--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People ask me, 'Who is your hero?' My…" description: "\"“People ask me, 'Who is your hero?' My answer, my true answer, is that I am my hero, the me I aspire to be, the very best at everything I put my hand t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/chris-kluwe-22086_compassion_people-ask-me-who-is-your-hero-my-answer_1281320.png" --- # People ask me, 'Who is your hero?' My answer, my true… ![“People ask me, 'Who is your hero?' My answer, my true answer, is that I am my hero, the me I aspire to be, the very best at everything I put my hand to, treating people with dignity and respect because it's the right thing to do, surmounting obstacles with justice and empathy and compassion. I…” quote by Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/chris-kluwe-22086_compassion_people-ask-me-who-is-your-hero-my-answer_1281320.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/chris-kluwe-22086_compassion_people-ask-me-who-is-your-hero-my-answer_1281320.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cce/chris-kluwe-22086_compassion_people-ask-me-who-is-your-hero-my-answer_1281320.png) > ““People ask me, 'Who is your hero?' My answer, my true answer, is that I am my hero, the me I aspire to be, the very best at everything I put my hand to, treating people with dignity and respect because it's the right thing to do, surmounting obstacles with justice and empathy and compassion. I don't need anyone else to live my life for me, to mold me, to tell me what is or isn't possible. I don't need a path to follow. I create my own path. I live up to my own dreams. I demand greatness of mind, body, and spirit, not someone else's, but my own. I am my own hero. Are you yours?”” [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims personal agency, defining heroism as self‑determination, striving for excellence, and treating others with dignity without relying on external validation. **In simple terms:** Be your own hero by setting high standards and acting with integrity. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your own growth. Themes self‑empowerment integrity excellence autonomy Mood determined determined inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - personal goal setting - overcoming adversity - leadership training Key Concepts heroism self‑actualization ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - What standards do you set for yourself? - How can you balance self‑reliance with learning from others? A Different Perspective Relying solely on self‑motivation may ignore the value of mentorship and community support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Dignity and respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity-and-respect/) [Empathy And Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy-and-compassion/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Mind body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-body/) [Mind body and spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-body-and-spirit/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) ## Related quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [When the first Superman movie came out, I gave dozens of interviews to promote it. The most frequent question was: What is a hero?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-gave-dozens-of-interviews-to/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [If the director has a story, he will go directly to the hero. If I have a big hero in hand today, any big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-vasu/if-the-director-has-a-story-he-will-go-directly-to-the-hero-if-i-have/) [P. Vasu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-vasu/) > [“Who is this cautious unhoping young woman? Where is the hero who bore such batterings for love and stood up before witnesses to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-miller/who-is-this-cautious-unhoping-young-woman-where-is-the-hero-who-bore/) Isabel Miller > [“There is a melancholy that stems from greatness of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-melancholy-that-stems-from-greatness-of-mind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It passes in the world for greatness of mind, to be perpetually giving and loading people with bounties; but it is one thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-passes-in-the-world-for-greatness-of-mind-to-be-perpetually-giving/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-as-much-greatness-of-mind-in-acknowledging-a-good-turn-as-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Greatness of mind becomes an object of love only when the power at work in it itself has a noble character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/greatness-of-mind-becomes-an-object-of-love-only-when-the-power-at/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [There is as much greatness of mind in the owning of a good turn as in the doing of it; and we must no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-as-much-greatness-of-mind-in-the-owning-of-a-good-turn-as-in/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [ “\[Rousseau is\] the person whom I most revere both for the Force of \[his\] Genius and the Greatness of \[his\] mind \[...\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/rousseau-is-the-person-whom-i-most-revere-both-for-the-force-of-his/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“Yes, there is a giant within each of us, capable of greatness. The mind keeps him deeply asleep in his dreary world of illusions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidija-stankovikj/yes-there-is-a-giant-within-each-of-us-capable-of-greatness-the-mind/) [Lidija Stankovikj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidija-stankovikj/) > [Moderation is a fear of falling into that envy and contempt which those who grow giddy with their good fortune quite justly draw upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/moderation-is-a-fear-of-falling-into-that-envy-and-contempt-which/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [In the morning; The greatness of The mind and The goodness of The heart is ... Inseparable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/in-the-morning-the-greatness-of-the-mind-and-the-goodness-of-the/) Pacifiersucker > [“People's sense of self worth is pivotal to their ability to look clearly at the hurt they've caused. The more solid one's sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/people-s-sense-of-self-worth-is-pivotal-to-their-ability-to-look/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Sen. Akaka's care, empathy and compassion were evident to everyone who knew him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/sen-akaka-s-care-empathy-and-compassion-were-evident-to-everyone-who/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) ## More by Chris Kluwe > [I normally don't initiate conversations with guys unless they want to talk about certain things - when I'm at the facility, I'm there to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/i-normally-don-t-initiate-conversations-with-guys-unless-they-want-to/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [“humanity wants to serve. People want to obey. They don’t want to look at the hard questions in life and try to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/humanity-wants-to-serve-people-want-to-obey-they-don-t-want-to-look/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [In an ideal world, entertainment would be regarded as what it is - entertainment - and wouldn't be valued more heavily than education, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/in-an-ideal-world-entertainment-would-be-regarded-as-what-it-is/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [Never be afraid to do what's right. If no one ever says anything, nothing ever changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/never-be-afraid-to-do-what-s-right-if-no-one-ever-says-anything/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [When people - everyday people who watch the coverage on CNN of Anita Sarkeesian having to cancel a speaking engagement due to death threats - think of “gamers,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/when-people-everyday-people-who-watch-the-coverage-on-cnn-of-anita/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [“We have literal war criminals (as defined by the Geneva convention, which we are very much a signatory to) living in this country who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/we-have-literal-war-criminals-as-defined-by-the-geneva-convention/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [As a business you should probably be examining, hey, is this the type of message we want to send?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/as-a-business-you-should-probably-be-examining-hey-is-this-the-type/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [There's lots of people my age (and younger) that have grown up in chaotic environments and I just happen to be one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/there-s-lots-of-people-my-age-and-younger-that-have-grown-up-in/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [To deny an entire group of people the ability to be legal couples is anti-American and anti-freedom. As a devoted husband and father of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/to-deny-an-entire-group-of-people-the-ability-to-be-legal-couples-is/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [One of the main coaching points I've heard throughout my entire life is, 'How you respond to difficult situations defines your character,' and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/one-of-the-main-coaching-points-i-ve-heard-throughout-my-entire-life/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [Think of a single word. We'll use soul as our example. How do you define soul? Is it the same definition I use? Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/think-of-a-single-word-we-ll-use-soul-as-our-example-how-do-you/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [I would like people to pay attention to the idea of rational empathy, and that as a society, we are walking down a path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/i-would-like-people-to-pay-attention-to-the-idea-of-rational-empathy/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [In my mind, there's no logical conclusion that can be drawn, other than that I was fired for my activism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/in-my-mind-there-s-no-logical-conclusion-that-can-be-drawn-other-than/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [My numbers and my stats were exactly the same. I was doing what the coaches wanted me to do. And what I had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/my-numbers-and-my-stats-were-exactly-the-same-i-was-doing-what-the/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) > [Well, if you count my phone as an access point (which I do), I'm pretty much constantly online unless I'm at an event or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kluwe/well-if-you-count-my-phone-as-an-access-point-which-i-do-i-m-pretty/) [Chris Kluwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) [Explore all 28 Chris Kluwe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kluwe/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People ask me, 'Who is your hero?' 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