---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I cling to circumstances I could feel…"
description: "\"If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.\" — Adrienne Rich"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/adrienne-rich-803_circumstances_if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel_98888.png"
---

#  If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible…

![“If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.” quote by Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/adrienne-rich-803_circumstances_if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel_98888.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/adrienne-rich-803_circumstances_if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel_98888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/adrienne-rich-803_circumstances_if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel_98888.png)

> “If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.”

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

## About This Quote

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

Avoid blaming external circumstances; responsibility lies in the choices we make, and denying agency leads to personal defeat.

**In simple terms:** Own choices; excuses are losing.

Key Takeaway

Responsibility is a matter of choice.

Themes

responsibility agency choice self‑accountability

Mood

assertive reflective

Type

philosophical empowering

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- relationship conflicts
- addiction recovery

Key Concepts

existentialism empowerment

Practical Applications

- decision‑making frameworks
- accountability partners

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it fair to claim no choice?
- How can we balance agency with structural limits?

A Different Perspective

External constraints can limit genuine choice, making full responsibility unrealistic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loser/)

## Related quotes

> [“Whatever our circumstances, everything can feel so simple, so beautiful, and so right when we no longer pay attention to the mind’s incessant chatter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/whatever-our-circumstances-everything-can-feel-so-simple-so-beautiful/)

[Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/)

> [“Without purpose, meaning, and perspective, it is easy to lose hope, numb our emotions, or become overwhelmed by our circumstances. We feel reduced, less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/without-purpose-meaning-and-perspective-it-is-easy-to-lose-hope-numb/)

[Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

> [Life is a difficult game of circumstances, sometimes you feel you are winning and sometimes you blame yourself for loosing over circumstances beyond your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/life-is-a-difficult-game-of-circumstances-sometimes-you-feel-you-are/)

[Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/)

> [“Our life is like a journey…’ – and so the journey seems to me less an adventure and a foray into unusual realms than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annemarie-schwarzenbach/our-life-is-like-a-journey-and-so-the-journey-seems-to-me-less-an/)

[Annemarie Schwarzenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annemarie-schwarzenbach/)

> [There are certain circumstances where I feel a little unlucky or why did this happen to me but I'm sort of transitioning from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/there-are-certain-circumstances-where-i-feel-a-little-unlucky-or-why/)

[Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/)

> [“You will feel more responsible for your own words when you notice how your words can affect lives of other people. You will feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/you-will-feel-more-responsible-for-your-own-words-when-you-notice-how/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [Guilt is generally formed when we feel we have done something wrong, upset someone, when we feel responsible for upsetting someone or for doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/guilt-is-generally-formed-when-we-feel-we-have-done-something-wrong/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [I do feel I'm responsible to carrying on the music. That's what I was charged with as a kid. When I was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-carter/i-do-feel-i-m-responsible-to-carrying-on-the-music-that-s-what-i-was/)

[Carlene Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-carter/)

> [Offer Your Goodwill to others. But, dont feel responsible for the problems of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/offer-your-goodwill-to-others-but-dont-feel-responsible-for-the/)

Senoraroy

> [Anything in which you're playing someone real does make you feel responsible for making the story as true as it can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-campbell/anything-in-which-you-re-playing-someone-real-does-make-you-feel/)

[Georgina Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-campbell/)

> [I feel responsible for everybody, and I couldn't imagine a scenario where I wouldn't be directing what was happening, at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-feel-responsible-for-everybody-and-i-couldn-t-imagine-a-scenario/)

[Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/)

> [I feel responsible. That's the way my personality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-di-matteo/i-feel-responsible-that-s-the-way-my-personality-is/)

[Roberto Di Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-di-matteo/)

> [The fact of the matter is I always have a really high sense of responsibility to the reader, whether it's a few readers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-i-always-have-a-really-high-sense-of/)

[Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/)

> [I feel responsible, as many other people's lives hang on the success of a drama in which I appear. But in essence, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-hyung-sik/i-feel-responsible-as-many-other-people-s-lives-hang-on-the-success/)

[Park Hyung-sik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-hyung-sik/)

> [Generosity helps us make a concerted effort to keep the needs of others in the forefront of our thinking. Rich people should not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/generosity-helps-us-make-a-concerted-effort-to-keep-the-needs-of/)

[Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/)

## More by Adrienne Rich

> [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [What I search for continuously in my art is adequate language, language I hope can stand beyond any particular occasion. What I'm finding is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/what-i-search-for-continuously-in-my-art-is-adequate-language/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [“Well, she's long about her coming, who must be more merciless to herself than history. Her mind full to the wind, I see her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/well-she-s-long-about-her-coming-who-must-be-more-merciless-to/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [I think my work comes out of both an intense desire for connection and what it means to feel isolated. There's always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-my-work-comes-out-of-both-an-intense-desire-for-connection/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [Popular culture entered my life as Shirley Temple, who was exactly my age and wrotea letter in the newspapers telling how her mother fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/popular-culture-entered-my-life-as-shirley-temple-who-was-exactly-my/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [... in a history of spiritual rupture, a social compact built on fantasy and collective secrets, poetry becomes more necessary than ever: it keeps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/in-a-history-of-spiritual-rupture-a-social-compact-built-on-fantasy/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [It's as if, in the mother's eyes, her smile, her stroking touch, the child first reads the message:'You are there!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-s-as-if-in-the-mother-s-eyes-her-smile-her-stroking-touch-the/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [The women's movement appeared at a very crucial moment in my life. There was a whole political movement asking such questions and others I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-women-s-movement-appeared-at-a-very-crucial-moment-in-my-life/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [The word revolution itself has become not only a dead relic of Leftism, but a key to the deadendedness of male politics: the revolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-word-revolution-itself-has-become-not-only-a-dead-relic-of/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [The decision to feed the world is the real decision. No revolution has chosen it. For that choice requires that women shall be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-decision-to-feed-the-world-is-the-real-decision-no-revolution-has/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [The necessity of poetry has to be stated over and over, but only to those who have reason to fear its power, or those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-necessity-of-poetry-has-to-be-stated-over-and-over-but-only-to/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [I think many poets, including myself, write both for the voice and for the page. I certainly write for the person alone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-many-poets-including-myself-write-both-for-the-voice-and-for/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [It's exhilarating to be alive in a time of awakening consciousness; it can also be confusing, disorienting, and painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/it-s-exhilarating-to-be-alive-in-a-time-of-awakening-consciousness-it/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

[Explore all 364 Adrienne Rich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

## More Circumstances quotes

> [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/)

[Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/)

> [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/)

[Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/)

> [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/)

[Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/)

> [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/)

[Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/)

> [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/)

[Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/)

> [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/)

[Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/)

> [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/)

[Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/)

> [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/)

[Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/)

> [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Adrienne Rich"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Circumstances"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/adrienne-rich-803_circumstances_if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel_98888.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/adrienne-rich-803_circumstances_if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel_98888.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/913/adrienne-rich-803_circumstances_if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel_98888.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser…” — Adrienne Rich",
                "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": "Adrienne Rich",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I cling to circumstances I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```