--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our destiny is determined, not by what we…" description: "\"Our destiny is determined, not by what we possess, but by what possess us.\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/john-c-maxwell-113_destiny_our-destiny-is-determined-not-by-what-we_3106191.jpg" --- # Our destiny is determined, not by what we possess, but by… ![“Our destiny is determined, not by what we possess, but by what possess us.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/john-c-maxwell-113_destiny_our-destiny-is-determined-not-by-what-we_3106191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/john-c-maxwell-113_destiny_our-destiny-is-determined-not-by-what-we_3106191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d7/john-c-maxwell-113_destiny_our-destiny-is-determined-not-by-what-we_3106191.jpg) > “Our destiny is determined, not by what we possess, but by what possess us.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Destiny is shaped by the forces that control us, not merely by our possessions. **In simple terms:** What controls you determines your future more than what you own. Key Takeaway Identify and manage the influences that drive your life. Themes control destiny influence leadership Mood thoughtful motivational Type leadership self‑help When to use this quote - career planning - financial decisions - relationship choices Key Concepts psychology philosophy self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What unseen forces guide your decisions? - How can you shift negative influences? A Different Perspective Influences may be hidden or external, making self‑awareness difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-destiny/) ## Related quotes > [In order to possess what you do not possess, you must go by the way of dispossession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/in-order-to-possess-what-you-do-not-possess-you-must-go-by-the-way-of/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [It is only when we possess ourselves that we can give ourselves to others. If what we possess feels wrong, bad, or wicked, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dominian/it-is-only-when-we-possess-ourselves-that-we-can-give-ourselves-to/) Jack Dominian > [“Your memories don't possess you, you possess your memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-memories-don-t-possess-you-you-possess-your-memories/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What do you possess if you possess not God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/what-do-you-possess-if-you-possess-not-god/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [Your destiny is not determined by your critics. Focus on running your own race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/your-destiny-is-not-determined-by-your-critics-focus-on-running-your/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Not what you do, but how you do what you do determines whether you are fulfilling your destiny. And how you do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/not-what-you-do-but-how-you-do-what-you-do-determines-whether-you-are/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Your destiny is determined by your decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/your-destiny-is-determined-by-your-decisions/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/our-destiny-is-not-determined-by-the-number-of-times-we-stumble-but/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [“DESTINY (Determined Effort So Tanacious It Negates Yuck)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-chase-jr/destiny-determined-effort-so-tanacious-it-negates-yuck/) Frank Chase Jr > [You are not here by accident. You have been chosen by the Creator of the universe. Your destiny is not determined by external circumstances.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefroy-hanson/you-are-not-here-by-accident-you-have-been-chosen-by-the-creator-of/) [Jefroy Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefroy-hanson/) > [You will never fulfill your destiny doing work you despise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-will-never-fulfill-your-destiny-doing-work-you-despise/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The success of a vision is determined by its ownership by both the leader and the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-success-of-a-vision-is-determined-by-its-ownership-by-both-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“We all possess, like it or not, the people we know, and are possessed by them in turn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/we-all-possess-like-it-or-not-the-people-we-know-and-are-possessed-by/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [“All the knowledge I possess every one else can acquire, but my heart is exclusively my own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/all-the-knowledge-i-possess-every-one-else-can-acquire-but-my-heart/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [You can only possess beauty through understanding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-only-possess-beauty-through-understanding-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Destiny quotes > [... War on the destiny of man! Doom on the sun! Before death takes you, O take back this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-on-the-destiny-of-man-doom-on-the-sun-before-death-takes-you-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anatomy is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/anatomy-is-destiny/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Destiny is the ordained intention God has sacredly prepared with your name on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-lynch/destiny-is-the-ordained-intention-god-has-sacredly-prepared-with-your/) [John S. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-lynch/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Browse all 7,925 Destiny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our destiny is determined, not by what we possess, but by what possess us.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. 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