--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to be vigilant about keeping…" description: "\"You have to be vigilant about keeping your own fire alive.\" — Tift Merritt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/tift-merritt-25395_alive_you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-yo_1491250.jpg" --- # You have to be vigilant about keeping your own fire alive. ![“You have to be vigilant about keeping your own fire alive.” quote by Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/tift-merritt-25395_alive_you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-yo_1491250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/tift-merritt-25395_alive_you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-yo_1491250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/tift-merritt-25395_alive_you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-yo_1491250.jpg) > “You have to be vigilant about keeping your own fire alive.” [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vigilance is required to sustain personal passion and inner drive. **In simple terms:** Guard your inner fire. Key Takeaway Stay alert to keep passion alive. Themes motivation self‑care resilience Mood inspirational reflective Type musical personal development When to use this quote - career development - creative projects - daily routines Key Concepts psychology of drive personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your fire? - How do you protect it from burnout? A Different Perspective May ignore external support needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) ## Related quotes > [There is only two things keeping me alive. My bestfriend and you. Please dont let me die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-only-two-things-keeping-me-alive-my-bestfriend-and-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Polypharmacology and curmudgeonliness were keeping her alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-pickett/polypharmacology-and-curmudgeonliness-were-keeping-her-alive/) [Rex Pickett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-pickett/) > [I love to sit down on a beanbag at the end of the day and watch my fish. It's therapeutic, isn't it? They're alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-love-to-sit-down-on-a-beanbag-at-the-end-of-the-day-and-watch-my/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [The things that are keeping you alive, are what's killing you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-things-that-are-keeping-you-alive-are-what-s-killing-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And some days I wonder why I insist on keeping myself alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/and-some-days-i-wonder-why-i-insist-on-keeping-myself-alive/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [And the blood in these veins isn't pumping any less than it ever has And that's the hope I have, the only thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proudlesbian/and-the-blood-in-these-veins-isn-t-pumping-any-less-than-it-ever-has/) ProudLesbian > [“The duty of the artist lies in keeping alive a sense of wonder in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-duty-of-the-artist-lies-in-keeping-alive-a-sense-of-wonder-in-the/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Even when our life is most difficult, it is important to remember that something within us is keeping us alive- the life force-that lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/even-when-our-life-is-most-difficult-it-is-important-to-remember-that/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [If every beat of my heart is caused the people who are important to me¦I just want to say, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara/if-every-beat-of-my-heart-is-caused-the-people-who-are-important-to/) [Kara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara/) > [“Sometimes dying’s okay,” he said. “Sometimes keeping something alive just means you’re making it hurt more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/sometimes-dying-s-okay-he-said-sometimes-keeping-something-alive-just/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [“Maybe it’s our duty to be shaped a hundred times by the same stories. We think we’re telling them but really they’re keeping us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/maybe-it-s-our-duty-to-be-shaped-a-hundred-times-by-the-same-stories/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [Baby, being so far away from you is killing me. But knowing that one day I'll be your arms is keeping me alive. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuts-and-scars/baby-being-so-far-away-from-you-is-killing-me-but-knowing-that-one/) Cuts And Scars > [A totalitarian power is mainly busy in keeping itself alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/a-totalitarian-power-is-mainly-busy-in-keeping-itself-alive/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [Life to me is just so precious. I fail to see the wrong in keeping someone alive who's still got quality of life even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-teo/life-to-me-is-just-so-precious-i-fail-to-see-the-wrong-in-keeping/) [Charles Teo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-teo/) > [“Your mom is right here with us, Elle. Her spirit’s here giving my exhausted arm strength to keep hanging on. She’s keeping the current…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-williams/your-mom-is-right-here-with-us-elle-her-spirit-s-here-giving-my/) [Nicole Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-williams/) ## More by Tift Merritt > [I think, at the end of the day, I have an outsider's heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-think-at-the-end-of-the-day-i-have-an-outsider-s-heart/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [Sometimes when you're writing on a ukulele, you're in a totally new land, rhythmically or melodically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/sometimes-when-you-re-writing-on-a-ukulele-you-re-in-a-totally-new/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I'm always kind of surprised how much I'm associated with country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-m-always-kind-of-surprised-how-much-i-m-associated-with-country/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I think that there are a lot of things that come along with being a musician, but I don't want to whine about them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-think-that-there-are-a-lot-of-things-that-come-along-with-being-a/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I think you need a concrete, real-world metaphor to talk about inner life without feeling like a jerk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-think-you-need-a-concrete-real-world-metaphor-to-talk-about-inner/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [In France, I discovered that I love writing in the city. There's such an intensity to being in the city that matches the intensity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/in-france-i-discovered-that-i-love-writing-in-the-city-there-s-such/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [France was very opposite of the show-business experience I'd been living; I was anonymous and alone. I wore no makeup, wore the same clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/france-was-very-opposite-of-the-show-business-experience-i-d-been/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [The thought of making work that's easily consumed and quickly forgotten - what's the point? I want my work to be cohesive, to age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/the-thought-of-making-work-that-s-easily-consumed-and-quickly/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I wanted to dedicate myself completely to the things that matter to me and let everything else go, and I think that's a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-wanted-to-dedicate-myself-completely-to-the-things-that-matter-to/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [You can always boil down the life of a musician to touring, playing, and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/you-can-always-boil-down-the-life-of-a-musician-to-touring-playing/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I really love music, and I definitely love playing music and getting to be a part of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-really-love-music-and-i-definitely-love-playing-music-and-getting/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I don't want to be overly philosophical, but I think there are things you earn for yourself as you go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-don-t-want-to-be-overly-philosophical-but-i-think-there-are-things/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [My work is has always been very, very personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/my-work-is-has-always-been-very-very-personal/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I travel in a Ford Econoline van with a trailer. So it's not quite so glamorous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-travel-in-a-ford-econoline-van-with-a-trailer-so-it-s-not-quite-so/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) > [I'm a writer, first and foremost, and I sort of take my cues from the songwriters of the '70s, who are talking about what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/i-m-a-writer-first-and-foremost-and-i-sort-of-take-my-cues-from-the/) [Tift Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) [Explore all 23 Tift Merritt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have to be vigilant about keeping your own fire alive.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tift Merritt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-your-own-fire-alive/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-your-own-fire-alive/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/tift-merritt-25395_alive_you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-yo_1491250.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/tift-merritt-25395_alive_you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-yo_1491250.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bc/tift-merritt-25395_alive_you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-yo_1491250.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have to be vigilant about keeping your own fire alive.” — Tift Merritt", "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": "Tift Merritt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tift-merritt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You have to be vigilant about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-your-own-fire-alive/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tift-merritt/you-have-to-be-vigilant-about-keeping-your-own-fire-alive/#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 } } ] } ```