--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The self-made man that some people…" description: "\"The self-made man that some people believe is a myth? It could be, because you do it on the backs of other people.\" — Oscar Isaac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/oscar-isaac-4432_backs_the-self-made-man-that-some-people-belie_458663.jpg" --- # The self-made man that some people believe is a myth? It… ![“The self-made man that some people believe is a myth? It could be, because you do it on the backs of other people.” quote by Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/oscar-isaac-4432_backs_the-self-made-man-that-some-people-belie_458663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/oscar-isaac-4432_backs_the-self-made-man-that-some-people-belie_458663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/oscar-isaac-4432_backs_the-self-made-man-that-some-people-belie_458663.jpg) > “The self-made man that some people believe is a myth? It could be, because you do it on the backs of other people.” [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote claims that the myth of the self-made individual ignores the reliance on others' labor. **In simple terms:** Self-made myths overlook the help we receive. Key Takeaway Recognize and credit collaborative effort. Themes myth individualism collaboration ethics Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career building - entrepreneurship - team projects - social policy Key Concepts economics social responsibility labor theory Questions to Reflect On - Who helped you succeed? - Can true self-reliance exist? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on individualism can ignore systemic inequities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-made/) ## Related quotes > [I don't believe in the myth of the "self made man". Nobody gets through alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/i-don-t-believe-in-the-myth-of-the-self-made-man-nobody-gets-through/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [There is no such thing as a "self-made" man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matthew-adams/there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-self-made-man-we-are-made-up-of-thousands/) [George Matthew Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matthew-adams/) > [There's no one more obnoxious and self-righteous than the self-made man. And no one more admirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-r-lansdale/there-s-no-one-more-obnoxious-and-self-righteous-than-the-self-made/) [Joe R. Lansdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-r-lansdale/) > [We have the kind of self-made-man myth, which says that super-successful people did it themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/we-have-the-kind-of-self-made-man-myth-which-says-that-super/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I'm a self-made man. Who else would help?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/i-m-a-self-made-man-who-else-would-help/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [I'm a self-made man since I left college at the age of 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj-kundra/i-m-a-self-made-man-since-i-left-college-at-the-age-of-18/) [Raj Kundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj-kundra/) > [Everyone is a self-made man. Only the successful admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/everyone-is-a-self-made-man-only-the-successful-admit-it/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Long-term success is never achieved on our own. The phrase 'a self-made man' is a myth all along the way we need support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isadore-sharp/long-term-success-is-never-achieved-on-our-own-the-phrase-a-self-made/) [Isadore Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isadore-sharp/) > [I once met a man who was a billionaire, and I said to him: 'Are you a self-made man?' - and he turned around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-mckay/i-once-met-a-man-who-was-a-billionaire-and-i-said-to-him-are-you-a/) [Christian McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-mckay/) > [The American cultural ideal of the self-made man, of everyone standing on his own feet, is as tragic a picture as the initiative –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-lewin/the-american-cultural-ideal-of-the-self-made-man-of-everyone-standing/) [Kurt Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-lewin/) > [A self-made man may prefer a self-made name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/a-self-made-man-may-prefer-a-self-made-name/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [When did it become something of shame or ridicule to be a self-made man in America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/when-did-it-become-something-of-shame-or-ridicule-to-be-a-self-made/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [My father started with nothing and is a self-made man. No matter what I do with my life, I can never match his accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ecclestone/my-father-started-with-nothing-and-is-a-self-made-man-no-matter-what/) [Tamara Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ecclestone/) > [When did it something of shame or ridicule to be a self-made man in America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/when-did-it-something-of-shame-or-ridicule-to-be-a-self-made-man-in/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [“He was a tall, energetic, self-made man who had taught himself accountancy and banking through correspondence courses and had risen to his present position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kuan-yew-lee/he-was-a-tall-energetic-self-made-man-who-had-taught-himself/) Kuan Yew Lee ## More by Oscar Isaac > [I would always find a way to blow the deal and I'm not sure why. I think there was part of me that wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-would-always-find-a-way-to-blow-the-deal-and-i-m-not-sure-why-i/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I'm really sick of anthems. Every song has to be a very big singalong thing - it feels very Eighties. There are a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-m-really-sick-of-anthems-every-song-has-to-be-a-very-big-singalong/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [It's nice to create a character, not just within two scenes, but within the journey of a whole movie. It's fun to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/it-s-nice-to-create-a-character-not-just-within-two-scenes-but-within/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I think for some reason we're conditioned in movies that the protagonist must be heroic or redeemable in some way, whereas in theater, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-think-for-some-reason-we-re-conditioned-in-movies-that-the/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [The idea of not getting a gun is not because I'm afraid of guns, it's not because I think guns are wrong, it's because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/the-idea-of-not-getting-a-gun-is-not-because-i-m-afraid-of-guns-it-s/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [That first play I did in New York, Rogelio Martinez's 'When It's Cocktail Time in Cuba,' I played a young Fidel Castro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/that-first-play-i-did-in-new-york-rogelio-martinez-s-when-it-s/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [People resent movies that try to tell them exactly what to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/people-resent-movies-that-try-to-tell-them-exactly-what-to-feel/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [Humans are mutants, everything's a mutant - things that evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/humans-are-mutants-everything-s-a-mutant-things-that-evolve/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I get attached to things: I wear the same jeans for a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-get-attached-to-things-i-wear-the-same-jeans-for-a-year/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [You can't try to be authentic. You either are or you aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/you-can-t-try-to-be-authentic-you-either-are-or-you-aren-t/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [There's nothing scarier than unlimited choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/there-s-nothing-scarier-than-unlimited-choices/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [Jessica Lange was my biggest crush when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/jessica-lange-was-my-biggest-crush-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [The hardest things to do in any art is to risk failure and put yourself out on the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/the-hardest-things-to-do-in-any-art-is-to-risk-failure-and-put/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I've never been much of a guitarist. I mean, I've played forever, but I was always more of a rhythm kind of guy. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-ve-never-been-much-of-a-guitarist-i-mean-i-ve-played-forever-but-i/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [Talent is very hot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/talent-is-very-hot/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) [Explore all 111 Oscar Isaac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) ## More Backs quotes > [I refuse to say things behind people's backs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-refuse-to-say-things-behind-people-s-backs/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [I don't think anyone went the polls and said, 'I am casting my vote to make sure that Wall Street has better chances to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-don-t-think-anyone-went-the-polls-and-said-i-am-casting-my-vote-to/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [We, the artists, make the stuff they sell and they're like ticks on our backs, sucking the life out of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wilson/we-the-artists-make-the-stuff-they-sell-and-they-re-like-ticks-on-our/) [Malcolm Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wilson/) > [Just as we should never balance the budget on the backs of the poor, so it is an economic delusion to think you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/just-as-we-should-never-balance-the-budget-on-the-backs-of-the-poor/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [I don't think running backs have ever been under-valued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cowher/i-don-t-think-running-backs-have-ever-been-under-valued/) [Bill Cowher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cowher/) > [~Its funny when your family turn their backs on you when you've done everything for them… ~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/its-funny-when-your-family-turn-their-backs-on-you-when-you-ve-done/) She's\_gone > [When the phonies are expelled from their leadership roles and the Republican Party backs a moderate gubernatorial candidate acceptable to the rank and file…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-paladino/when-the-phonies-are-expelled-from-their-leadership-roles-and-the/) [Carl Paladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-paladino/) > [Jules: You scratch our backs, we'll scratch yours. Seth: Well Jules, the funny thing about my back is that it's located on my cock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superbad/jules-you-scratch-our-backs-we-ll-scratch-yours-seth-well-jules-the/) Superbad > [“Set backs are bumps in the road, they are not the end of the roads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-greene/set-backs-are-bumps-in-the-road-they-are-not-the-end-of-the-roads/) [Bob Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-greene/) > [I can consider not only great art, but the context in which that art has been created. I can consider the people who paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/i-can-consider-not-only-great-art-but-the-context-in-which-that-art/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [At fullback you have a little bit more defensive responsibility. You have to help out with your center backs a little bit more. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/at-fullback-you-have-a-little-bit-more-defensive-responsibility-you/) [DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/) > [ \[W\]e must stop trying to protect our planet from every imaginable, exaggerated or imaginary risk. And we must stop trying to protect it on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niger-innis/w-e-must-stop-trying-to-protect-our-planet-from-every-imaginable/) [Niger Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niger-innis/) > [Every guy has different strengths in the NFL. Receivers are different, running backs are different, but they all have that one thing that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-fitzgerald/every-guy-has-different-strengths-in-the-nfl-receivers-are-different/) [Larry Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-fitzgerald/) > [placid, adj. Sometimes I love it when we just lie on our backs, gaze off, stay still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/placid-adj-sometimes-i-love-it-when-we-just-lie-on-our-backs-gaze-off/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Maybe things that we turn our backs to arnt rlly there, but its true that they will be there when we turn back around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-anthony-lukstein/maybe-things-that-we-turn-our-backs-to-arnt-rlly-there-but-its-true/) Brandon Anthony Lukstein Browse all 111 Backs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The self-made man that some people believe is a myth? 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