---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be offended is a choice we make; it is…"
description: "\"To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.\" — David A. Bednar"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/david-a-bednar-2121_choice_to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is_952517.png"
---

#  To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition…

![“To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.” quote by David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/david-a-bednar-2121_choice_to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is_952517.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/david-a-bednar-2121_choice_to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is_952517.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/david-a-bednar-2121_choice_to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is_952517.png)

> “To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.”

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

## About This Quote

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

Offense is a personal decision, not an external imposition; we control our reactions.

**In simple terms:** Being offended is a choice.

Key Takeaway

Choose how you respond to provocation.

Themes

personal responsibility emotions control

Mood

calm empowering

Type

spiritual motivational

When to use this quote

- workplace conflict
- social media
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

choice theory psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you always have control?
- How do you practice this choice?

A Different Perspective

External events can still cause genuine harm.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Condition Inflicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condition-inflicted-1707553/) [Imposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imposed/) [Inflicted Imposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflicted-imposed-1707554/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Offended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offended/) [Offended Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offended-choice-433657/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/)

## Related quotes

> [“Certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/certainly-clumsy-embarrassing-unprincipled-and-mean-spirited-things/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Being offended is a choice. I believe that. You don't have - you don't hear a word and you have to be offended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bartlett/being-offended-is-a-choice-i-believe-that-you-don-t-have-you-don-t/)

[John Bartlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bartlett/)

> [When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/when-we-believe-or-say-we-have-been-offended-we-usually-mean-we-feel/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [I was brought up in an Orthodox Jewish household. I don't think I ever had a single discussion with my parents about faith. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/i-was-brought-up-in-an-orthodox-jewish-household-i-don-t-think-i-ever/)

[Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/)

> [I am not imposed upon by fine words; I can see what actions mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-am-not-imposed-upon-by-fine-words-i-can-see-what-actions-mean/)

[George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/)

> [A life cycle can be imposed on an object. An object can be very energetic and active, and then it has a dying phase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/a-life-cycle-can-be-imposed-on-an-object-an-object-can-be-very/)

[Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/)

> [Theater represents to me this phenomenon in juxtaposition to real life, where there are all these imposed guidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-shelly/theater-represents-to-me-this-phenomenon-in-juxtaposition-to-real/)

[Adrienne Shelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-shelly/)

> [Through my youth, there was imposed on us a culture relentlessly English. English books were all you could buy; English television filled our screens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/through-my-youth-there-was-imposed-on-us-a-culture-relentlessly/)

[Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/)

> [I'm not against the virtual world; it's fascinating, but I don't like the way they try to impose it on us. It's a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leos-carax/i-m-not-against-the-virtual-world-it-s-fascinating-but-i-don-t-like/)

[Leos Carax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leos-carax/)

> [“We don’t have to allow ourselves to be defined by the labels imposed on us. We get to define ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/we-don-t-have-to-allow-ourselves-to-be-defined-by-the-labels-imposed/)

[Lizzie Velásquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/)

> [“There is no reality -- only our own order imposed on everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/there-is-no-reality-only-our-own-order-imposed-on-everything/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [The sentence imposed on Abdul Kadir sends a powerful and clear message. We will bring to justice those who plot to attack the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynch/the-sentence-imposed-on-abdul-kadir-sends-a-powerful-and-clear/)

[Loretta Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynch/)

> [The economy grows when families can spend money on personal priorities rather than priorities imposed by the federal government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-crapo/the-economy-grows-when-families-can-spend-money-on-personal/)

[Mike Crapo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-crapo/)

> [The U.S. - the idea that the U.S. has introduced and imposed principles of international law, that's hardly even a joke. The United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-u-s-the-idea-that-the-u-s-has-introduced-and-imposed-principles/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Stress is the negative whirlwind of emotions that gets imposed on top of our stimulation and engagement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stress-is-the-negative-whirlwind-of-emotions-that-gets-imposed-on-top/)

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

## More by David A. Bednar

> [Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains - if moving mountains accomplishes God's purposes and is in accordance with His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteousness-and-faith-certainly-are-instrumental-in-moving/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [“Certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/certainly-clumsy-embarrassing-unprincipled-and-mean-spirited-things/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [“The relationship between love and appropriate action is demonstrated repeatedly in the scriptures and is highlighted by the Savior's instruction to His Apostles: 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/the-relationship-between-love-and-appropriate-action-is-demonstrated/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [“Each and every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bears a personal responsibility to learn and live the truths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/each-and-every-member-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Righteous marriage is a commandment and an essential step in the process of creating a loving family relationship that can be perpetuated beyond the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteous-marriage-is-a-commandment-and-an-essential-step-in-the/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [As we strive to align our attitudes and actions with righteousness, then the Holy Ghost becomes for us today what the Liahona was for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/as-we-strive-to-align-our-attitudes-and-actions-with-righteousness/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Be careful to not haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/be-careful-to-not-haul-around-in-our-lives-so-many-nice-but/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [ As we learn in \[the\] scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency were to love one another and to choose God. Thus… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/as-we-learn-in-the-scriptures-the-fundamental-purposes-for-the-gift/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergirding base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/conversion-is-an-enlarging-a-deepening-and-a-broadening-of-the/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/feeling-the-security-and-constancy-of-love-from-a-spouse-a-parent-or/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Regular reading of and talking about the Book of Mormon invite the power to resist temptation and to produce feelings of love within our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/regular-reading-of-and-talking-about-the-book-of-mormon-invite-the/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [It's tough for parents to talk to children about heavy-weight topics such as peer pressure, drugs and morality if they don't already have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/it-s-tough-for-parents-to-talk-to-children-about-heavy-weight-topics/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Godly fear is loving and trusting in Him. As we fear God more completely, we love Him more perfectly. And "perfect love casteth out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/godly-fear-is-loving-and-trusting-in-him-as-we-fear-god-more/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [Ordinary men are given the authority of the priesthood. Worthiness and willingness - not experience, expertise, or education - are the qualifications for priesthood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/ordinary-men-are-given-the-authority-of-the-priesthood-worthiness-and/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

> [One of my favorite activities as a priesthood leader is visiting members of the Church in their homes. I especially enjoy calling upon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/one-of-my-favorite-activities-as-a-priesthood-leader-is-visiting/)

[David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

[Explore all 185 David A. Bednar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/)

## More Choice quotes

> [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/)

[Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/)

> [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/)

[Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

[Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/)

> [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/)

[Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/)

> [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/)

[Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/)

> [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/)

[Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/)

> [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/)

[Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/)

> [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

[Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David A. Bednar"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is-not-a-condition-inflicted-or/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is-not-a-condition-inflicted-or/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/david-a-bednar-2121_choice_to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is_952517.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/david-a-bednar-2121_choice_to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is_952517.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/david-a-bednar-2121_choice_to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is_952517.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or…” — David A. Bednar",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David A. Bednar",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "To be offended is a choice...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is-not-a-condition-inflicted-or/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/to-be-offended-is-a-choice-we-make-it-is-not-a-condition-inflicted-or/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
