---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The development of willpower -I will, I…"
description: "\"The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.\" — Kelly McGonigal"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_development_the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-wo_1094474.jpg"
---

#  The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want…

![“The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.” quote by Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_development_the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-wo_1094474.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_development_the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-wo_1094474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_development_the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-wo_1094474.jpg)

> “The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.”

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human willpower is shaped by choices to act, refrain, or desire, reflecting our essence as beings capable of self‑regulation.

**In simple terms:** Willpower shows who we are.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and shape your choices.

Themes

self‑control human nature choice

Mood

reflective motivational

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- habit formation
- goal setting
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

psychology behavioral economics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide when to act or refrain?
- What desires drive your choices?

A Different Perspective

Willpower can be depleted by stress and fatigue.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [What it means to be human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-it-means-to-be-human/) [Willpower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willpower/)

## Related quotes

> [Running is the heart of what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcdougall/running-is-the-heart-of-what-it-means-to-be-human/)

[Christopher McDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcdougall/)

> [The moon is a loyal companion. It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/the-moon-is-a-loyal-companion-it-never-leaves-it-s-always-there/)

[Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/)

> [I think that most of us would say that ubuntu basically speaks about what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-think-that-most-of-us-would-say-that-ubuntu-basically-speaks-about/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [If you knew the immensity of what it means to be human, you would not talk about God or Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/if-you-knew-the-immensity-of-what-it-means-to-be-human-you-would-not/)

[Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/)

> [So how on earth can I bring a child into the world, knowing that such sorrow lies ahead, that it is such a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/so-how-on-earth-can-i-bring-a-child-into-the-world-knowing-that-such-2/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [Poetry calls into question what it means to be human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-alcosser/poetry-calls-into-question-what-it-means-to-be-human/)

Sandra Alcosser

> [I can't remember the last book that taught me so much, and so well, about what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/i-can-t-remember-the-last-book-that-taught-me-so-much-and-so-well/)

[James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/)

> [To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/to-be-whole-to-be-complete-wildness-reminds-us-what-it-means-to-be/)

[Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/)

> [What it means to be human is to bring up your children in safety, educate them, keep them healthy, teach them how to care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/what-it-means-to-be-human-is-to-bring-up-your-children-in-safety/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [Given the final futility of our struggle, is the fleeting jolt of meaning that art gives us valuable? Or is the only value in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/given-the-final-futility-of-our-struggle-is-the-fleeting-jolt-of/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [Religion has been an important part of my understanding, my inquiry into what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayad-akhtar/religion-has-been-an-important-part-of-my-understanding-my-inquiry/)

[Ayad Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayad-akhtar/)

> [Ultimately, the transgender question is about more than just sex. It's about what it means to be human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-d-moore/ultimately-the-transgender-question-is-about-more-than-just-sex-it-s/)

[Russell D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-d-moore/)

> [Anyone who achieves any kind of success, however you want to define it, sometimes can't let go of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/anyone-who-achieves-any-kind-of-success-however-you-want-to-define-it/)

[Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/)

> [“People always want to define you by what you do. I started saying: ‘i am not too concerned with what i’m going to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/people-always-want-to-define-you-by-what-you-do-i-started-saying-i-am/)

[Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/)

> [The Wrong person won't give you what you want, but they'll make sure they get what they want from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/the-wrong-person-won-t-give-you-what-you-want-but-they-ll-make-sure/)

[Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/)

## More by Kelly McGonigal

> [“Although dieting is a long standing American pastime, as a method of losing weight it stinks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/although-dieting-is-a-long-standing-american-pastime-as-a-method-of/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“you’re going to abandon in a week, and there’s no scientific consensus about how much exercise you need to do. A 2010 analysis”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/you-re-going-to-abandon-in-a-week-and-there-s-no-scientific-consensus/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [Chasing meaning is better for your health than trying to avoid discomfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/chasing-meaning-is-better-for-your-health-than-trying-to-avoid/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [Go after what it is that creates meaning in your life and then trust yourself to handle the stress that follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/go-after-what-it-is-that-creates-meaning-in-your-life-and-then-trust/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“Ask your brain to do math every day, and it gets better at math. Ask your brain to worry, and it gets better at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/ask-your-brain-to-do-math-every-day-and-it-gets-better-at-math-ask/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [The is a secret for greater self-control, the science points to one thing: the power of paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-is-a-secret-for-greater-self-control-the-science-points-to-one/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [For most of us, the classic test of willpower is resisting temptation, whether the temptress is a doughnut, a cigarette, a clearance sale, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/for-most-of-us-the-classic-test-of-willpower-is-resisting-temptation/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“Stress and meaning are inextricably linked. You don’t stress out about things you don’t care about, and you can’t create a meaningful life without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/stress-and-meaning-are-inextricably-linked-you-don-t-stress-out-about/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“Meditation is not about getting rid of all your thoughts; it’s learning not to get so lost in them that you forget what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/meditation-is-not-about-getting-rid-of-all-your-thoughts-it-s/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [When your mind is preoccupied, your impulses—not your long-term goals—will guide your choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/when-your-mind-is-preoccupied-your-impulses-not-your-long-term-goals/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“Though our survival system doesn’t always work to our advantage, it is a mistake to think we should conquer the primitive self completely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/though-our-survival-system-doesn-t-always-work-to-our-advantage-it-is/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“is easiest. Consider a smoker who wants to quit. She needs to recognize the first sign of a craving, and where it’s likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/is-easiest-consider-a-smoker-who-wants-to-quit-she-needs-to-recognize/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“Research shows that people who think they have the most willpower are actually the most likely to lose control when tempted.1 For example, smokers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/research-shows-that-people-who-think-they-have-the-most-willpower-are/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [“Case in point: Warnings on cigarette packages can increase a smoker’s urge to light up. A 2009 study found that death warnings trigger stress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/case-in-point-warnings-on-cigarette-packages-can-increase-a-smoker-s/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

> [Self-compassion-being supportive and kind to yourself, especially in the face of stress and failure-is associated with more motivation and better self-control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/self-compassion-being-supportive-and-kind-to-yourself-especially-in/)

[Kelly McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

[Explore all 30 Kelly McGonigal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/)

## More Development quotes

> [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/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [A lot of times I'll show someone a technique I got really good with, but I didn't put all the hours in. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-bravo/a-lot-of-times-i-ll-show-someone-a-technique-i-got-really-good-with/)

[Eddie Bravo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-bravo/)

> [Thoroughly understand what it is to understand, and not only will you understand the broad lines of all there is to be understood but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/thoroughly-understand-what-it-is-to-understand-and-not-only-will-you/)

[Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/)

> [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/)

[Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/)

> [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/)

[Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/)

> [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/)

[Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/)

> [Close contact between science and the practice of collective farms and State farms creates inexhaustible opportunities for the development of theoretical knowledge, enabling us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trofim-lysenko/close-contact-between-science-and-the-practice-of-collective-farms/)

[Trofim Lysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trofim-lysenko/)

> [The chances are that you have already come to believe that happiness is unattainable. But men have attained it. And they have attained it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-chances-are-that-you-have-already-come-to-believe-that-happiness/)

[Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/)

> [Firstly, economic globalisation has brought prosperity and development to many countries, but also financial crises to Asia, Latin America and Russia, and increasing poverty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-lindh/firstly-economic-globalisation-has-brought-prosperity-and-development/)

[Anna Lindh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-lindh/)

> [They are the gateway for our modern esthetic development, the prophets of the new time. They are most of all, the primitives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/they-are-the-gateway-for-our-modern-esthetic-development-the-prophets/)

[Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/)

> [Here we were talking about economic development, about investing billions of dollars in various programs, and I could see it wasn't billions of dollars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/here-we-were-talking-about-economic-development-about-investing/)

[Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/)

> [Probably the greatest single obstacle to the progress and happiness of the American people lies in the willingness of so many men to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/probably-the-greatest-single-obstacle-to-the-progress-and-happiness/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/)

[Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/)

> [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

Browse all 4,447 Development quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kelly McGonigal"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-won-t-and-i-want-may-define/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Development"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-won-t-and-i-want-may-define/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_development_the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-wo_1094474.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_development_the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-wo_1094474.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a6/kelly-mcgonigal-20652_development_the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-wo_1094474.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The development of willpower -I will, I won't and I want- may define what it means to be human.” — Kelly McGonigal",
                "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": "Kelly McGonigal",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-mcgonigal/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The development of willpower -I will,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-won-t-and-i-want-may-define/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-mcgonigal/the-development-of-willpower-i-will-i-won-t-and-i-want-may-define/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
