--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we call our destiny is truly our…" description: "\"What we call our destiny is truly our character and that character can be altered. The knowledge that we are responsible for our actions and attitudes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anais-nin-288_action_what-we-call-our-destiny-is-truly-our-ch_1648628.jpg" --- # What we call our destiny is truly our character and that… ![“What we call our destiny is truly our character and that character can be altered. The knowledge that we are responsible for our actions and attitudes does not need to be discouraging, because it also means that we are free to change this destiny. One is not in bondage to the past, which has…” quote by Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anais-nin-288_action_what-we-call-our-destiny-is-truly-our-ch_1648628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anais-nin-288_action_what-we-call-our-destiny-is-truly-our-ch_1648628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/anais-nin-288_action_what-we-call-our-destiny-is-truly-our-ch_1648628.jpg) > “What we call our destiny is truly our character and that character can be altered. The knowledge that we are responsible for our actions and attitudes does not need to be discouraging, because it also means that we are free to change this destiny. One is not in bondage to the past, which has shaped our feelings, to race, inheritance, background. All this can be altered if we have the courage to examine how it formed us. We can alter the chemistry provided we have the courage to dissect the elements.” [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your destiny is shaped by character, which you can change through self‑awareness and responsibility, freeing you from past constraints. **In simple terms:** Character determines destiny; you can change it. Key Takeaway Take responsibility and reshape your path. Themes self‑growth responsibility freedom Mood reflective empowering Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal therapy - career decisions - relationship choices - habit formation - overcoming limiting beliefs Key Concepts psychology agency identity determinism Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your character limit you? - How can you responsibly rewrite your story? A Different Perspective Changing character requires confronting uncomfortable truths about yourself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Bondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Chemistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemistry/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Inheritance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inheritance/) [Our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-destiny/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) ## Related quotes > [“Did the rhythm of the train on the tracks somehow unravel her and make her behave out of character? Was she altered in transit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/did-the-rhythm-of-the-train-on-the-tracks-somehow-unravel-her-and/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [In the two novels I have published, it was my fortune at different times, and from different persons, to hear the most unqualified censure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/in-the-two-novels-i-have-published-it-was-my-fortune-at-different/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [They often say, "What's the point in astrology if you can't change your destiny?" Well, it's true that you can't change your destiny, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/they-often-say-what-s-the-point-in-astrology-if-you-can-t-change-your/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [They often say, Whats the point in astrology if you cant change your destiny?. Well, its true that you cant change your destiny, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/they-often-say-whats-the-point-in-astrology-if-you-cant-change-your/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [“Your path will change. Your destiny doesn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-miller/your-path-will-change-your-destiny-doesn-t/) [Lauren Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-miller/) > [“Once a person has the formula,anything can be changed, even the future. Through determination, a man can discover how to completely change his destiny.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-a-person-has-the-formula-anything-can-be-changed-even-the-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You believe in Destiny, don't you?" "Yes," said Leah quietly. "Then you have to believe that things happen for a reason, and even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacquelyn-frank/you-believe-in-destiny-don-t-you-yes-said-leah-quietly-then-you-have/) [Jacquelyn Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacquelyn-frank/) > [“You can't change your destiny, but you can challenge it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-gagnon/you-can-t-change-your-destiny-but-you-can-challenge-it/) Edmond Gagnon > [You cannot change destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/you-cannot-change-destiny/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [“In a second you can change your mind, in a minute you can change your heart, in an hour you can change your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/in-a-second-you-can-change-your-mind-in-a-minute-you-can-change-your/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“If one man or woman is willing to obey God, it can change the destiny of millions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dc-talk/if-one-man-or-woman-is-willing-to-obey-god-it-can-change-the-destiny/) DC Talk > [Every thought is a cause & every condition is an effect. Change your thoughts & you change your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/every-thought-is-a-cause-every-condition-is-an-effect-change-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [We are not here on earth to change our destiny, but to fulfill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-finley/we-are-not-here-on-earth-to-change-our-destiny-but-to-fulfill-it/) [Guy Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-finley/) > [If you have a strong mind and plant in it a firm resolve, you can change your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-you-have-a-strong-mind-and-plant-in-it-a-firm-resolve-you-can/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“We cannot change our destiny, we just have to have the courage to know what it is, and accept it." - Cinderpelt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-hunter/we-cannot-change-our-destiny-we-just-have-to-have-the-courage-to-know/) [Erin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-hunter/) ## More by Anais Nin > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“…For love it is never the same. What goes on inside is never the same just like this music which changes every instant. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/for-love-it-is-never-the-same-what-goes-on-inside-is-never-the-same/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I have so strong a sense of creation, of tomorrow, that I cannot get drunk, knowing I will be less alive, less well, less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-have-so-strong-a-sense-of-creation-of-tomorrow-that-i-cannot-get/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [We don't have a language for the senses. Feelings are images, sensations are like musical sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/we-don-t-have-a-language-for-the-senses-feelings-are-images/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Strange, isn't it, that no chemical will give a human being the iridescence that illusions have given them? Give me your hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/strange-isn-t-it-that-no-chemical-will-give-a-human-being-the/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The personal, if it is deep enough, becomes universal, mythical, symbolic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-personal-if-it-is-deep-enough-becomes-universal-mythical-symbolic/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Introspection is a devouring monster. You have to feed it with much material, much experience, many people, many places, many loves, many creations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-is-a-devouring-monster-you-have-to-feed-it-with-much/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I don't mind working, holding my ground intellectually, artistically; but as a woman, oh, God, as a woman I want to be dominated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-don-t-mind-working-holding-my-ground-intellectually-artistically/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“Laughter and tears are not separate experiences, with intervals of rest: they rush out together and it is like walking with a sword between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/laughter-and-tears-are-not-separate-experiences-with-intervals-of/) [Anaïs Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The basis of insincerity is the idealized image we hold of ourselves and wish to impose on others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-basis-of-insincerity-is-the-idealized-image-we-hold-of-ourselves/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I write emotional algebra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-write-emotional-algebra/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say, but what we are unable to say. Most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-role-of-the-writer-is-not-to-say-what-we-can-all-say-but-what-we/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [I say quotations are literary. They are good only when dealing with ideas, not with experience. Experience should be pure, unique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-say-quotations-are-literary-they-are-good-only-when-dealing-with/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) [Explore all 715 Anais Nin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! 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