--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can only control your own actions…" description: "\"You can only control your own actions. Not other people’s reactions.\" — Emily Giffin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/emily-giffin-938_action_you-can-only-control-your-own-actions-no_528799.png" --- # You can only control your own actions. Not other people’s… ![“You can only control your own actions. Not other people’s reactions.” quote by Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/emily-giffin-938_action_you-can-only-control-your-own-actions-no_528799.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/emily-giffin-938_action_you-can-only-control-your-own-actions-no_528799.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/emily-giffin-938_action_you-can-only-control-your-own-actions-no_528799.png) > “You can only control your own actions. Not other people’s reactions.” [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal responsibility lies in controlling one's own behavior, not others' responses. **In simple terms:** Control your actions, not others' reactions. Key Takeaway Own your choices. Themes responsibility control empathy Mood thoughtful calm Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - workplace - conflict resolution Key Concepts behavior reaction boundaries Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you own today? - How do you respond when others react poorly? A Different Perspective People may blame others unfairly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [. . . unfortunately, we can't control the actions of everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/unfortunately-we-can-t-control-the-actions-of-everyone/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [You can only control your own actions. Not other peoples reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/you-can-only-control-your-own-actions-not-other-peoples-reactions/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [The media and the rest of popular culture weren't recording people's reactions to 9/11; they were forcing made-up reactions down people's throats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-faludi/the-media-and-the-rest-of-popular-culture-weren-t-recording-people-s/) [Susan Faludi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-faludi/) > [I'm not exactly watching my back. Most people, there's a twinkle when they admonish me. And I've watched a lot of footage on YouTube…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bradley/i-m-not-exactly-watching-my-back-most-people-there-s-a-twinkle-when/) [David Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bradley/) > [If our feelings control our actions, it is because we have abdicated our responsibility and empowered them to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-our-feelings-control-our-actions-it-is-because-we-have-abdicated/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“can’t control anyone else’s actions, only how you respond to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-cook/can-t-control-anyone-else-s-actions-only-how-you-respond-to-them/) [Trish Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-cook/) > [“I can only control my actions, not their reactions," Senna replied. "But I have to live with both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-argyle/i-can-only-control-my-actions-not-their-reactions-senna-replied-but-i/) [Amber Argyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-argyle/) > [I can only control myself, my actions, my work ethic, and my attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/i-can-only-control-myself-my-actions-my-work-ethic-and-my-attitude/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) > [I know that I cannot control anyone else's actions but my own, and how I choose to react to situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-willett/i-know-that-i-cannot-control-anyone-else-s-actions-but-my-own-and-how/) [Erin Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-willett/) > [When dealing with difficult people, remember you can't control their actions, only your own reactions to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-dealing-with-difficult-people-remember-you-can-t-control-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My happiness isn't connected to my husband's or my boss's or my children's behavior. You have control over your own actions, your own well-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/my-happiness-isn-t-connected-to-my-husband-s-or-my-boss-s-or-my/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [One cannot control the actions of others, but we are responsible for what we do. People say things such as, "I can't do this,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/one-cannot-control-the-actions-of-others-but-we-are-responsible-for/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS ALL I CAN CONTROL IS HOW I REACT TO THESE SITUATIONS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/i-have-no-control-over-the-actions-of-others-all-i-can-control-is-how/) [DEEPAK CHOPRA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You can't control your feelings but you can control the actions that come with those feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mercier/you-can-t-control-your-feelings-but-you-can-control-the-actions-that/) Craig Mercier > [The important thing is fear should not control your actions. It should not dictate what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/the-important-thing-is-fear-should-not-control-your-actions-it-should/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) ## More by Emily Giffin > [I try to have something in common with my protagonists, especially when I'm writing in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-have-something-in-common-with-my-protagonists-especially/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I think exercise is critical to my writing and an essential way to recharge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-think-exercise-is-critical-to-my-writing-and-an-essential-way-to/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Grab his penis like this, and I guarantee, it’s a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/grab-his-penis-like-this-and-i-guarantee-it-s-a-done-deal/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“Well, anyway… it’s over,” I say, realizing that those two words lump me right in with a hoard of naive women who say it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/well-anyway-it-s-over-i-say-realizing-that-those-two-words-lump-me/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [There are two kinds of sorry. There is the sorry imbued with regret. And a pure sorry. The kind that is merely asking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-are-two-kinds-of-sorry-there-is-the-sorry-imbued-with-regret/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Throw in the intensity of emotions that come with that bittersweet summer sandwiched between high school graduation and the rest of your life...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/throw-in-the-intensity-of-emotions-that-come-with-that-bittersweet/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“You can never be too sure when it comes to things that matter most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/you-can-never-be-too-sure-when-it-comes-to-things-that-matter-most/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“It occurs to me that she is not unique--that all women compare lives. We are aware of whose husband works more, who helps more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/it-occurs-to-me-that-she-is-not-unique-that-all-women-compare-lives/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“I desperately want to feel that way again. To be in a relationship that I’m not trying to script or water down. It’s about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-desperately-want-to-feel-that-way-again-to-be-in-a-relationship/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I always find something in common with my protagonist, particularly when I write in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-always-find-something-in-common-with-my-protagonist-particularly/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [There is no grief like heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-is-no-grief-like-heartbreak/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I find my voice and manage to say those three one-syllable words back to him. Words I haven't uttered in a very, very long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-find-my-voice-and-manage-to-say-those-three-one-syllable-words-back/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [i wish i could freeze this moment, somehow delay my final decision, and just hang here in the balance between two places, two worlds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-wish-i-could-freeze-this-moment-somehow-delay-my-final-decision-and/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [I try to write about real women, real people - in other words flawed characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-try-to-write-about-real-women-real-people-in-other-words-flawed/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [“never had a good gut feeling. It wasn’t so much that I didn’t have faith in my team, but that I maintained the truest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/never-had-a-good-gut-feeling-it-wasn-t-so-much-that-i-didn-t-have/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) [Explore all 324 Emily Giffin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can only control your own actions. 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