--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mother, who has an absolute belief that…" description: "\"Mother, who has an absolute belief that it is not the cards that one is dealt in life, it is how one plays them, is, by far, the highest card I was dea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_belief_mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-i_83443.jpg" --- # Mother, who has an absolute belief that it is not the… ![“Mother, who has an absolute belief that it is not the cards that one is dealt in life, it is how one plays them, is, by far, the highest card I was dealt.” quote by Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_belief_mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-i_83443.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_belief_mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-i_83443.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_belief_mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-i_83443.jpg) > “Mother, who has an absolute belief that it is not the cards that one is dealt in life, it is how one plays them, is, by far, the highest card I was dealt.” [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life's outcomes depend more on our actions and attitudes than on circumstances beyond our control. **In simple terms:** Agency outweighs fate. Key Takeaway You shape your destiny through choices. Themes agency resilience mindset personal responsibility empowerment Mood determined hopeful inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - overcoming adversity - career decisions - personal setbacks - health challenges Key Concepts choice perception growth Practical Applications - coaching - motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when faced with an unexpected obstacle? - What habits help you stay proactive? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-cards-1056708/) [Card Dealt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/card-dealt-1056707/) [Cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cards/) [Cards Dealt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cards-dealt/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Highest Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest-card-1056705/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-absolute-1056706/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [My mother is an absolute stickler for honesty. If you found money in the street you handed it in to a shop or found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-front/my-mother-is-an-absolute-stickler-for-honesty-if-you-found-money-in/) [Rebecca Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-front/) > [Not only did we play the race card, we dealt it from the bottom of the deck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-shapiro/not-only-did-we-play-the-race-card-we-dealt-it-from-the-bottom-of-the/) [Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-shapiro/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [You can't control the cards you're dealt, just how you play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/you-can-t-control-the-cards-you-re-dealt-just-how-you-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People ask whether I put the politics first, journalism first or the comedy first; it doesn't really matter. I'm just playing with the cards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-thomas/people-ask-whether-i-put-the-politics-first-journalism-first-or-the/) [Mark Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-thomas/) > [You have to play the cards you are dealt and if it has made it harder, it doesn't matter, you still have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/you-have-to-play-the-cards-you-are-dealt-and-if-it-has-made-it-harder/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [I didn't plan on being a single mom, but you have to deal with the cards you are dealt the best way you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tichina-arnold/i-didn-t-plan-on-being-a-single-mom-but-you-have-to-deal-with-the/) [Tichina Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tichina-arnold/) > [I want people to understand that it doesn't matter the cards you are dealt in life. What matters is what you do with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/i-want-people-to-understand-that-it-doesn-t-matter-the-cards-you-are/) [Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-game/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Life's tough," Mia said with a shrug. "You play the cards you're dealt or you fold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/life-s-tough-mia-said-with-a-shrug-you-play-the-cards-you-re-dealt-or/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [They had parted as boys, and now life presented one of them with a fugitive and the other with a dying man. Both wondered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/they-had-parted-as-boys-and-now-life-presented-one-of-them-with-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I feel older than I really am. It's because of the cards I was dealt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-alsina/i-feel-older-than-i-really-am-it-s-because-of-the-cards-i-was-dealt/) [August Alsina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-alsina/) > [When the cards are dealt, I just want to destroy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stu-ungar/when-the-cards-are-dealt-i-just-want-to-destroy-people/) [Stu Ungar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stu-ungar/) > [“That is what it is. We can't change it. We just have to decide how we'll respond. We cannot change the cards we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/that-is-what-it-is-we-can-t-change-it-we-just-have-to-decide-how-we/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“I think we’re here to make the world a better place than we found it. I think we don’t always deserve the cards that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-vaughn/i-think-we-re-here-to-make-the-world-a-better-place-than-we-found-it/) [Carrie Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-vaughn/) ## More by Kay Redfield Jamison > [ “...even though \[my psychiatrist\] understood mor than anyone how much I felt I was losing--in energy, vivacity, and originality--by taking medication, he never was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/even-though-my-psychiatrist-understood-mor-than-anyone-how-much-i/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [When people are suicidal, their thinking is paralyzed, their options appear spare or nonexistent, their mood is despairing, and hopelessness permeates their entire mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/when-people-are-suicidal-their-thinking-is-paralyzed-their-options/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [It's more common than not that bipolar illness will start in the teens. One of the reasons I spend a lot of time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/it-s-more-common-than-not-that-bipolar-illness-will-start-in-the/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [I think that for thousands of years people have made the observation that there are certain kinds of extreme depressive states that seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-think-that-for-thousands-of-years-people-have-made-the-observation/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Every seventeen minutes in America, someone commits suicide. Mostly, I have been impressed by how little value our society puts on saving the lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/every-seventeen-minutes-in-america-someone-commits-suicide-mostly-i/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“I decided early in graduate school that I needed to do something about my moods. It quickly came down to a choice between seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-decided-early-in-graduate-school-that-i-needed-to-do-something/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [When I'm talking about depression, I'm talking about the more severe forms of depression, and I think that conceptualising as a form of grief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/when-i-m-talking-about-depression-i-m-talking-about-the-more-severe/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [An ardent temperament makes one very vulnerable to dreamkillers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/an-ardent-temperament-makes-one-very-vulnerable-to-dreamkillers/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [the intensity, glory, and absolute assuredness if my mind's flight made it very difficult for me to believe once i was better, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/the-intensity-glory-and-absolute-assuredness-if-my-mind-s-flight-made/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [I wish I could explain it so someone could understand it. I'm afraid it's something I can't put into words. There's just this heavy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/i-wish-i-could-explain-it-so-someone-could-understand-it-i-m-afraid/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Moods are such an essential part of the substance of life, of one's notion of oneself, that even psychotic extremes in mood and behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/moods-are-such-an-essential-part-of-the-substance-of-life-of-one-s/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [We expect well-informed treatment for cancer or heart disease; it matters no less for depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/we-expect-well-informed-treatment-for-cancer-or-heart-disease-it/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [Manic depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviors, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/manic-depression-distorts-moods-and-thoughts-incites-dreadful/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [People talk about grief as if it's kind of an unremittingly awful thing, and it is. It is painful, but it's a very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/people-talk-about-grief-as-if-it-s-kind-of-an-unremittingly-awful/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [One of things so bad about depression and bipolar disorder is that if you don't have prior awareness, you don't have any idea what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/one-of-things-so-bad-about-depression-and-bipolar-disorder-is-that-if/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) [Explore all 205 Kay Redfield Jamison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mother, who has an absolute belief that it is not the cards that one is dealt in life, it is how one plays them, is, by far, the highest card I was dealt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kay Redfield Jamison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-it-is-not-the-cards-that-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Belief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-it-is-not-the-cards-that-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_belief_mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-i_83443.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_belief_mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-i_83443.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d5/kay-redfield-jamison-1826_belief_mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-i_83443.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mother, who has an absolute belief that it is not the cards that one is dealt in life, it is how one plays…” — Kay Redfield Jamison", "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": "Kay Redfield Jamison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mother, who has an absolute belief...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-it-is-not-the-cards-that-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/mother-who-has-an-absolute-belief-that-it-is-not-the-cards-that-one/#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 } } ] } ```