--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For years, copying other people, I tried…" description: "\"For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself. From within, I couldn't decide what to do. Unable to see, I heard my name being called. Then I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rumi-56_copying_for-years-copying-other-people-i-tried-t_1465384.jpg" --- # For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself… ![“For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself. From within, I couldn't decide what to do. Unable to see, I heard my name being called. Then I walked outside.” quote by Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rumi-56_copying_for-years-copying-other-people-i-tried-t_1465384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rumi-56_copying_for-years-copying-other-people-i-tried-t_1465384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rumi-56_copying_for-years-copying-other-people-i-tried-t_1465384.jpg) > “For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself. From within, I couldn't decide what to do. Unable to see, I heard my name being called. Then I walked outside.” [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeking identity through imitation fails; true self‑knowledge requires stepping outside and listening. **In simple terms:** Imitating others blocks self‑discovery. Key Takeaway Listen to your inner voice beyond external influences. Themes identity self‑discovery authenticity Mood contemplative inspirational Type poetic spiritual When to use this quote - personal development - creative work - career decisions - spiritual practice Key Concepts philosophy spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What does your inner voice tell you? - How can you stop comparing to others? A Different Perspective External copying can reinforce false self‑concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Walked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-walked-5304510/) [Copying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copying/) [Copying People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copying-people-3640217/) [Couldn Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-decide-253366/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Walked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walked/) [Walked Outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walked-outside-2117007/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Once you start copying other people's licks, you begin thinking they're yours. Doing that's just an easy way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/once-you-start-copying-other-people-s-licks-you-begin-thinking-they/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) > [You start by copying other people's paintings or music or whatever. You get all of those skills before you branch out. Really creative people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-blackmore/you-start-by-copying-other-people-s-paintings-or-music-or-whatever/) [Susan Blackmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-blackmore/) > [Are you copying others? People won't pay extra for that. You won't be followed for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/are-you-copying-others-people-won-t-pay-extra-for-that-you-won-t-be/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [But it was only hot outside, and generally I only walked outside between one air-conditioned place to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/but-it-was-only-hot-outside-and-generally-i-only-walked-outside/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“When he walked outside again, the sky was shining like a nickel and the air was filled with the smell of sugared nuts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/when-he-walked-outside-again-the-sky-was-shining-like-a-nickel-and/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [It was early evening when they walked outside, the sky the color of pink lemonade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/it-was-early-evening-when-they-walked-outside-the-sky-the-color-of/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [I woke to find every window open I woke to find the heavy door ajar And I walked outside and stood upon the hilltop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/i-woke-to-find-every-window-open-i-woke-to-find-the-heavy-door-ajar/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [Alexander Liberman was very smart, very elegant. At the end, he didn't have much patience with me because I was a young, anxious, nervous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-schatzberg/alexander-liberman-was-very-smart-very-elegant-at-the-end-he-didn-t/) [Jerry Schatzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-schatzberg/) > [I don't plan my acting. If I had to copy someone, it would be someone like the legendary Sridevi. I am really bad at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-takia/i-don-t-plan-my-acting-if-i-had-to-copy-someone-it-would-be-someone/) [Ayesha Takia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-takia/) > [“Either she was admirably at ease anywhere or she suffered from a total lack of discrimination; Liam couldn't decide which.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/either-she-was-admirably-at-ease-anywhere-or-she-suffered-from-a/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [For a while, I couldn't decide whether or not I should pursue singing in the opera or acting. And I'm glad that I chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/for-a-while-i-couldn-t-decide-whether-or-not-i-should-pursue-singing/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [“I couldn't decide what kind of person she was, whether she was one of those insects that look exactly like wasps but aren't .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-sudjic/i-couldn-t-decide-what-kind-of-person-she-was-whether-she-was-one-of/) [Olivia Sudjic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-sudjic/) > [I couldn’t decide whether it was better to be the art, or the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-campanioni/i-couldn-t-decide-whether-it-was-better-to-be-the-art-or-the-artist/) [Chris Campanioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-campanioni/) > [I went to vote once, but I got too scared. I couldn't decide whom to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-went-to-vote-once-but-i-got-too-scared-i-couldn-t-decide-whom-to/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [“I couldn't decide how to feel about what he was saying, whether it was all nonsense or just more evidence that I would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/i-couldn-t-decide-how-to-feel-about-what-he-was-saying-whether-it-was/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) ## More by Rumi > [The love religion is all that is written here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/the-love-religion-is-all-that-is-written-here/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [And so it is, that both the Devil and the angelic Spirit present us with objects of desire to awaken our power of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/and-so-it-is-that-both-the-devil-and-the-angelic-spirit-present-us/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-a-morning-inside-you-waiting-to-burst-open-into-light/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There is something to be said for anyone who sits alone with dignity and silently begs for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/there-is-something-to-be-said-for-anyone-who-sits-alone-with-dignity/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Tis easy to break an idol, very easy: to regard the self as easy to subdue is folly, folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/tis-easy-to-break-an-idol-very-easy-to-regard-the-self-as-easy-to/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Today, let us swim wildly, joyously in gratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/today-let-us-swim-wildly-joyously-in-gratitude/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I have no name for what circles so perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-have-no-name-for-what-circles-so-perfectly/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [What draws friends together does not conform to the laws of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/what-draws-friends-together-does-not-conform-to-the-laws-of-nature/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [We are born of love. Love is our mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-are-born-of-love-love-is-our-mother/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Water, stories, the body, all the things we do, are mediums that hid and show what's hidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/water-stories-the-body-all-the-things-we-do-are-mediums-that-hid-and/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“I came back to You because I could not find the kind and decent things I found in You anywhere else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-came-back-to-you-because-i-could-not-find-the-kind-and-decent/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) [Explore all 1,818 Rumi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) ## More Copying quotes > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Here's how man thinks: "If no one's done it, why should I try? It's a waste of my time; but if he's done it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabil-n-jamal-2/here-s-how-man-thinks-if-no-one-s-done-it-why-should-i-try-it-s-a/) [Nabil N. Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabil-n-jamal-2/) > [It was only after I had been out of the art school that I actually copied a small Seurat, and I copied it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-riley/it-was-only-after-i-had-been-out-of-the-art-school-that-i-actually/) [Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/) > [Copying is a form of self-validation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cox/copying-is-a-form-of-self-validation/) [Patrick Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cox/) > [You can't honour someone by copying them or trying to be exactly like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/you-can-t-honour-someone-by-copying-them-or-trying-to-be-exactly-like/) [Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/) > [Why would anybody hire a someone who is copying someone else when he can get the original one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/why-would-anybody-hire-a-someone-who-is-copying-someone-else-when-he/) [KK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kk/) > [Out in the sun, some painters are lined up. The first is copying nature, the second is copying the first, the third is copying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/out-in-the-sun-some-painters-are-lined-up-the-first-is-copying-nature/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Fools talk of imitation and copying, all is imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gainsborough/fools-talk-of-imitation-and-copying-all-is-imitation/) [Thomas Gainsborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gainsborough/) > [Copying is slavery. The letter must never be followed, only the spirit is to be grasped. Higher affirmations live in the spirit. And where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/copying-is-slavery-the-letter-must-never-be-followed-only-the-spirit/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [If I created a new depravity I would be a priestess, while my imitators would founder, after my reign, in abominable filth...Don't you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachilde/if-i-created-a-new-depravity-i-would-be-a-priestess-while-my/) [Rachilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachilde/) > [The only thing all successful people have in common is that they're successful, so don't waste your time copying "the successful strategies" of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-only-thing-all-successful-people-have-in-common-is-that-they-re/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I've learned that you can do something great, but you have to continue reinventing yourself as an artist. So by the time someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romeo-santos/i-ve-learned-that-you-can-do-something-great-but-you-have-to-continue/) [Romeo Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romeo-santos/) > [When photographers get beyond copying the achievements of others, or just repeating their own accidental first successes, they learn that they do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/when-photographers-get-beyond-copying-the-achievements-of-others-or/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [I can't catch her by copying her, I can't draw her with a borrowed stencil. She is all the things a lover should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-can-t-catch-her-by-copying-her-i-can-t-draw-her-with-a-borrowed/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) [Browse all 226 Copying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For years, copying other people, I tried to know myself. From within, I couldn't decide what to do. Unable to see, I heard my name being called. 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