---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot consent to be led three or four…"
description: "\"I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues out of my route, without its being by force of arms.\" — Zebulon Pike"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/zebulon-pike-18680_arms_i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four_922646.jpg"
---

#  I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues…

![“I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues out of my route, without its being by force of arms.” quote by Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/zebulon-pike-18680_arms_i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four_922646.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/zebulon-pike-18680_arms_i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four_922646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/zebulon-pike-18680_arms_i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four_922646.jpg)

> “I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues out of my route, without its being by force of arms.”

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He refuses to be forced off his path, valuing autonomy over coercion.

**In simple terms:** He won't be forced away from his route.

Key Takeaway

Stand firm on your chosen path.

Themes

autonomy principles resistance

Mood

determined serious

Type

political historical

When to use this quote

- military orders
- political dissent
- career decisions

Key Concepts

ethics military force personal liberty

Questions to Reflect On

- What principles guide your decisions?
- When is compromise acceptable?

A Different Perspective

Resistance may lead to conflict or isolation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Consent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consent/)

## Related quotes

> [With the dreary season in which we travelled part of the route; with our minds much more actively employed in forming resources for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/with-the-dreary-season-in-which-we-travelled-part-of-the-route-with/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [The Pawnee chief had left the village the day after the doctor arrived, with 50 or 60 horses and many people, and had taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/the-pawnee-chief-had-left-the-village-the-day-after-the-doctor/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [This ship was a league from us, and some of the men would have taken her, and I would not consent to it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kidd/this-ship-was-a-league-from-us-and-some-of-the-men-would-have-taken/)

[William Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kidd/)

> [Play is your route to mastery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-genn/play-is-your-route-to-mastery/)

[Sara Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-genn/)

> [Just because you’ve come to a dead end, it’s not time to give up. Find a different route and keep pressing forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/just-because-you-ve-come-to-a-dead-end-it-s-not-time-to-give-up-find/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [My experience with record labels throughout my career has generally fallen into wishing I could do things that they're not built to do, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/my-experience-with-record-labels-throughout-my-career-has-generally/)

[Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/)

> [I think that by following the route that I have tried to outline, one gets into a much more interesting and productive series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-harris/i-think-that-by-following-the-route-that-i-have-tried-to-outline-one/)

[Marvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-harris/)

> [Action on the move creates its own route, creates to a very great extent the conditions under which it is to be fulfilled and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/action-on-the-move-creates-its-own-route-creates-to-a-very-great/)

[Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/)

> [PCs will go the cell-phone subsidy route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/pcs-will-go-the-cell-phone-subsidy-route/)

[Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/)

> [It seemed like my professional life would take a more scientific route. I guess that plan started to become undone when, at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnon-goldfinger/it-seemed-like-my-professional-life-would-take-a-more-scientific/)

[Arnon Goldfinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnon-goldfinger/)

> [I'm a 6'4' guy who can run every route. I can get in and out of breaks like a 5'10' guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-green/i-m-a-6-4-guy-who-can-run-every-route-i-can-get-in-and-out-of-breaks/)

[A. J. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-green/)

> [Yes, I mean like you know, having studied with Yehudi Menuhin that is like some direct route into Bach, because he was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/yes-i-mean-like-you-know-having-studied-with-yehudi-menuhin-that-is/)

[Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/)

> [Go God's way! His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/go-god-s-way-his-is-the-most-reliable-route-to-follow-when-life-gets/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [“this route is only one of several imaginary paths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/this-route-is-only-one-of-several-imaginary-paths/)

[Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/)

> [I'm a fan of supersymmetry, largely because it seems to be the only route by which gravity can be brought into the scheme. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-higgs/i-m-a-fan-of-supersymmetry-largely-because-it-seems-to-be-the-only/)

[Peter Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-higgs/)

## More by Zebulon Pike

> [Strict justice would demand total confiscation of your property, personal imprisonment and fines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/strict-justice-would-demand-total-confiscation-of-your-property/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [The Pawnee chief had left the village the day after the doctor arrived, with 50 or 60 horses and many people, and had taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/the-pawnee-chief-had-left-the-village-the-day-after-the-doctor/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [Should I be the happy mortal destined to turn the scale of war, will you not rejoice, O my father?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/should-i-be-the-happy-mortal-destined-to-turn-the-scale-of-war-will/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [The Spanish troops returned and we could yet discover the grass beaten down in the direction which they went.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/the-spanish-troops-returned-and-we-could-yet-discover-the-grass/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [In my proper character, an officer of the United States army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/in-my-proper-character-an-officer-of-the-united-states-army/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [Give immediate instruction to all your posts in said territory, under your direction, at no time and on no pretence to hoist, or suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/give-immediate-instruction-to-all-your-posts-in-said-territory-under/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [If we go to Chihuahua we must be considered as prisoners of war?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/if-we-go-to-chihuahua-we-must-be-considered-as-prisoners-of-war/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [The village had a mill near it, situated on the little creek, which made very good flour. The population consisted of civilized Indians, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/the-village-had-a-mill-near-it-situated-on-the-little-creek-which/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [It was the wish of the Americans that their red brethren should remain peacefully round their own fires, and not embroil themselves in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/it-was-the-wish-of-the-americans-that-their-red-brethren-should/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [On no further occasion present a flag or medal to an Indian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/on-no-further-occasion-present-a-flag-or-medal-to-an-indian/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [The preparations for my new voyage prevented the possiblity of my paying that attention to the correction of my errors, that I should otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/the-preparations-for-my-new-voyage-prevented-the-possiblity-of-my/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [He was a man, that he always performed his promises, that he had never said he would return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/he-was-a-man-that-he-always-performed-his-promises-that-he-had-never/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [With the dreary season in which we travelled part of the route; with our minds much more actively employed in forming resources for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/with-the-dreary-season-in-which-we-travelled-part-of-the-route-with/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [There had so lately been a large force of Spanish cavalry at the village, which had made a great impression on the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/there-had-so-lately-been-a-large-force-of-spanish-cavalry-at-the/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

> [They were conspiring to desert us in the night and steal some of our horses... we engaged a spy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/they-were-conspiring-to-desert-us-in-the-night-and-steal-some-of-our/)

[Zebulon Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

[Explore all 34 Zebulon Pike quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/)

## More Arms quotes

> [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/)

Brian Reade

> [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/)

[Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/)

[Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/)

> [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/)

[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/)

[Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/)

> [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/)

[Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/)

> [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/)

[Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/)

> [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/)

[Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/)

> [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/)

[Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/)

> [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/)

[Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/)

Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues out of my route, without its being by force of arms.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Zebulon Pike"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four-hundred-leagues-out-of-my/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four-hundred-leagues-out-of-my/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/zebulon-pike-18680_arms_i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four_922646.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/zebulon-pike-18680_arms_i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four_922646.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b0/zebulon-pike-18680_arms_i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four_922646.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I cannot consent to be led three or four hundred leagues out of my route, without its being by force of arms.” — Zebulon Pike",
                "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": "Zebulon Pike",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zebulon-pike/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I cannot consent to be led...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four-hundred-leagues-out-of-my/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zebulon-pike/i-cannot-consent-to-be-led-three-or-four-hundred-leagues-out-of-my/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```