--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Identity is not inherent. It is shaped by…" description: "\"Identity is not inherent. It is shaped by circumstance and sensitivity and resistance to self-pity.\" — Dorothy West" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/dorothy-west-36708_circumstances_identity-is-not-inherent-it-is-shaped-by_1526627.png" --- # Identity is not inherent. It is shaped by circumstance and… ![“Identity is not inherent. It is shaped by circumstance and sensitivity and resistance to self-pity.” quote by Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/dorothy-west-36708_circumstances_identity-is-not-inherent-it-is-shaped-by_1526627.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/dorothy-west-36708_circumstances_identity-is-not-inherent-it-is-shaped-by_1526627.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cf/dorothy-west-36708_circumstances_identity-is-not-inherent-it-is-shaped-by_1526627.png) > “Identity is not inherent. It is shaped by circumstance and sensitivity and resistance to self-pity.” [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity forms through external influences and personal choices, not through innate traits. **In simple terms:** Identity is shaped by life and choices. Key Takeaway Recognize how environment molds you. Themes identity self-awareness resilience Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - career decisions - relationships - cultural adaptation Key Concepts social psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do your surroundings shape who you are? - What role does personal agency play? A Different Perspective It may overlook innate predispositions that also affect identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-pity/) [Sensitivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitivity/) ## Related quotes > [A self-made man, if he is made at all, has already won the battle of life. . . . he has learned to resist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-r-dyer/a-self-made-man-if-he-is-made-at-all-has-already-won-the-battle-of/) Alvin R. Dyer > [You create a good future by creating a good present. How do you do that? By recognizing the goodness that is already inherent in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-create-a-good-future-by-creating-a-good-present-how-do-you-do/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [There are, of course, inherent tendencies to repetition in music itself. Our poetry, our ballads, our songs are full of repetition; nursery rhymes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/there-are-of-course-inherent-tendencies-to-repetition-in-music-itself/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [Beating yourself up about a mistake you made is only going to make you more inclined to do it again. Just accept that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suman-rai/beating-yourself-up-about-a-mistake-you-made-is-only-going-to-make/) [Suman Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suman-rai/) > [“Personal disillusionment accompanied by self-pity and self-loathing are the Achilles’ heel of modern humankind, representing the weakness of the human spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/personal-disillusionment-accompanied-by-self-pity-and-self-loathing/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“We began our life together at a moment of natural self-pity and defeat that left an inimitable impression on both of us. The rejection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/we-began-our-life-together-at-a-moment-of-natural-self-pity-and/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [The teeth of self-pity had gnawed away her essential self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-gibbs/the-teeth-of-self-pity-had-gnawed-away-her-essential-self/) [Willa Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-gibbs/) > [I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/i-must-learn-that-the-purpose-of-my-life-belongs-to-god-not-me-god-is/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Self-pity was like wearing a wool jacket in the sweltering heat, and I wanted it gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/self-pity-was-like-wearing-a-wool-jacket-in-the-sweltering-heat-and-i/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on the good things still in my life. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-give-myself-a-good-cry-if-i-need-it-but-then-i-concentrate-on-the/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Only a teaspoon of self-pity, girl. Every day give yourself a teaspoonful, but only a teaspoonful. Fill it up full, but only once! Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/breena-clarke/only-a-teaspoon-of-self-pity-girl-every-day-give-yourself-a/) Breena Clarke > [“Wallowing in self-pity hurts no one except you. Boss up and find a way to get going again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/wallowing-in-self-pity-hurts-no-one-except-you-boss-up-and-find-a-way/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Self-pity is the worst disability a person can have, Callie. It's crippling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-terrell/self-pity-is-the-worst-disability-a-person-can-have-callie-it-s/) Shelley Terrell > [Don't compare yourself to other people. It won't help. You'll only find what you expect to find. If you think you're weak, everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-skye/don-t-compare-yourself-to-other-people-it-won-t-help-you-ll-only-find/) [Samantha Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-skye/) > [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/) ## More by Dorothy West > [“She would grace his home with her charm and beauty and she would make his bed joyous, all without ever having to shame his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/she-would-grace-his-home-with-her-charm-and-beauty-and-she-would-make/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [I'm a writer. I don't cook and I don't clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/i-m-a-writer-i-don-t-cook-and-i-don-t-clean/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [I never knew a man who got so hurt in his pocketbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/i-never-knew-a-man-who-got-so-hurt-in-his-pocketbook/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [Beauty is but skin deep, ugly to the bone. And when beauty fades away, ugly claims its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/beauty-is-but-skin-deep-ugly-to-the-bone-and-when-beauty-fades-away/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [Because if you don't know someone all that well, you react to their surface qualities, the superficial stereotypes-they throw off like sparks. But once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/because-if-you-don-t-know-someone-all-that-well-you-react-to-their/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [“He had been taught that bread unshared is bread unblessed when someone else is hungry, whether man or beast, friend or stranger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/he-had-been-taught-that-bread-unshared-is-bread-unblessed-when/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [There is no life that does not contribute to history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/there-is-no-life-that-does-not-contribute-to-history/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [It is a rule of mine never to ask unsolicited questions of people over twenty-one. I am only giving them the option of lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/it-is-a-rule-of-mine-never-to-ask-unsolicited-questions-of-people/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [If the Best is yet to come, the Present will blend with it Beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/if-the-best-is-yet-to-come-the-present-will-blend-with-it-beautifully/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [To know how much there is to know is the beginning of learning to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/to-know-how-much-there-is-to-know-is-the-beginning-of-learning-to-live/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) > [Once various forms were signed, I was separated from my free will, led down the corridors into a room which was now to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-west/once-various-forms-were-signed-i-was-separated-from-my-free-will-led/) [Dorothy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) [Explore all 12 Dorothy West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-west/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Identity is not inherent. 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