--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Experience is not what happens to a man…" description: "\"Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.\" — Aldous Huxley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/aldous-huxley-97_experience_experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man_2384109.jpg" --- # Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man… ![“Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.” quote by Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/aldous-huxley-97_experience_experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man_2384109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/aldous-huxley-97_experience_experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man_2384109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/aldous-huxley-97_experience_experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man_2384109.jpg) > “Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.” [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Experience is defined by our response, not by events themselves. **In simple terms:** Life is what we do with what happens. Key Takeaway Choose purposeful actions amid circumstances. Themes experience agency perception choice Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decision‑making - mindfulness - creative projects Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you transform challenges into opportunities? - What habits shape your responses? A Different Perspective External events can limit perceived agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ## Related quotes > [Once we see an aspect of what we or someone else does as something that happens, we lose our grip on the idea that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-nagel/once-we-see-an-aspect-of-what-we-or-someone-else-does-as-something/) [Thomas Nagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-nagel/) > [It does not so much matter what happens. It is what one does when it happens that really counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingalls-wilder/it-does-not-so-much-matter-what-happens-it-is-what-one-does-when-it/) [Laura Ingalls Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingalls-wilder/) > [“Experience is not what happens to you its what you do with what happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/experience-is-not-what-happens-to-you-its-what-you-do-with-what/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. It is a gift for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man-it-is-what-a-man-does-with-2/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Experience is not a matter of having actually swum the Hellespont, or danced with the dervishes, or slept in a doss-house. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/experience-is-not-a-matter-of-having-actually-swum-the-hellespont-or/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Nothing happens to man without the permission of God ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/nothing-happens-to-man-without-the-permission-of-god/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [What happens to a man is less significant than what happens within him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-happens-to-a-man-is-less-significant-than-what-happens-within-him/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/nothing-happens-to-any-man-that-he-is-not-formed-by-nature-to-bear/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“It is because so much happens. Too much happens. That's it. Man performs, engenders, so much more than he can or should have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-because-so-much-happens-too-much-happens-that-s-it-man-performs/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [The consumer likes having a brand-new experience and reliving it over and over again. If you create the right type of experience, that also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-fils-aime/the-consumer-likes-having-a-brand-new-experience-and-reliving-it-over/) [Reggie Fils-Aime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-fils-aime/) > [“Spiritual practice won’t change what happens. Rather, it will help us to experience what happens not as evil, but simply as what happens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-a-lew/spiritual-practice-won-t-change-what-happens-rather-it-will-help-us/) [Alan A. Lew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-a-lew/) > [“Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you o with what happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huxley-aldous-2/experience-is-not-what-happens-to-you-it-s-what-you-o-with-what/) Huxley Aldous > [I do miss the excitement of seeing history up close, of having intimate knowledge, through direct experience, of what happens when people and governments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-miss-the-excitement-of-seeing-history-up-close-of-having/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Though 'Fire and Rain' is very personal, for other people it resonates as a sort of commonly held experience... And that's what happens with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-taylor/though-fire-and-rain-is-very-personal-for-other-people-it-resonates/) [James Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-taylor/) > [There is no question that creative intelligence comes not through learning things you find in books or histories that have already been written, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/there-is-no-question-that-creative-intelligence-comes-not-through/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) ## More by Aldous Huxley > [“Unorthodoxy threatens more than the life of a mere individual; it strikes at Society itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/unorthodoxy-threatens-more-than-the-life-of-a-mere-individual-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Man has an almost infinite capacity for taking things and people for granted and thereby missing out on the pleasure of being grateful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/man-has-an-almost-infinite-capacity-for-taking-things-and-people-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [My fate cannot be mastered; it can only be collaborated with and thereby, to some extent, directed. Nor am I the captain of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/my-fate-cannot-be-mastered-it-can-only-be-collaborated-with-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Impulse arrested spills over, and the flood is feeling, the flood is passion, the flood is even madness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/impulse-arrested-spills-over-and-the-flood-is-feeling-the-flood-is/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“The question for the man of sense is: Do we or do we not want to go to hell? And his answer is: No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-question-for-the-man-of-sense-is-do-we-or-do-we-not-want-to-go-to/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“I’ll MAKE you be free whether you want to or not.’ -The Savage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/i-ll-make-you-be-free-whether-you-want-to-or-not-the-savage/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The third petition of the Lord's Prayer is repeated daily by millions who have not the slightest intention of letting anyone's will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-third-petition-of-the-lord-s-prayer-is-repeated-daily-by-millions/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Then what’s time for?” asked Lenina in some astonishment. Apparently, for going on walks in the Lake District; for that was what he now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/then-what-s-time-for-asked-lenina-in-some-astonishment-apparently-for/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/all-right-then-said-the-savage-defiantly-i-m-claiming-the-right-to-be/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/speed-it-seems-to-me-provides-the-one-genuinely-modern-pleasure/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“What you need is a gramme of soma.” “All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/what-you-need-is-a-gramme-of-soma-all-the-advantages-of-christianity/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [To be enlightened is to be aware, always, of total reality in its immanent otherness - to be aware of it and yet remain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/to-be-enlightened-is-to-be-aware-always-of-total-reality-in-its/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“Quote of the day:Quote of the day: A democracy which makes or even effectively prepares for modern, scientific war must necessarily cease to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/quote-of-the-day-quote-of-the-day-a-democracy-which-makes-or-even/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) [Explore all 1,291 Aldous Huxley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) Michael Bugeja > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aldous Huxley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man-it-is-what-a-man-does-with-3/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man-it-is-what-a-man-does-with-3/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/aldous-huxley-97_experience_experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man_2384109.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/aldous-huxley-97_experience_experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man_2384109.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a4/aldous-huxley-97_experience_experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man_2384109.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.” — Aldous Huxley", "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": "Aldous Huxley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Experience is not what happens to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man-it-is-what-a-man-does-with-3/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/experience-is-not-what-happens-to-a-man-it-is-what-a-man-does-with-3/#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 } } ] } ```