--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How shall I sum up my life? I think I've…" description: "\"How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/audrey-hepburn-1706_bad-time_how-shall-i-sum-up-my-life-i-think-i-ve_656246.jpg" --- # How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly… ![“How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, 'Good things aren't supposed to just fall in your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.' So you have to make that…” quote by Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/audrey-hepburn-1706_bad-time_how-shall-i-sum-up-my-life-i-think-i-ve_656246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/audrey-hepburn-1706_bad-time_how-shall-i-sum-up-my-life-i-think-i-ve_656246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/audrey-hepburn-1706_bad-time_how-shall-i-sum-up-my-life-i-think-i-ve_656246.jpg) > “How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, 'Good things aren't supposed to just fall in your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.' So you have to make that effort. But at the end of a bad time or a huge effort, I've always had - how shall I say it? - the prize at the end. My whole life shows that.” [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life rewards effort and gratitude; blessings follow purposeful work and faith **In simple terms:** Hard work and faith bring blessings Key Takeaway Combine effort with belief Themes faith gratitude effort reward purpose Mood reflective optimistic Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - volunteering - personal goal setting - overcoming adversity Key Concepts Spirituality karma personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance effort with reliance on faith? - What role does gratitude play in your successes? A Different Perspective Hard work alone may not guarantee outcomes; external factors matter ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-time/) [Bad times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-times/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [God Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-generous-482399/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Lap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lap/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-think/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Make Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-effort/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Prize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prize/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Sum Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sum-life-611208/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [How shall I sum up my life? I think I’ve been particularly lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/how-shall-i-sum-up-my-life-i-think-i-ve-been-particularly-lucky/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Good things aren't supposed to just fall into your lap. God is very generous, but He expects you to do your part first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/good-things-aren-t-supposed-to-just-fall-into-your-lap-god-is-very/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [We spoke to God about the children, and we were afraid to ask God for specific things. We thought that it might be too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/we-spoke-to-god-about-the-children-and-we-were-afraid-to-ask-god-for/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [When the mask of self-righteousness has been torn from us and we stand stripped of all our accustomed defenses, we are candidates for God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/when-the-mask-of-self-righteousness-has-been-torn-from-us-and-we/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [What great profit you gain from God when you are generous! You give a coin and receive a kingdom; you give bread from wheat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-of-villanova/what-great-profit-you-gain-from-god-when-you-are-generous-you-give-a/) [Thomas of Villanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-of-villanova/) > [God is so generous that He gave His Son and the Holy Spirit for we can be save and recieve the gift of eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/god-is-so-generous-that-he-gave-his-son-and-the-holy-spirit-for-we/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [God is very generous and does not deny His grace to anyone. Indeed he gives more than what we ask of Him. Faithfulness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-faustina-kowalska/god-is-very-generous-and-does-not-deny-his-grace-to-anyone-indeed-he/) [Mary Faustina Kowalska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-faustina-kowalska/) > [“So we, God’s servants, go, our Master’s invitation in our hands, out to the highways and hedges. We walk through squalid refugee camps in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mccord/so-we-god-s-servants-go-our-master-s-invitation-in-our-hands-out-to/) [Kate McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mccord/) > [“God is more generous than men and will measure them by a different standard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/god-is-more-generous-than-men-and-will-measure-them-by-a-different/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The deeper the experience of the free grace of God, the more generous we must become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-deeper-the-experience-of-the-free-grace-of-god-the-more-generous/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [When you are generous to others, God will always be generous with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pryncez-nika/when-you-are-generous-to-others-god-will-always-be-generous-with-you/) [Pryncez\_Nika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pryncez-nika/) > [Children represent God's most generous gift to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/children-represent-god-s-most-generous-gift-to-us/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [Wander a whole summer if you can. Thousands of God's blessings will search you and soak you as if you were a sponge, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/wander-a-whole-summer-if-you-can-thousands-of-god-s-blessings-will/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“There is no way to clearly capture or sum up life...when fully lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-telford/there-is-no-way-to-clearly-capture-or-sum-up-life-when-fully-lived/) [Jill Telford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-telford/) > [Wander a whole summer if you can. Time will not be taken from the sum of life. Instead of shortening, it will definitely lengthen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/wander-a-whole-summer-if-you-can-time-will-not-be-taken-from-the-sum/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## More by Audrey Hepburn > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I don't bite you know ... unless it's called for,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-don-t-bite-you-know-unless-it-s-called-for/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I don't need a bedroom to prove my womanliness. I can convey just as much sex appeal picking apples off a tree or standing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-don-t-need-a-bedroom-to-prove-my-womanliness-i-can-convey-just-as/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [You can only hope to get a combination of happy work and a happy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/you-can-only-hope-to-get-a-combination-of-happy-work-and-a-happy-life/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Always be a first-rate version of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/always-be-a-first-rate-version-of-yourself/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/true-beauty-in-a-woman-is-reflected-in-her-soul/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/for-lovely-eyes-seek-out-the-good-in-people/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Promise me one thing: don't take me home until I'm drunk - very drunk indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/promise-me-one-thing-don-t-take-me-home-until-i-m-drunk-very-drunk/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [ It's sad if people think that's (homemaking) a dull existance, \[but\] you can't just buy an apartment and furnish it and walk away. It's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/it-s-sad-if-people-think-that-s-homemaking-a-dull-existance-but-you/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the think I like the most, so laugh, It cures a multitude of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-love-people-who-make-me-laugh-i-honestly-think-it-s-the-think-i/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [My first big mission for UNICEF in Ethiopia was just to attract attention, before it was too late, to conditions which threatened the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/my-first-big-mission-for-unicef-in-ethiopia-was-just-to-attract/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I was born with an enrmous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-was-born-with-an-enrmous-need-for-affection-and-a-terrible-need-to/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [If my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, excitements and worthwhilenesses I have been lucky enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/if-my-world-were-to-cave-in-tomorrow-i-would-look-back-on-all-the/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I've always had- how shall I say it? -the prize at the end. My whole life shows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-ve-always-had-how-shall-i-say-it-the-prize-at-the-end-my-whole-life/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I am not beautiful. My mother once called me an ugly duckling. But,listed separately, I have a few good features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-am-not-beautiful-my-mother-once-called-me-an-ugly-duckling-but/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) [Explore all 213 Audrey Hepburn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) ## More Bad time quotes > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My friends and family are my support system. They tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clarkson/my-friends-and-family-are-my-support-system-they-tell-me-what-i-need/) [Kelly Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clarkson/) > [Always respect, honour And Pray for those who helped you in your bad time. Also be thankful to bad time, For showing you those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/always-respect-honour-and-pray-for-those-who-helped-you-in-your-bad/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [It's certainly been very important to have my own family with me. They came with me to Italy, left what they had in Brazil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/it-s-certainly-been-very-important-to-have-my-own-family-with-me-they/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [The passing of John Bonham... Let's just put it... Before we say, 'the passing of John Bonham,' the introduction of John Bonham on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-passing-of-john-bonham-let-s-just-put-it-before-we-say-the/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [The good time become good memories. The bad time become good lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glemar/the-good-time-become-good-memories-the-bad-time-become-good-lesson/) [Glemar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glemar/) > [Writing is for men who can think and feel, not mindless sensation seekers out of nightclubs and bars. But these are bad times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/writing-is-for-men-who-can-think-and-feel-not-mindless-sensation/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [“Don’t let the bad times get you down, You have some of those moments where life tells you, it’s time to cry. Without those,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-mcdaniel-on-the-savage-side/don-t-let-the-bad-times-get-you-down-you-have-some-of-those-moments/) [Tiffany McDaniel, On the Savage Side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-mcdaniel-on-the-savage-side/) > [The comments I most appreciate come from ordinary readers who've happened on one of my books at some time of stress in their lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-saberhagen/the-comments-i-most-appreciate-come-from-ordinary-readers-who-ve/) [Fred Saberhagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-saberhagen/) > [Everybody need a partner to stand right by their side. Not only down for the good times. But also down through the bad times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/everybody-need-a-partner-to-stand-right-by-their-side-not-only-down/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [I don't know if it's fair to say that it's a bad time for movies. It seems to me that throughout the entire history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-fair-to-say-that-it-s-a-bad-time-for-movies-it/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Love is . . . Being happy for the other person when they are happy, Being sad for the person when they are sad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/love-is-being-happy-for-the-other-person-when-they-are-happy-being/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Don't give up on yourself. Fight for yourself and what you stand for. In life, you've got to go through some bad times to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-give-up-on-yourself-fight-for-yourself-and-what-you-stand-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dad? 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