--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life cannot be possessed. You cannot have…" description: "\"Life cannot be possessed. You cannot have it in your fist. If you want to have it, you have to keep your hands open.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/anonymous-1_fists_life-cannot-be-possessed-you-cannot-have_2508999.jpg" --- # Life cannot be possessed. You cannot have it in your fist… ![“Life cannot be possessed. You cannot have it in your fist. If you want to have it, you have to keep your hands open.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/anonymous-1_fists_life-cannot-be-possessed-you-cannot-have_2508999.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/anonymous-1_fists_life-cannot-be-possessed-you-cannot-have_2508999.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7f/anonymous-1_fists_life-cannot-be-possessed-you-cannot-have_2508999.jpg) > “Life cannot be possessed. You cannot have it in your fist. If you want to have it, you have to keep your hands open.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Possession is an illusion; true fulfillment comes from openness and letting go. **In simple terms:** Life can't be owned; keep an open heart. Key Takeaway Embrace openness to experience life. Themes mindfulness detachment presence Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - relationships - creative pursuits - spiritual practice Key Concepts impermanence non‑attachment acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What do you cling to that limits you? - How can openness change your relationships? A Different Perspective Openness may lead to vulnerability and loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“In this worldly life, one is possessed by the three ghosts of the mind, speech and the body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/in-this-worldly-life-one-is-possessed-by-the-three-ghosts-of-the-mind/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [When a baby comes into the world, its hands are clenched, right? Like this?" He made a fist. "Why? Because a baby not knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/when-a-baby-comes-into-the-world-its-hands-are-clenched-right-like/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“We enter the world with fists closed and when we leave, our hands are open. He said I should make full use of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debalina-haldar/we-enter-the-world-with-fists-closed-and-when-we-leave-our-hands-are/) [Debalina Haldar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debalina-haldar/) > [In a world that lives like a fist mercy is not more than waking with your hands open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/in-a-world-that-lives-like-a-fist-mercy-is-not-more-than-waking-with/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [Man is a spiritual being, a soul, and at some period of his life everyone is possessed with an irresistible desire to know his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/man-is-a-spiritual-being-a-soul-and-at-some-period-of-his-life/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“When death knocks at the door, it depends on how you react to it. If you can react in a friendly way, in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/when-death-knocks-at-the-door-it-depends-on-how-you-react-to-it-if/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [South Africa is blessed to have women and men like yourselves who have little to give but give what you have with open hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mangosuthu-buthelezi/south-africa-is-blessed-to-have-women-and-men-like-yourselves-who/) [Mangosuthu Buthelezi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mangosuthu-buthelezi/) > [Whatever situation you're in: Send love, place it in God's hands, open your heart to everyone involved - and it will turn out miraculously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/whatever-situation-you-re-in-send-love-place-it-in-god-s-hands-open/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [When you are still young and not yet adult, you want to hold everything in your own hands, but if you have your hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/when-you-are-still-young-and-not-yet-adult-you-want-to-hold/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“My father reminds me that according to Midrash - the ever-evolving commentary upon the Hebrew scriptures - when you arrive in the world as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shields/my-father-reminds-me-that-according-to-midrash-the-ever-evolving/) [David Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shields/) > [“Now that child reminds me of something our sages taught. When a baby comes into the world, it's hands are clenched, right? Like this?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/now-that-child-reminds-me-of-something-our-sages-taught-when-a-baby/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Take a look at those two open hands of yours. They are tools with which to serve, make friends, and reach out for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/take-a-look-at-those-two-open-hands-of-yours-they-are-tools-with/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [“My hands are open, ready to hold Wealth, jewels, silver and gold Send to me a money stream More than I’ve seen even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gianne/my-hands-are-open-ready-to-hold-wealth-jewels-silver-and-gold-send-to/) Lady Gianne > [“Close your eyes, cover your ears with your hands and open your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurban-said/close-your-eyes-cover-your-ears-with-your-hands-and-open-your-soul/) Kurban Said > [It depends on education--that holder of the keys which the Almighty hath put into our hands--to open the gates which lead to virtue or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/it-depends-on-education-that-holder-of-the-keys-which-the-almighty/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Fists quotes > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-guderian/you-hit-somebody-with-your-fist-and-not-with-your-fingers-spread/) [Heinz Guderian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-guderian/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Don Alejandro cut in with advice I have never forgotten. "It is only when a man knows reason is not on his side that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-p-romulo/don-alejandro-cut-in-with-advice-i-have-never-forgotten-it-is-only/) [Carlos P. Romulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-p-romulo/) > [Well this is just a fist. But when I start throwing it around I can leave one hell of a mess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/well-this-is-just-a-fist-but-when-i-start-throwing-it-around-i-can/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in." "Yes!" Leo pumped his fist. \*…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/we-started-this-together-leo-seems-only-right-you-come-along-you-find/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [About 25 years ago, I was in an apartment, and next door, they put on the radio, so I struck the wall with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-kinski/about-25-years-ago-i-was-in-an-apartment-and-next-door-they-put-on/) [Klaus Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-kinski/) > [And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He's earned all his money himself, with his fists. He didn't steal it like the rest of our politicians. And he'll be less tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/he-s-earned-all-his-money-himself-with-his-fists-he-didn-t-steal-it/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [The trainee knew he should leave, but he was unable to look away. He'd never seen anything snap out so fast or strike so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-trainee-knew-he-should-leave-but-he-was-unable-to-look-away-he-d/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [His fingers leave streaks of cold on my skin, invisible to the eye, and I think about wrapping his shirt around my fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/his-fingers-leave-streaks-of-cold-on-my-skin-invisible-to-the-eye-and/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Bullying can be physical, verbal or emotional. Words and threats are just as painful as fists, especially with social media these days. For those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/bullying-can-be-physical-verbal-or-emotional-words-and-threats-are/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [She clenched her fist in his T-shirt, put her other arm around those too-broad, too-real shoulders. When he tried to pull away, she held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-clenched-her-fist-in-his-t-shirt-put-her-other-arm-around-those/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [If man had his way, the plan of redemption would be an endless and bloody conflict. In reality, salvation was bought not by Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-man-had-his-way-the-plan-of-redemption-would-be-an-endless-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 599 Fists quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Life cannot be possessed. 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