--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Autonomy is the whole thing; it's what…" description: "\"Autonomy is the whole thing; it's what unhappy people are missing. They have given the power to run their lives to other people.\" — Judith Guest" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/judith-guest-13027_autonomy_autonomy-is-the-whole-thing-it-s-what-un_2125466.png" --- # Autonomy is the whole thing; it's what unhappy people are… ![“Autonomy is the whole thing; it's what unhappy people are missing. They have given the power to run their lives to other people.” quote by Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/judith-guest-13027_autonomy_autonomy-is-the-whole-thing-it-s-what-un_2125466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/judith-guest-13027_autonomy_autonomy-is-the-whole-thing-it-s-what-un_2125466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d97/judith-guest-13027_autonomy_autonomy-is-the-whole-thing-it-s-what-un_2125466.png) > “Autonomy is the whole thing; it's what unhappy people are missing. They have given the power to run their lives to other people.” [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People feel unhappy when they lose control over their own lives, delegating decisions to others. **In simple terms:** Lack of control causes unhappiness. Key Takeaway Regain personal agency. Themes autonomy control well‑being Mood reflective concerned Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - personal finance - relationships - health decisions Key Concepts self‑determination agency psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you reclaim decision‑making in daily life? - What areas are you willing to let go? A Different Perspective External pressures can limit true autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) [Autonomy Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy-thing-4357235/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Given Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-power-254981/) [Happy people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-people/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Unhappy people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-people/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [“We are a society of notoriously unhappy people: lonely, anxious, depressed, destructive, dependent — people who are glad when we have killed the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/we-are-a-society-of-notoriously-unhappy-people-lonely-anxious/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I hate when unhappy people try ruin things for happy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-when-unhappy-people-try-ruin-things-for-happy-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Bullies are ultimately unhappy people who try to inflict pain and hate on others and are to be pitied. Once you realize that, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-j-grande/bullies-are-ultimately-unhappy-people-who-try-to-inflict-pain-and/) [Frankie J. Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-j-grande/) > [“Unhappy people needs your smile more than Happy people do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vianka-van-bokkem/unhappy-people-needs-your-smile-more-than-happy-people-do/) [Vianka Van Bokkem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vianka-van-bokkem/) > [No small misery is caused by overworked and unhappy people, in the dark views which they necessarily take up themselves, and force upon others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/no-small-misery-is-caused-by-overworked-and-unhappy-people-in-the/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [So much of unhappiness, it seems to me, is due to nerves; and bad nerves are the result of having nothing to do, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/so-much-of-unhappiness-it-seems-to-me-is-due-to-nerves-and-bad-nerves/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [A large part of altruism, even when it is perfectly honest, is grounded upon the fact that it is uncomfortable to have unhappy people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-large-part-of-altruism-even-when-it-is-perfectly-honest-is-grounded/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [I don't know what's going to happen. But I will say this, you're going to have a lot of very unhappy people. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-happen-but-i-will-say-this-you-re-going/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The exit from agony is always there. The tunnel out of the agony sector is always in front of you and yet you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/the-exit-from-agony-is-always-there-the-tunnel-out-of-the-agony/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [I think that in free societies, and we're constantly talking about living in free societies, aren't we, in contradiction with unhappy people who live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/i-think-that-in-free-societies-and-we-re-constantly-talking-about/) [Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/) > [A lot of people love what I do and a lot of people don't like or hate my style, so it's external - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-maia/a-lot-of-people-love-what-i-do-and-a-lot-of-people-don-t-like-or-hate/) [Demian Maia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-maia/) > [In order to run a great business, you must know that a bunch of really intrinsically unhappy people, that's not a recipe for success.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-fleetwood/in-order-to-run-a-great-business-you-must-know-that-a-bunch-of-really/) [Mick Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-fleetwood/) > [I think the Muslim religious is a little too tight. It doesn't fit humans. Humans can't possibly fit into it, so there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/i-think-the-muslim-religious-is-a-little-too-tight-it-doesn-t-fit/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [“Happy people generally are more forgiving, helpful, and charitable, have better self-control, and are more tolerant of frustration than unhappy people, while unhappy people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/happy-people-generally-are-more-forgiving-helpful-and-charitable-have/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [All artists and creative people are basically unhappy people. If you were happy, that would mean you were content with the world as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/all-artists-and-creative-people-are-basically-unhappy-people-if-you/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) ## More by Judith Guest > [For me being depressed means you can spend all day in bed, and still not get a good night's rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/for-me-being-depressed-means-you-can-spend-all-day-in-bed-and-still/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [I am also working on a couple of short stories for anthologies. This is new to me and Im enjoying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/i-am-also-working-on-a-couple-of-short-stories-for-anthologies-this/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [With my friends, I don't feel pressure to be someone other than who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/with-my-friends-i-don-t-feel-pressure-to-be-someone-other-than-who-i/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [“I keep telling you that feeling is not selective. You can't feel pain, you aren't gonna feel anything else either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/i-keep-telling-you-that-feeling-is-not-selective-you-can-t-feel-pain/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [Jesus but people got weird when they lived alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/jesus-but-people-got-weird-when-they-lived-alone/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [And if you ever do a survey, you'll find that people prefer illusion to reality, ten to one. Twenty, even.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/and-if-you-ever-do-a-survey-you-ll-find-that-people-prefer-illusion/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [Make notes—I’ve lost more material than I’ve ever written. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s not still up there in one’s brain. It’s in outer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/make-notes-i-ve-lost-more-material-than-i-ve-ever-written-contrary-to/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [Two separate, distinct personalities, not separate at all, but inextricably bound, soul and body and mind, to each other, how did we get so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/two-separate-distinct-personalities-not-separate-at-all-but/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [I can write for a long time on one novel and not get tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/i-can-write-for-a-long-time-on-one-novel-and-not-get-tired/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [Haven't lost your sense of humor after all but your sense of identity is what seems to have been misplaced. No. Wrong. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/haven-t-lost-your-sense-of-humor-after-all-but-your-sense-of-identity/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [“It has always been easier to believe himself capable of evil than to accept evil in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/it-has-always-been-easier-to-believe-himself-capable-of-evil-than-to/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [“Everything seems excessive, now, and too intense, too important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/everything-seems-excessive-now-and-too-intense-too-important/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [You have to live your life according to what comforts you, not what the rest of your family thinks you ought to be doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/you-have-to-live-your-life-according-to-what-comforts-you-not-what/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [I'm glad I'm successful at it, because it's allowed me to live very well financially, and give my kids a lot of things. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/i-m-glad-i-m-successful-at-it-because-it-s-allowed-me-to-live-very/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) > [... the monotonous beauty of wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/the-monotonous-beauty-of-wealth/) [Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) [Explore all 52 Judith Guest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/) ## More Autonomy quotes > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [“The idea of autonomy denies that we are born into a world that existed prior to us. It posits an essential aloneness; an autonomous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/the-idea-of-autonomy-denies-that-we-are-born-into-a-world-that/) [Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/) [Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [“Autonomous people assert themselves against the status quo. They don't accept the prevailing opinion just because it's the one given to them. Nothing creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brito/autonomous-people-assert-themselves-against-the-status-quo-they-don-t/) [Maria Brito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brito/) > [Black people cannot and will not become integrated into American society on any terms but those of self-determination and autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/black-people-cannot-and-will-not-become-integrated-into-american/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who hath desires must ever fearful be; Who lives in fear cannot be counted free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/who-hath-desires-must-ever-fearful-be-who-lives-in-fear-cannot-be/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) [Browse all 418 Autonomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Autonomy is the whole thing; it's what unhappy people are missing. 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