Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.

In a series of parallel commands, the speaker contrasts the default habits of “others” with a deliberate ethic of self-direction. “Small lives,” “small things,” and “small hurts” point to pettiness, distraction, and emotional reactivity—patterns that keep a person from pursuing larger aims. The repeated “but not you” functions as a moral boundary: it invites the listener to refuse social contagion and to choose a higher standard of agency. The final line makes the theme explicit—do not outsource your future. Overall, the quote is a motivational call to personal responsibility, emotional discipline, and purposeful ambition.