--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Class is not defined by our circumstances…" description: "\"“Class is not defined by our circumstances - it is our reaction to those circumstances that defines who we are.”\" — Jordan Christy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/jordan-christy-70374_inspirational_class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstance_1288688.jpg" --- # Class is not defined by our circumstances - it is our… ![“Class is not defined by our circumstances - it is our reaction to those circumstances that defines who we are.” quote by Jordan Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/jordan-christy-70374_inspirational_class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstance_1288688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/jordan-christy-70374_inspirational_class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstance_1288688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/jordan-christy-70374_inspirational_class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstance_1288688.jpg) > ““Class is not defined by our circumstances - it is our reaction to those circumstances that defines who we are.”” [Jordan Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-christy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your social status is shaped by how you respond to life’s challenges, not by the challenges themselves. **In simple terms:** Class is defined by reaction, not circumstance. Key Takeaway Choose resilient responses. Themes identity resilience self‑definition Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - personal setbacks - career obstacles - health crises - relationship conflicts Key Concepts psychology agency social perception Questions to Reflect On - How do you currently react to adversity? - What habits foster resilient reactions? A Different Perspective Responses can be limited by external constraints and internal biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstances Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances-reaction-2309580/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-defined-4190926/) [Defined Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined-circumstances-265321/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Reaction Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction-circumstances-2309581/) ## Related quotes > [“Our character is determined not by our circumstances but by our reaction to those circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-w-colson/our-character-is-determined-not-by-our-circumstances-but-by-our/) [Charles W. Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-w-colson/) > [We're not defined by our circumstances, and we can always find a way to rise above it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-murray/we-re-not-defined-by-our-circumstances-and-we-can-always-find-a-way/) [Ashleigh Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-murray/) > [Stress comes from within; it is your reaction to circumstances, not the circumstances themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/stress-comes-from-within-it-is-your-reaction-to-circumstances-not-the/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) ## More by Jordan Christy > [“A true friend will be there to congratulate you when you win an Academy Award and will also be there to hold your hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/a-true-friend-will-be-there-to-congratulate-you-when-you-win-an/) [Jordan Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-christy/) > [“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/fame-is-a-vapor-popularity-an-accident-and-riches-take-wings/) [Jordan Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-christy/) > [“My definition of stupid is wasting your opportunity to be yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/my-definition-of-stupid-is-wasting-your-opportunity-to-be-yourself-2/) [Jordan Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-christy/) [Explore all 4 Jordan Christy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-christy/) ## More Class quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/) [David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/) > [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/) [Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/) > [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/) [Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/) > [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) [Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Class is not defined by our circumstances - it is our reaction to those circumstances that defines who we are.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jordan Christy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstances-it-is-our-reaction-to-those/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Class" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstances-it-is-our-reaction-to-those/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/jordan-christy-70374_inspirational_class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstance_1288688.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/jordan-christy-70374_inspirational_class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstance_1288688.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/jordan-christy-70374_inspirational_class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstance_1288688.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Class is not defined by our circumstances - it is our reaction to those circumstances that defines who we are.” — Jordan Christy", "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": "Jordan Christy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-christy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Class is not defined by our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstances-it-is-our-reaction-to-those/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-christy/class-is-not-defined-by-our-circumstances-it-is-our-reaction-to-those/#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 } } ] } ```