--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you should rise from Nowhere up to…" description: "\"“If you should rise from Nowhere up to Somewhere, From being No one up to being Someone, Be sure to keep repeating to yourself You owe it to an arbitra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/robert-frost-371_compassion_if-you-should-rise-from-nowhere-up-to-so_579722.jpg" --- # If you should rise from Nowhere up to Somewhere, From… ![“If you should rise from Nowhere up to Somewhere, From being No one up to being Someone, Be sure to keep repeating to yourself You owe it to an arbitrary god Whose mercy to you rather than to others Won’t bear to critical examination. Stay unassuming. If for lack of license To wear the uniform of…” quote by Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/robert-frost-371_compassion_if-you-should-rise-from-nowhere-up-to-so_579722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/robert-frost-371_compassion_if-you-should-rise-from-nowhere-up-to-so_579722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f8/robert-frost-371_compassion_if-you-should-rise-from-nowhere-up-to-so_579722.jpg) > ““If you should rise from Nowhere up to Somewhere, From being No one up to being Someone, Be sure to keep repeating to yourself You owe it to an arbitrary god Whose mercy to you rather than to others Won’t bear to critical examination. Stay unassuming. If for lack of license To wear the uniform of who you are, You should be tempted to make up for it In a subordinationg look or toe, Beware of coming too much to the surface And using for apparel hat was meant To be the curtain of the inmost soul.”” [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem urges humility and self‑awareness, warning against over‑identifying with external labels and urging inner authenticity. **In simple terms:** Stay humble and true to yourself. Key Takeaway Avoid letting ego dictate actions. Themes humility identity self‑awareness Mood thoughtful cautious Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - social media presence - public speaking - leadership Key Concepts ego authenticity self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - What labels are you clinging to? - How can you stay grounded when praised? A Different Perspective The language is obscure and may be hard to apply directly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Hat Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hat-meant-4768418/) [License Wear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/license-wear-4768416/) [Stay Unassuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-unassuming-4768417/) [Uniform Tempted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniform-tempted-4768415/) [Wear Uniform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wear-uniform-454830/) ## Related quotes > [On stage, I wear my 'uniform' - my all white and flowy suit. It makes me feel 'in-my-body' and sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/on-stage-i-wear-my-uniform-my-all-white-and-flowy-suit-it-makes-me/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [I've always said I never want to wear another uniform. I've always said that I owe it to the fans to retire as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-driver/i-ve-always-said-i-never-want-to-wear-another-uniform-i-ve-always/) [Donald Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-driver/) > [I just wear the uniform of the city I'm from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldlink/i-just-wear-the-uniform-of-the-city-i-m-from/) [Goldlink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldlink/) > [“The truth of the matter is, I will miss being the commander in chief of such a fabulous group of men and women --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/the-truth-of-the-matter-is-i-will-miss-being-the-commander-in-chief/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Because all of us believe and understand in the fabric of the common bond of why we call ourselves American is to care for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buyer/because-all-of-us-believe-and-understand-in-the-fabric-of-the-common/) [Steve Buyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buyer/) > [I call it my uniform. My mother was a janitor and my father collected trash, so I wear a uniform, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-call-it-my-uniform-my-mother-was-a-janitor-and-my-father-collected/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I wanted to wear a uniform when I was in high school, but I couldn't. I was like, 'It would be so much easier!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/i-wanted-to-wear-a-uniform-when-i-was-in-high-school-but-i-couldn-t-i/) [Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/) > [The American servicemen and women of the Guard and Reserve leave their jobs, their spouses and their children to wear the uniform that defends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/the-american-servicemen-and-women-of-the-guard-and-reserve-leave/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [In order to be a part of the totalitarian mind-set, it is not necessary to wear a uniform or carry a club or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-order-to-be-a-part-of-the-totalitarian-mind-set-it-is-not/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I fight for people that wear a uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-toole/i-fight-for-people-that-wear-a-uniform/) [Erin O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-toole/) > [I see many soldiers; could I but see many warriors! "Uniform" one calleth what they wear; may it not be uniform what they therewith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-see-many-soldiers-could-i-but-see-many-warriors-uniform-one-calleth/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I could never wear another uniform. I will forever be a Yankee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-posada/i-could-never-wear-another-uniform-i-will-forever-be-a-yankee/) [Jorge Posada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-posada/) > [A lot of fighters want that freedom to have their own sponsorships. When you think about it, how do you make independent contractors wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-coker/a-lot-of-fighters-want-that-freedom-to-have-their-own-sponsorships/) [Scott Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-coker/) > [Rock bands are a lot like football teams: If a guy is on drugs and messes up, get someone else who's proud to wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-simmons/rock-bands-are-a-lot-like-football-teams-if-a-guy-is-on-drugs-and/) [Gene Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-simmons/) > [Well, growing up in LA, things are kind of thrust in front of you. You're almost forced to grow up pretty fast, with experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-hudson/well-growing-up-in-la-things-are-kind-of-thrust-in-front-of-you-you/) [Sarah Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-hudson/) ## More by Robert Frost > [The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working when you get up in the morning, and doesn't stop until you get to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-brain-is-a-wonderful-organ-it-starts-working-when-you-get-up-in/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [When I see birches bend to left and right... I like to think some boy's been swinging them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/when-i-see-birches-bend-to-left-and-right-i-like-to-think-some-boy-s/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“The promising young poets, the hopefuls? I'd name Richard Wilbur, Peter Viereck, Karl Shapiro, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, John Ciardi...Leonard Bacon...but it is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-promising-young-poets-the-hopefuls-i-d-name-richard-wilbur-peter/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Lord, I have loved Your sky, Be it said against or for me, Have loved it clear and high, Or low and stormy...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/lord-i-have-loved-your-sky-be-it-said-against-or-for-me-have-loved-it/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Let him that is without stone among you cast the first thing he can lay his hands on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/let-him-that-is-without-stone-among-you-cast-the-first-thing-he-can/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [It is only a moment here and a moment there that the greatest writer has. Some cognizance of the fact must be taken in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/it-is-only-a-moment-here-and-a-moment-there-that-the-greatest-writer/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [And of course there must be something wrong In wanting to silence any song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/and-of-course-there-must-be-something-wrong-in-wanting-to-silence-any/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/there-are-two-kinds-of-teachers-the-kind-that-fill-you-with-so-much/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [The rose is a rose, And was always a rose. But now the theory goes That the apple's a rose, And the pear is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-rose-is-a-rose-and-was-always-a-rose-but-now-the-theory-goes-that/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Forgive, O Lord, my little jokes on Thee, and I'll forgive Thy great big joke on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/forgive-o-lord-my-little-jokes-on-thee-and-i-ll-forgive-thy-great-big/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [What an exciting age it is we live in With all this talk about the hope of youth And nothing made of youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/what-an-exciting-age-it-is-we-live-in-with-all-this-talk-about-the/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [The footpath down to the well is healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-footpath-down-to-the-well-is-healed/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [There is the fear that we shan't prove worthy in the eyes of someone who knows us at least as well as we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/there-is-the-fear-that-we-shan-t-prove-worthy-in-the-eyes-of-someone/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [It's God - I recognised him from Blake's picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/it-s-god-i-recognised-him-from-blake-s-picture/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Create and stir other people to create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/create-and-stir-other-people-to-create/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) [Explore all 624 Robert Frost quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you should rise from Nowhere up to Somewhere, From being No one up to being Someone, Be sure to keep repeating to yourself You owe it to an arbitrary god Whose mercy to you rather than to others Won’t bear to critical examination. 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