--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to think that we’re not defined by…" description: "\"I like to think that we’re not defined by what happens to us…because so many times they’re beyond our control. I like to think that we’re defined by ou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/elizabeth-smart-6994_choice_i-like-to-think-that-we-re-not-defined-b_547613.jpg" --- # I like to think that we’re not defined by what happens to… ![“I like to think that we’re not defined by what happens to us…because so many times they’re beyond our control. I like to think that we’re defined by our choices and our decisions.” quote by Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/elizabeth-smart-6994_choice_i-like-to-think-that-we-re-not-defined-b_547613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/elizabeth-smart-6994_choice_i-like-to-think-that-we-re-not-defined-b_547613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/543/elizabeth-smart-6994_choice_i-like-to-think-that-we-re-not-defined-b_547613.jpg) > “I like to think that we’re not defined by what happens to us…because so many times they’re beyond our control. I like to think that we’re defined by our choices and our decisions.” [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We are shaped more by our choices and decisions than by events beyond our control. **In simple terms:** Choices define us more than circumstances. Key Takeaway Focus on intentional decision‑making. Themes agency self‑determination resilience Mood thoughtful empowering Type motivational psychological When to use this quote - career planning - relationship building - habit formation - overcoming adversity Key Concepts free will personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What choices have you made that changed your path? - How do you handle events you cannot control? A Different Perspective External events can still heavily influence outcomes despite personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think you're defined as a company by what you choose to do and what you choose not to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-pincus/i-think-you-re-defined-as-a-company-by-what-you-choose-to-do-and-what/) [Mark Pincus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-pincus/) > [Are we defined by our choices? Our behavior? Our actions? No. I don't believe that defines our worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadya-suleman/are-we-defined-by-our-choices-our-behavior-our-actions-no-i-don-t/) [Nadya Suleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadya-suleman/) > [“Life changes. It’s usually in the blink of an eye. One minute everything’s fine, if not stagnant; then, it’s not. But your character’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-cole/life-changes-it-s-usually-in-the-blink-of-an-eye-one-minute/) [Bobby Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-cole/) > [“You are not defined by the clothes on your body, the shoes on your feet, or the money in your pocket. You are defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/you-are-not-defined-by-the-clothes-on-your-body-the-shoes-on-your/) [quinn loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [We, as individuals, are defined by the choices we make. Some of our decisions can have very significant consequences and totally change the courses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/we-as-individuals-are-defined-by-the-choices-we-make-some-of-our/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [“People say we are defined by the choices that we make;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-greenwood/people-say-we-are-defined-by-the-choices-that-we-make/) [T. Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-greenwood/) > [I think that we should all be defined by our work and our results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breyer/i-think-that-we-should-all-be-defined-by-our-work-and-our-results/) [Jim Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breyer/) > [“We might like to think of ourselves as autonomous beings who get to decide who we are going to be, but we are likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-blue/we-might-like-to-think-of-ourselves-as-autonomous-beings-who-get-to/) Debbie Blue > [An actor is defined by the choices he or she makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/an-actor-is-defined-by-the-choices-he-or-she-makes/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [You are defined by who you are, by your choices in life, in all regards, not just in doing movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-garcia/you-are-defined-by-who-you-are-by-your-choices-in-life-in-all-regards/) [Andy Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-garcia/) > [“We are all only men, defined by our choices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-e-castellano/we-are-all-only-men-defined-by-our-choices/) [I.E. Castellano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-e-castellano/) > [Life is choice. All day, everyday. Who we talk to, where we sit, what we say, how we say it. And our lives become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/life-is-choice-all-day-everyday-who-we-talk-to-where-we-sit-what-we/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“Your PAST nor your CURRENT situation DEFINES you – YOU are defined by the CHOICES you make NOW for your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/your-past-nor-your-current-situation-defines-you-you-are-defined-by/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [“You are not defined by whoever happened to give you your DNA, Son. You’re defined by your choices. And the choices you make are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-winfield/you-are-not-defined-by-whoever-happened-to-give-you-your-dna-son-you/) [Ryan Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-winfield/) > [It's our choices, more than anything, that show who we really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/it-s-our-choices-more-than-anything-that-show-who-we-really-are/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## More by Elizabeth Smart > [The #MeToo campaign is monumental. It is giving a voice to so many too scared to speak out before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/the-metoo-campaign-is-monumental-it-is-giving-a-voice-to-so-many-too/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“. . when we have passed our great test, we are then given opportunities to reach out to other people. We are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/when-we-have-passed-our-great-test-we-are-then-given-opportunities-to/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [All time is now, and time can do no better. Nothing can ever be more now than now, and before this nothing was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/all-time-is-now-and-time-can-do-no-better-nothing-can-ever-be-more/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [If I had my wilderness, nature could be my lover. What can I do in the paved streets for my thirsty roots? I waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/if-i-had-my-wilderness-nature-could-be-my-lover-what-can-i-do-in-the/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“Well get a furious weapon. Look how the springs are whirling round and you with your hat askew, without time to catch your breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/well-get-a-furious-weapon-look-how-the-springs-are-whirling-round-and/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“... I have ceased to care about anything. I have no personal ambition, or even the desire that people call me nice, or pretty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/i-have-ceased-to-care-about-anything-i-have-no-personal-ambition-or/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [I think forgiveness is probably one of the greatest forms of self-love there is because you don't do forgiveness for anybody else. My captors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/i-think-forgiveness-is-probably-one-of-the-greatest-forms-of-self/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“I also believe in faith. Faith in a loving and kind heavenly Father who will always care about me. Faith that my worth will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/i-also-believe-in-faith-faith-in-a-loving-and-kind-heavenly-father/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“I didn't understand most of what he was saying. I should have had to understand what he was saying. I was still so young.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/i-didn-t-understand-most-of-what-he-was-saying-i-should-have-had-to/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [It is wrong for any person to ever judge someone in any situation saying, 'Well, why didn't you try to run? Why didn't you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/it-is-wrong-for-any-person-to-ever-judge-someone-in-any-situation/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“When we are faced with a challenge, it is very easy to be mad or upset. But when we have passed our great test,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/when-we-are-faced-with-a-challenge-it-is-very-easy-to-be-mad-or-upset/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [You are always special. Nothing can change that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/you-are-always-special-nothing-can-change-that/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [You have to have short fingernails or they'd just break off, and you can't wear red polish - it looks like your fingers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/you-have-to-have-short-fingernails-or-they-d-just-break-off-and-you/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [But the human spirit is resilient. God made us so. He gave us the ability to forgive. To leave our past behind. To look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/but-the-human-spirit-is-resilient-god-made-us-so-he-gave-us-the/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [“I am alive, but I’m not living, I remember thinking as I walked. I am the living dead. I am nothing but a shell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/i-am-alive-but-i-m-not-living-i-remember-thinking-as-i-walked-i-am/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) [Explore all 95 Elizabeth Smart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) ## 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 > [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 > [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": "I like to think that we’re not defined by what happens to us…because so many times they’re beyond our control. 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