--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is what it is, it is what you make it." description: "\"It is what it is, it is what you make it.\" — James Durbin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/james-durbin-42255_it-is-what-it-is_it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it_461659.png" --- # It is what it is, it is what you make it. ![“It is what it is, it is what you make it.” quote by James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/james-durbin-42255_it-is-what-it-is_it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it_461659.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/james-durbin-42255_it-is-what-it-is_it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it_461659.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/james-durbin-42255_it-is-what-it-is_it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it_461659.png) > “It is what it is, it is what you make it.” [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reality is fixed, but personal agency shapes outcomes; you control your response. **In simple terms:** It is what it is, but you decide its meaning. Key Takeaway Own your perspective, shape your results. Themes agency acceptance mindset Mood inspirational pragmatic Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - daily challenges - career setbacks - personal goals Key Concepts personal responsibility reframing empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate what you can change? - What habits reinforce a proactive mindset? A Different Perspective External factors may limit control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [It is what it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/it-is-what-it-is/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) ## Related quotes > [I have Tourettes and Aspergers, but Tourrets and Aspergers don't have me. You know, I'm doing what I can to suppress it and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/i-have-tourettes-and-aspergers-but-tourrets-and-aspergers-don-t-have/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [“Even so, I’m somebody. I’m the Discoverer of Nature. I’m the Argonaut of true sensations. I bring a new Universe to the Universe Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/even-so-i-m-somebody-i-m-the-discoverer-of-nature-i-m-the-argonaut-of/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [To you cock-blockers, fakes, haters, posers, liars, cheaters, shit-talkers, why dont you do something worthwhile with your pathetic life and leave me the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epifania-savea/to-you-cock-blockers-fakes-haters-posers-liars-cheaters-shit-talkers/) [Epifania Savea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epifania-savea/) > [Whats up with the relationships nowadays? The girl is the one who falls victim because they're in it for love whereas the guy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epifania-savea/whats-up-with-the-relationships-nowadays-the-girl-is-the-one-who/) [Epifania Savea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epifania-savea/) > [My life is my business and you're fired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/my-life-is-my-business-and-you-re-fired/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Would you want people walking up to you and pointing at your d--k? I can't believe I'm still talking about this. But I've worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/would-you-want-people-walking-up-to-you-and-pointing-at-your-d-k-i/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [There should be a rule that you can't get your period over the summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuts-and-scars/there-should-be-a-rule-that-you-can-t-get-your-period-over-the-summer/) [Cuts And Scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuts-and-scars/) > [Relationships start out face to face...and end back to back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/relationships-start-out-face-to-face-and-end-back-to-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That awkward moment when you wish you would have spent a little extra on 2-ply toliet paper...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-wish-you-would-have-spent-a-little-extra/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are so full of shit that the city should charge your mouth a sewer tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-so-full-of-shit-that-the-city-should-charge-your-mouth-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is what it is, sometimes if you can't find what it is, just believe you will figure out what it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/it-is-what-it-is-sometimes-if-you-can-t-find-what-it-is-just-believe/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [Finding out your crush isn't at school today and feeling like you wasted a perfectly good outfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/finding-out-your-crush-isn-t-at-school-today-and-feeling-like-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Girls spend hours deciding what to wear, and all guys do is try to picture us naked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girls-spend-hours-deciding-what-to-wear-and-all-guys-do-is-try-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've said it before, me and Conor are very, very good friends, and he's certaintly helped me get into the UFC, you know, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artem-lobov/i-ve-said-it-before-me-and-conor-are-very-very-good-friends-and-he-s/) [Artem Lobov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artem-lobov/) > [A woman is always right, especially when shes clearly wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-is-always-right-especially-when-shes-clearly-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by James Durbin > [The first think I did when I found out I was a finalist, was, I don't remember, because it felt like it was an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/the-first-think-i-did-when-i-found-out-i-was-a-finalist-was-i-don-t/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [As soon as I got up on that stage, and I remembered how welcoming and warming the judges, their presence is, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/as-soon-as-i-got-up-on-that-stage-and-i-remembered-how-welcoming-and/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [The first time I heard The Beatles, I cried. It was 'Let it Be'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/the-first-time-i-heard-the-beatles-i-cried-it-was-let-it-be/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [“Different is the new normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/different-is-the-new-normal/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [Give metal a chance!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/give-metal-a-chance/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [I have Tourettes and Aspergers, but Tourrets and Aspergers don't have me. You know, I'm doing what I can to suppress it and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/i-have-tourettes-and-aspergers-but-tourrets-and-aspergers-don-t-have/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [I appreciate what others have done in the past especially for my genre, and my style of singing. And they sure put a footprint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/i-appreciate-what-others-have-done-in-the-past-especially-for-my/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [My favorite type of music to sing and to listen to, you know, rock. It's not always metal, but you know, half the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/my-favorite-type-of-music-to-sing-and-to-listen-to-you-know-rock-it-s/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) > [If my life were a song it would be called 'Don't Stop Believing'. Yeah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/if-my-life-were-a-song-it-would-be-called-don-t-stop-believing-yeah/) [James Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) [Explore all 10 James Durbin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/) ## More It is what it is quotes > [A woman is always right, especially when shes clearly wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-woman-is-always-right-especially-when-shes-clearly-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've said it before, me and Conor are very, very good friends, and he's certaintly helped me get into the UFC, you know, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artem-lobov/i-ve-said-it-before-me-and-conor-are-very-very-good-friends-and-he-s/) [Artem Lobov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artem-lobov/) > [Girls spend hours deciding what to wear, and all guys do is try to picture us naked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girls-spend-hours-deciding-what-to-wear-and-all-guys-do-is-try-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Finding out your crush isn't at school today and feeling like you wasted a perfectly good outfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/finding-out-your-crush-isn-t-at-school-today-and-feeling-like-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is what it is, sometimes if you can't find what it is, just believe you will figure out what it is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/it-is-what-it-is-sometimes-if-you-can-t-find-what-it-is-just-believe/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [You are so full of shit that the city should charge your mouth a sewer tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-so-full-of-shit-that-the-city-should-charge-your-mouth-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [That awkward moment when you wish you would have spent a little extra on 2-ply toliet paper...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-wish-you-would-have-spent-a-little-extra/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Relationships start out face to face...and end back to back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/relationships-start-out-face-to-face-and-end-back-to-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There should be a rule that you can't get your period over the summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cuts-and-scars/there-should-be-a-rule-that-you-can-t-get-your-period-over-the-summer/) [Cuts And Scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cuts-and-scars/) > [Would you want people walking up to you and pointing at your d--k? I can't believe I'm still talking about this. But I've worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/would-you-want-people-walking-up-to-you-and-pointing-at-your-d-k-i/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [My life is my business and you're fired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/my-life-is-my-business-and-you-re-fired/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Whats up with the relationships nowadays? The girl is the one who falls victim because they're in it for love whereas the guy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epifania-savea/whats-up-with-the-relationships-nowadays-the-girl-is-the-one-who/) [Epifania Savea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epifania-savea/) > [To you cock-blockers, fakes, haters, posers, liars, cheaters, shit-talkers, why dont you do something worthwhile with your pathetic life and leave me the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epifania-savea/to-you-cock-blockers-fakes-haters-posers-liars-cheaters-shit-talkers/) [Epifania Savea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epifania-savea/) > [“Even so, I’m somebody. I’m the Discoverer of Nature. I’m the Argonaut of true sensations. I bring a new Universe to the Universe Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/even-so-i-m-somebody-i-m-the-discoverer-of-nature-i-m-the-argonaut-of/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > ['Do you have a cell phone?' Translation: I want your number but I don't want to make this awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-have-a-cell-phone-translation-i-want-your-number-but-i-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 878 It is what it is quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/it-is-what-it-is/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is what it is, it is what you make it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Durbin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "It is what it is" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/james-durbin-42255_it-is-what-it-is_it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it_461659.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/james-durbin-42255_it-is-what-it-is_it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it_461659.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ad/james-durbin-42255_it-is-what-it-is_it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it_461659.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is what it is, it is what you make it.” — James Durbin", "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": "James Durbin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-durbin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is what it is, it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-durbin/it-is-what-it-is-it-is-what-you-make-it/#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 } } ] } ```