Books Quote by Austin Kleon
““You don’t get to pick your family, but you can pick your teachers and you can pick your friends and you can pick the music you listen to and you can pick the books you read and you can pick the movies you see. You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life. You are the sum of your influences. The German writer Goethe said, "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2020 Podcast with Austin Kleon
Our identity is built from the choices we make about influences, not from circumstances of birth.
In simple terms: We become what we choose to surround ourselves with.
Key Takeaway
Curate your influences deliberately.
Themes
choice
identity
influence
growth
Mood
reflective
motivational
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- selecting mentors
- choosing media
- building friendships
- curating reading lists
Key Concepts
self‑determination
environmental shaping
personal agency
Questions to Reflect On
- What influences are you currently allowing?
- How can you replace a negative influence?
A Different Perspective
Influences are limited by what is available or socially imposed.
