---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is not accountable to us. We are…"
description: "\"Life is not accountable to us. We are accountable to life.\" — Denis Waitley"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/denis-waitley-977_life_life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-acc_1762374.jpg"
---

#  Life is not accountable to us. We are accountable to life.

![“Life is not accountable to us. We are accountable to life.” quote by Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/denis-waitley-977_life_life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-acc_1762374.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/denis-waitley-977_life_life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-acc_1762374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/denis-waitley-977_life_life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-acc_1762374.jpg)

> “Life is not accountable to us. We are accountable to life.”

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

## About This Quote

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

Responsibility lies with life, not us; we must respond to life's demands.

**In simple terms:** We answer to life, not vice versa.

Key Takeaway

Act responsibly to life's challenges.

Themes

responsibility life accountability

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- environmental stewardship
- personal health

Key Concepts

existentialism agency

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you honor life's demands?
- What actions reflect accountability?

A Different Perspective

Life may feel overwhelming and unfair.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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

## Related quotes

> [For me, it's not really about showing the coaches. It's about being accountable, being accountable for my own actions and continuing to do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/for-me-it-s-not-really-about-showing-the-coaches-it-s-about-being/)

[Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/)

> [When you have guys who are accountable to themselves, accountable to making sure they improve each and every day on the practice field and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/when-you-have-guys-who-are-accountable-to-themselves-accountable-to/)

[Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/)

> [Life it's about being accountable for your actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-it-s-about-being-accountable-for-your-actions/)

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

> [Being accountable to my own life, is my goal for today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-accountable-to-my-own-life-is-my-goal-for-today/)

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

> [“Is it impossible to believe that I think a day will come where I’ll be held accountable for each life I’ve taken, every drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/is-it-impossible-to-believe-that-i-think-a-day-will-come-where-i-ll/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [“It’s up to you to make the conscious choices that bring about a better future. Find new methods to deal with old routines. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-c-tolson/it-s-up-to-you-to-make-the-conscious-choices-that-bring-about-a/)

[Lynn C. Tolson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-c-tolson/)

> [“Continuously lying to yourself is just as fatal as suicide; only slower. Take ownership of your life, be accountable to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-dejesus/continuously-lying-to-yourself-is-just-as-fatal-as-suicide-only/)

[Noel DeJesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-dejesus/)

> [As we grow, we started having more responsibility, no day that pass by that we dont acquire something, but it takes discipline and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/as-we-grow-we-started-having-more-responsibility-no-day-that-pass-by/)

[Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/)

> [Life Rewards Action Measure your life and its quality based on results, not intentions. You Create Your Own Experience Accept that you, and only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/old-chinese/life-rewards-action-measure-your-life-and-its-quality-based-on/)

Old Chinese

> [If you’re not accountable in life that means ultimately that your life doesn’t count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-you-re-not-accountable-in-life-that-means-ultimately-that-your/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/)

[Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/)

> [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/)

[Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/)

> [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/)

[Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/)

> [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/)

[Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/)

> [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

## More by Denis Waitley

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [Optimism boosts your energy and focuses your sights on reaching your goals, rather than wallowing in your setbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/optimism-boosts-your-energy-and-focuses-your-sights-on-reaching-your/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [You can only do good if you feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-can-only-do-good-if-you-feel-good/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [Life is self-fulfilling prophecy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-self-fulfilling-prophecy/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [There never was a winner, who wasn't a beginner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/there-never-was-a-winner-who-wasn-t-a-beginner/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [The greatest limitations you will ever face will be those you place on yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-greatest-limitations-you-will-ever-face-will-be-those-you-place/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [The easiest thing is to make sure you feel happy and satisfied in this moment. Setting long term goals is much more effort taking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-easiest-thing-is-to-make-sure-you-feel-happy-and-satisfied-in/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [You must get money to chase you, but never let it catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/you-must-get-money-to-chase-you-but-never-let-it-catch-up/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [Contentment is for cows; a challenging purpose is for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/contentment-is-for-cows-a-challenging-purpose-is-for-people/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [The season for enjoying the fullness of life - partaking of the harvest, sharing the harvest with others, and reinvesting and saving portions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-season-for-enjoying-the-fullness-of-life-partaking-of-the-harvest/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [Goals are like stepping-stones to the stars. They should never be used to put a ceiling or a limit on achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/goals-are-like-stepping-stones-to-the-stars-they-should-never-be-used/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [The two greatest fear busters are knowledge and action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-two-greatest-fear-busters-are-knowledge-and-action/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [Positive self-expectancy is the first, most outwardly identifiable quality of a top-achieving, winning human being. Positive self-expectancy is pure and simple optimism: real enthusiasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/positive-self-expectancy-is-the-first-most-outwardly-identifiable/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [The seeds of greatness are ideas you learn from people who've been great in their service to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-seeds-of-greatness-are-ideas-you-learn-from-people-who-ve-been/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [Discipline is doing within, while you do without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/discipline-is-doing-within-while-you-do-without/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

[Explore all 316 Denis Waitley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

## More Accountable quotes

> [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/)

[Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/)

> [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/)

[Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/)

> [Be aware and hold the government accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-chauhan/be-aware-and-hold-the-government-accountable/)

[Mohit Chauhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-chauhan/)

> [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/)

[Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/)

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [When you're in a relationship, please believe that you are held accountable for every feeling felt, word spoken, and heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/when-you-re-in-a-relationship-please-believe-that-you-are-held/)

[Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/)

> [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

> [It means a lot. It means I'm accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/champ-bailey/it-means-a-lot-it-means-i-m-accountable/)

[Champ Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/champ-bailey/)

> [If you can't hold yourself accountable and get your job done then you're not going to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/if-you-can-t-hold-yourself-accountable-and-get-your-job-done-then-you/)

[Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/)

> [There are multi-scatterings of various and associated issues and concerns, but it all boils down to accountable people versus those unwilling to be accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/there-are-multi-scatterings-of-various-and-associated-issues-and/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [If you're going to give people authority and hold them responsible and ultimately accountable for their performance, you've got to get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-lerner/if-you-re-going-to-give-people-authority-and-hold-them-responsible/)

[Randy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-lerner/)

> [We all have to hold each other accountable and point that behavior out to each other in a kind way. I guess what I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-ellis/we-all-have-to-hold-each-other-accountable-and-point-that-behavior/)

[Mary Elizabeth Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-ellis/)

> [“The mistakes you make now count. Not for everything, and not forever. But they do matter, and they shape you...make your choices well. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-mistakes-you-make-now-count-not-for-everything-and-not-forever/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [In the church we have to deliberately let ourselves be transparent and accountable to others. We're a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/in-the-church-we-have-to-deliberately-let-ourselves-be-transparent/)

[Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/)

> [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/)

[Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/)

Browse all 351 Accountable quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Life is not accountable to us. We are accountable to life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Denis Waitley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-accountable-to-life/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accountable"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-accountable-to-life/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/denis-waitley-977_life_life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-acc_1762374.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/denis-waitley-977_life_life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-acc_1762374.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00c/denis-waitley-977_life_life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-acc_1762374.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Life is not accountable to us. We are accountable to life.” — Denis Waitley",
                "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": "Denis Waitley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Life is not accountable to us....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-accountable-to-life/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/life-is-not-accountable-to-us-we-are-accountable-to-life/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
