---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is 10 per cent what happens to you…"
description: "\"“Life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent how you respond to it.”\" — Boris Starling"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/boris-starling-100604_life_life-is-10-per-cent-what-happens-to-you_2601028.jpg"
---

#  Life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent…

![“Life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent how you respond to it.” quote by Boris Starling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/boris-starling-100604_life_life-is-10-per-cent-what-happens-to-you_2601028.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/boris-starling-100604_life_life-is-10-per-cent-what-happens-to-you_2601028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/boris-starling-100604_life_life-is-10-per-cent-what-happens-to-you_2601028.jpg)

> ““Life is 10 per cent what happens to you and 90 per cent how you respond to it.””

Boris Starling

This quote is also attributed to [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) in other sources. Attributions for famous quotes are often disputed.

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life’s outcome depends more on our response than on events themselves; attitude shapes experience.

**In simple terms:** Response matters more than events.

Key Takeaway

Control your response to shape life.

Themes

self‑development psychology resilience mindset

Mood

motivational practical

Type

Life:1 Happens 90:1 Life 10:1 Cent Respond:1 Cent Happens:1

When to use this quote

- coaching
- therapy
- self‑help literature

Key Concepts

cognitive appraisal emotional regulation growth mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you improve your response to challenges?
- What habits foster a resilient mindset?

A Different Perspective

May understate structural constraints.

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[Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

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> [“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-swindoll/life-is-10-what-happens-to-me-and-90-how-i-react-to-it/)

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> [Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-10-of-what-happens-to-you-and-90-of-how-you-react-to-it/)

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> [Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. John Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-max-well/life-is-10-what-happens-to-me-and-90-of-how-i-react-to-it-john-maxwell/)

John Max Well

> [LIFE IS 10% WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU AND 90% HOW YOU RESPOND TO IT .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-10-what-happens-to-you-and-90-how-you-respond-to-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/life-is-10-what-happens-to-you-and-90-how-you-react-to-it/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-10-what-happens-to-me-and-90-of-how-i-react-to-it/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“ Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-10-of-what-happens-to-us-and-90-of-how-we-react-to-it/)

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> [Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you handle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-is-10-what-happens-to-you-and-90-how-you-handle-it/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [What happens at 90 is that I don't walk so good, my eyes are going, I can't hear well, and I'm getting all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lewis/what-happens-at-90-is-that-i-don-t-walk-so-good-my-eyes-are-going-i/)

[Jerry Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lewis/)

> [Ten percent of life is what happens; the other 90 percent is what you do about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmuley-boteach/ten-percent-of-life-is-what-happens-the-other-90-percent-is-what-you/)

[Shmuley Boteach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shmuley-boteach/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Boris Starling

> [“When life flips you the bird, flip it the bird back. Scar tissue is stronger than skin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-starling/when-life-flips-you-the-bird-flip-it-the-bird-back-scar-tissue-is/)

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Explore all 2 Boris Starling quotes

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> [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/)

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> [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/)

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