--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are responsible for our own destiny…" description: "\"We are responsible for our own destiny. What matters is how we improve ourselves from this moment forward.\" — Daisaku Ikeda" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/daisaku-ikeda-1472_destiny_we-are-responsible-for-our-own-destiny-w_2933935.png" --- # We are responsible for our own destiny. What matters is… ![“We are responsible for our own destiny. What matters is how we improve ourselves from this moment forward.” quote by Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/daisaku-ikeda-1472_destiny_we-are-responsible-for-our-own-destiny-w_2933935.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/daisaku-ikeda-1472_destiny_we-are-responsible-for-our-own-destiny-w_2933935.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/684/daisaku-ikeda-1472_destiny_we-are-responsible-for-our-own-destiny-w_2933935.png) > “We are responsible for our own destiny. What matters is how we improve ourselves from this moment forward.” [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals shape their destiny by continuously improving themselves from the present onward. **In simple terms:** We control our destiny. Key Takeaway Commit to self‑improvement. Themes responsibility self‑growth future Mood hopeful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - education - health goals - spiritual practice Key Concepts personal development mindset empowerment Questions to Reflect On - What steps will you take today? - How do you measure progress? A Different Perspective Improvement requires resources and support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Matters will not improve of their own accord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oestereich/matters-will-not-improve-of-their-own-accord/) Chris Oestereich > [We are all responsible for our own destiny, the decisions we make daily contribute to our future successes or failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/we-are-all-responsible-for-our-own-destiny-the-decisions-we-make/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [“People always get exactly what they believe to deserve, despite the fact that they may be unhappy with what they have. We are 100%…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/people-always-get-exactly-what-they-believe-to-deserve-despite-the/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“No longer did I need to be responsible for my own destiny, to worry about what to do today, tomorrow, next year. I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-benjamin/no-longer-did-i-need-to-be-responsible-for-my-own-destiny-to-worry/) [Melanie Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-benjamin/) > [As humanists, we urge today, as in the past that humans not look beyond themselves for salvation. We alone are responsible for our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/as-humanists-we-urge-today-as-in-the-past-that-humans-not-look-beyond/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [We should all develop the mind to rejoice in, praise and share in the gift of those who have artistic talents and a richness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/we-should-all-develop-the-mind-to-rejoice-in-praise-and-share-in-the/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Don’t be vain because you happen to have talent. You are not responsible for that; it was not of your doing. What you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/don-t-be-vain-because-you-happen-to-have-talent-you-are-not/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [Enter into the activities of the world, without getting overjoyed by success or totally put out by failure. Whether they love you or hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enter-into-the-activities-of-the-world-without-getting-overjoyed-by/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Listening doesn't mean trying to understand. Anything, however trifling, may be of use one day. What matters is to know something that others don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/listening-doesn-t-mean-trying-to-understand-anything-however-trifling/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [What matters supremely, therefore, is not, in the last analysis, the fact that I know God, but the larger fact which underlies it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/what-matters-supremely-therefore-is-not-in-the-last-analysis-the-fact/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [Not knowing how to feed the spirit, we try to muffle its demands in distraction...What matters is that one be for a time inwardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/not-knowing-how-to-feed-the-spirit-we-try-to-muffle-its-demands-in/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [I don’t know, I don’t know that I’m missing anything. I just think too much sometimes. Sometimes I’m even happy because I’m so engaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/i-don-t-know-i-don-t-know-that-i-m-missing-anything-i-just-think-too/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [You are quite, quite wrong if you think that ... I find your happiness painful. What matters is that happiness - the golden day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/you-are-quite-quite-wrong-if-you-think-that-i-find-your-happiness/) [Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/) > [Somebody's going to hear a song that will key in a nerve or something in their experience that represents their own vision. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/somebody-s-going-to-hear-a-song-that-will-key-in-a-nerve-or-something/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Daisaku Ikeda > [Dialogue and education for peace can help free our hearts from the impulse toward intolerance and the rejection of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/dialogue-and-education-for-peace-can-help-free-our-hearts-from-the/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [I firmly believe that the mission of religion in the 21st century must be to contribute concretely to the peaceful coexistence of humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/i-firmly-believe-that-the-mission-of-religion-in-the-21st-century/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Prayer is the way to destroy all fear. It is the way to banish sorrow, the way to light a torch of hope. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/prayer-is-the-way-to-destroy-all-fear-it-is-the-way-to-banish-sorrow/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [The differences between people need not act as barriers that wound, harm and drive us apart. Rather, these very differences among cultures and civilizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/the-differences-between-people-need-not-act-as-barriers-that-wound/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [A sense of being part of the great all-inclusive life prompts us to reflect on our own place and on how we ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/a-sense-of-being-part-of-the-great-all-inclusive-life-prompts-us-to/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [I believe that a culture of peace must be the essential foundation of our efforts for peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/i-believe-that-a-culture-of-peace-must-be-the-essential-foundation-of/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Come on obstacles! I've been expecting you! This is the chance that I've been waiting for!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/come-on-obstacles-i-ve-been-expecting-you-this-is-the-chance-that-i/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Like the ocean that remains calm in its depths even when waves rage over its surface, and like the sun that continues shining on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/like-the-ocean-that-remains-calm-in-its-depths-even-when-waves-rage/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Never be shaken, no matter what happens or what others may say. Never be flustered; never lose confidence. This is the way we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/never-be-shaken-no-matter-what-happens-or-what-others-may-say-never/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [What our world most requires now is the kind of education that foster love for humankind, that develops character-that provides an intellectual basis for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/what-our-world-most-requires-now-is-the-kind-of-education-that-foster/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [“Human wisdom has advanced to the point where man can construct satellites. And yet man in his wisdom cannot find a way to rescue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/human-wisdom-has-advanced-to-the-point-where-man-can-construct/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Men and women who know the brutal reality of war, who know that war strips people of their very humanity, must unite in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/men-and-women-who-know-the-brutal-reality-of-war-who-know-that-war/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [But I think we need to remember that democracy everywhere is by its nature incomplete, a work in progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/but-i-think-we-need-to-remember-that-democracy-everywhere-is-by-its/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Life can unfold unlimitedly as long as we have a heart of appreciation and an undefeated mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/life-can-unfold-unlimitedly-as-long-as-we-have-a-heart-of/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Humanity's collective mission in the cosmos lies in the practice of compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/humanity-s-collective-mission-in-the-cosmos-lies-in-the-practice-of/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) [Explore all 237 Daisaku Ikeda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) ## More Destiny quotes > [... War on the destiny of man! Doom on the sun! Before death takes you, O take back this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-on-the-destiny-of-man-doom-on-the-sun-before-death-takes-you-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anatomy is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/anatomy-is-destiny/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [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/) > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Destiny is the ordained intention God has sacredly prepared with your name on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-lynch/destiny-is-the-ordained-intention-god-has-sacredly-prepared-with-your/) [John S. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-lynch/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Browse all 7,925 Destiny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are responsible for our own destiny. 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