--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Others may do as they please, but as for…" description: "\"“Others may do as they please, but as for me,' he concluded ferociously, 'I shall never disclose to anybody that an acrobat, a trained bear of the maga..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/stephen-crane-4187_acrobat_others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for_2449153.jpg" --- # Others may do as they please, but as for me,' he concluded… ![“Others may do as they please, but as for me,' he concluded ferociously, 'I shall never disclose to anybody that an acrobat, a trained bear of the magazines, a juggler of comic paragraphs, is not a priceless pearl of art and philosophy.” quote by Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/stephen-crane-4187_acrobat_others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for_2449153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/stephen-crane-4187_acrobat_others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for_2449153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/stephen-crane-4187_acrobat_others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for_2449153.jpg) > ““Others may do as they please, but as for me,' he concluded ferociously, 'I shall never disclose to anybody that an acrobat, a trained bear of the magazines, a juggler of comic paragraphs, is not a priceless pearl of art and philosophy.”” [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator claims to keep his artistic talents secret, suggesting a fear of exposing one's creative work to judgment. **In simple terms:** He hides his artistic abilities. Key Takeaway Embrace and share your creativity. Themes self‑expression secrecy artistic integrity Mood defiant reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - publishing work - creative collaborations - public performances Key Concepts vulnerability self‑esteem Questions to Reflect On - Why hide your talents? - What would happen if you revealed them? A Different Perspective The speaker’s bravado may mask insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acrobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acrobat/) [Acrobat Trained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acrobat-trained-555418/) [Anybody Acrobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anybody-acrobat-555420/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Comic Paragraphs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-paragraphs-555421/) [Juggler Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juggler-comic-555419/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes a writer, like an acrobat, must try a trick that is too much for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-a-writer-like-an-acrobat-must-try-a-trick-that-is-too-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In France, it is only permissible to admire statues but tropical countries have no such prejudices, and the emergent Oriental in me took full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/in-france-it-is-only-permissible-to-admire-statues-but-tropical/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [The politician is an acrobat. He keeps his balance by saying the opposite of what he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-barres/the-politician-is-an-acrobat-he-keeps-his-balance-by-saying-the/) [Maurice Barres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-barres/) > [“Painted and smiling, I balance on my trapeze. Luka is poised ten metres away, his muscles shining under the lights. The wooden circles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-logan/painted-and-smiling-i-balance-on-my-trapeze-luka-is-poised-ten-metres/) [Kirsty Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-logan/) > [But remember that intent is everything. One does not just jump, one lifts into the air, one rises. In the same way the lifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-de-mille/but-remember-that-intent-is-everything-one-does-not-just-jump-one/) [Agnes de Mille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-de-mille/) > [I'm not an acrobat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-buffer/i-m-not-an-acrobat/) [Bruce Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-buffer/) > [“We all admire the spangled acrobat with classic grace meticulously walking his tight rope in the talcum light; but how much rarer art there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/we-all-admire-the-spangled-acrobat-with-classic-grace-meticulously/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [My friend and coach reminded me this week that there is a moment when the acrobat lets go of one trapeze and is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/my-friend-and-coach-reminded-me-this-week-that-there-is-a-moment-when/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [“The acrobat practices: He steps on the edge of a chair and leaps to the floor, feeling the rush as the air flares up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wataru-tsurumi/the-acrobat-practices-he-steps-on-the-edge-of-a-chair-and-leaps-to/) [Wataru Tsurumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wataru-tsurumi/) > [“The Marquis de V... - whose falsetto voice and little watery eyes I have always detested - was saying to me with a wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/the-marquis-de-v-whose-falsetto-voice-and-little-watery-eyes-i-have/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [For an acrobat, the acting concepts of 'risk', 'a life or death situation' and 'trusting your partner' are visceral. If an actor loses focus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-raz/for-an-acrobat-the-acting-concepts-of-risk-a-life-or-death-situation/) [Jeff Raz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-raz/) > [As he walks away on his own two feet--the toddler's body-mind has reached its moment of perfection. The world is his and he the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-j-kaplan/as-he-walks-away-on-his-own-two-feet-the-toddler-s-body-mind-has/) [Louise J. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-j-kaplan/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) ## More by Stephen Crane > [Doubtless there are other roads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/doubtless-there-are-other-roads/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“She thinks my name is Freddie, you know, but of course it ain't. I always tell these people some name like that, because if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/she-thinks-my-name-is-freddie-you-know-but-of-course-it-ain-t-i/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [Every sin is a result of collaboration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/every-sin-is-a-result-of-collaboration/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“He turned now with a lover's thirst to images of tranquil skies, fresh meadows, cool brooks— an existence of soft and eternal peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/he-turned-now-with-a-lover-s-thirst-to-images-of-tranquil-skies-fresh/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“XXIV I saw a man pursuing the horizon; Round and round they sped. I was disturbed at this; I accosted the man. "It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/xxiv-i-saw-a-man-pursuing-the-horizon-round-and-round-they-sped-i-was/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [It was surprising that Nature had gone tranquilly on with her golden process in the midst of so much devilment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/it-was-surprising-that-nature-had-gone-tranquilly-on-with-her-golden/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [And it was as if fate had betrayed the soldier. In death it exposed to his enemies that poverty which in life he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/and-it-was-as-if-fate-had-betrayed-the-soldier-in-death-it-exposed-to/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“I stood upon a high place, And saw, below, many devils Running, leaping, and carousing in sin. One looked up, grinning, And said, "Comrade!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/i-stood-upon-a-high-place-and-saw-below-many-devils-running-leaping/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [A serious prophet upon predicting a flood should be the first man to climb a tree. This would demonstrate that he was indeed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-serious-prophet-upon-predicting-a-flood-should-be-the-first-man-to/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“A single rifle flashed in a thicket before the regiment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/a-single-rifle-flashed-in-a-thicket-before-the-regiment/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [XXVIII "Truth," said a traveller, "Is a rock, a mighty fortress; "Often have I been to it, "Even to its highest tower, "From whence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/xxviii-truth-said-a-traveller-is-a-rock-a-mighty-fortress-often-have/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“The lieutenant, returning from a tour after a bandage, produced from a hidden receptacle of his mind new and portentous oaths suited to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/the-lieutenant-returning-from-a-tour-after-a-bandage-produced-from-a/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“Many a man ought to have a bath-tub larger than the boat which here rode upon the sea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/many-a-man-ought-to-have-a-bath-tub-larger-than-the-boat-which-here/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“Why—why—” stammered the youth struggling with his balking tongue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/why-why-stammered-the-youth-struggling-with-his-balking-tongue/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) > [“Eventually, his courage expended itself upon these objections. The debates drained him of his fire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/eventually-his-courage-expended-itself-upon-these-objections-the/) [Stephen Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) [Explore all 115 Stephen Crane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/) ## More Acrobat quotes > [As he walks away on his own two feet--the toddler's body-mind has reached its moment of perfection. The world is his and he the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-j-kaplan/as-he-walks-away-on-his-own-two-feet-the-toddler-s-body-mind-has/) [Louise J. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-j-kaplan/) > [For an acrobat, the acting concepts of 'risk', 'a life or death situation' and 'trusting your partner' are visceral. If an actor loses focus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-raz/for-an-acrobat-the-acting-concepts-of-risk-a-life-or-death-situation/) [Jeff Raz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-raz/) > [“The Marquis de V... - whose falsetto voice and little watery eyes I have always detested - was saying to me with a wicked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/the-marquis-de-v-whose-falsetto-voice-and-little-watery-eyes-i-have/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [“The acrobat practices: He steps on the edge of a chair and leaps to the floor, feeling the rush as the air flares up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wataru-tsurumi/the-acrobat-practices-he-steps-on-the-edge-of-a-chair-and-leaps-to/) [Wataru Tsurumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wataru-tsurumi/) > [My friend and coach reminded me this week that there is a moment when the acrobat lets go of one trapeze and is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/my-friend-and-coach-reminded-me-this-week-that-there-is-a-moment-when/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [“We all admire the spangled acrobat with classic grace meticulously walking his tight rope in the talcum light; but how much rarer art there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/we-all-admire-the-spangled-acrobat-with-classic-grace-meticulously/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [I'm not an acrobat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-buffer/i-m-not-an-acrobat/) [Bruce Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-buffer/) > [But remember that intent is everything. One does not just jump, one lifts into the air, one rises. In the same way the lifted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-de-mille/but-remember-that-intent-is-everything-one-does-not-just-jump-one/) [Agnes de Mille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-de-mille/) > [“Painted and smiling, I balance on my trapeze. Luka is poised ten metres away, his muscles shining under the lights. The wooden circles in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-logan/painted-and-smiling-i-balance-on-my-trapeze-luka-is-poised-ten-metres/) [Kirsty Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-logan/) > [The politician is an acrobat. He keeps his balance by saying the opposite of what he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-barres/the-politician-is-an-acrobat-he-keeps-his-balance-by-saying-the/) [Maurice Barres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-barres/) > [“In France, it is only permissible to admire statues but tropical countries have no such prejudices, and the emergent Oriental in me took full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-lorrain/in-france-it-is-only-permissible-to-admire-statues-but-tropical/) [Jean Lorrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-lorrain/) > [Sometimes a writer, like an acrobat, must try a trick that is too much for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-a-writer-like-an-acrobat-must-try-a-trick-that-is-too-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 13 Acrobat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acrobat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Others may do as they please, but as for me,' he concluded ferociously, 'I shall never disclose to anybody that an acrobat, a trained bear of the magazines, a juggler of comic paragraphs, is not a priceless pearl of art and philosophy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Crane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for-me-he-concluded-ferociously-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acrobat" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for-me-he-concluded-ferociously-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/stephen-crane-4187_acrobat_others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for_2449153.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/stephen-crane-4187_acrobat_others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for_2449153.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c04/stephen-crane-4187_acrobat_others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for_2449153.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Others may do as they please, but as for me,' he concluded ferociously, 'I shall never disclose to anybody…” — Stephen Crane", "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": "Stephen Crane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-crane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Others may do as they please,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for-me-he-concluded-ferociously-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-crane/others-may-do-as-they-please-but-as-for-me-he-concluded-ferociously-i/#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 } } ] } ```