after the first few times. But I imagined a world in which each individual might be about to play the lover, the benefactor, the sponger, the attacker, the friend: and once known as one of the next day he might yet be anything. Would we pay attention to this person? Would life be boring? Would life be livable? 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