--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've made it pretty clear that I can't…" description: "\"I've made it pretty clear that I can't legislate or dictate proper behavior. You can't. You do everything that you can.\" — Kim Reynolds" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/kim-reynolds-6201_behavior_i-ve-made-it-pretty-clear-that-i-can-t-l_598818.jpg" --- # I've made it pretty clear that I can't legislate or… ![“I've made it pretty clear that I can't legislate or dictate proper behavior. You can't. You do everything that you can.” quote by Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/kim-reynolds-6201_behavior_i-ve-made-it-pretty-clear-that-i-can-t-l_598818.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/kim-reynolds-6201_behavior_i-ve-made-it-pretty-clear-that-i-can-t-l_598818.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd3/kim-reynolds-6201_behavior_i-ve-made-it-pretty-clear-that-i-can-t-l_598818.jpg) > “I've made it pretty clear that I can't legislate or dictate proper behavior. You can't. You do everything that you can.” [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She asserts that authority cannot force proper conduct; individuals must act responsibly on their own. **In simple terms:** Authority cannot force behavior; personal responsibility matters. Key Takeaway Encourage personal accountability. Themes responsibility authority behavior Mood reflective serious Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - workplace - family - public policy - education Key Concepts ethics self‑governance Questions to Reflect On - How can we foster intrinsic motivation? - What role does community play in shaping behavior? A Different Perspective People may resist guidance even when offered. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) ## Related quotes > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [If there be any plausible reason for supposing that we have the right to legislate on the slave interests of the District, you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-cushing/if-there-be-any-plausible-reason-for-supposing-that-we-have-the-right/) [Caleb Cushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-cushing/) > [“We cannot expect the government to legislate everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-vickers/we-cannot-expect-the-government-to-legislate-everything/) [Lee Vickers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-vickers/) > [Man never legislates,but destinies and accidents,happening in all sorts of ways,legislate in all sorts of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/man-never-legislates-but-destinies-and-accidents-happening-in-all/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“While we keep legislating for our own interests the country will not move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-bello-accioly/while-we-keep-legislating-for-our-own-interests-the-country-will-not/) [Victor Bello Accioly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-bello-accioly/) > [Though it's impossible for us to legislate one's thoughts and feelings, we still need things like affirmative action in place because without measures like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coleman/though-it-s-impossible-for-us-to-legislate-one-s-thoughts-and/) [Jonathan Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coleman/) > [I think it is very difficult to legislate for morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elton/i-think-it-is-very-difficult-to-legislate-for-morality/) [Ben Elton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elton/) > [You can't legislate good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/you-can-t-legislate-good-taste/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [“There is very little truth in the old refrain that one cannot legislate equality. Laws not only provide concrete benefits, they can even change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-king/there-is-very-little-truth-in-the-old-refrain-that-one-cannot/) [Gilbert King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-king/) > [Pat Moynihan could write books with one hand and legislate with the other. I can't; I have a short attention span. The slightest distraction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/pat-moynihan-could-write-books-with-one-hand-and-legislate-with-the/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [“It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/it-is-a-truism-that-almost-any-sect-cult-or-religion-will-legislate/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Of course, you can't legislate for how people are going to read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-muldoon/of-course-you-can-t-legislate-for-how-people-are-going-to-read/) [Paul Muldoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-muldoon/) > [I can't legislate a song into being; it just will not happen for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/i-can-t-legislate-a-song-into-being-it-just-will-not-happen-for-me/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [If you're not electing Christians then in essence you are going to legislate sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-harris/if-you-re-not-electing-christians-then-in-essence-you-are-going-to/) [Katherine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-harris/) > [“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/almost-any-sect-cult-or-religion-will-legislate-its-creed-into-law-if/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) ## More by Kim Reynolds > [We will maintain and honor the commitments made to people in the IPERS system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/we-will-maintain-and-honor-the-commitments-made-to-people-in-the/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [The power of prayer and faith in God is something that has guided so many of us in good times and bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/the-power-of-prayer-and-faith-in-god-is-something-that-has-guided-so/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [Would I like to see more women in the courts? Yep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/would-i-like-to-see-more-women-in-the-courts-yep/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [I believe that victims of sexual harassment must be allowed to tell their story on their time, in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/i-believe-that-victims-of-sexual-harassment-must-be-allowed-to-tell/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [You have to be careful about measuring the quality of education by the sheer number of dollars that you put into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/you-have-to-be-careful-about-measuring-the-quality-of-education-by/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [Iowa is speckled with vibrant communities like Wilton, each with its own character and its own story to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/iowa-is-speckled-with-vibrant-communities-like-wilton-each-with-its/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [So often public service comes with sacrifice. A sacrifice that our men and women in uniform make each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/so-often-public-service-comes-with-sacrifice-a-sacrifice-that-our-men/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [I grew up in a small town in Iowa, town of about 500 people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/i-grew-up-in-a-small-town-in-iowa-town-of-about-500-people/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [Increased demands on the members of the Iowa National Guard often means increased time away from home and increased responsibility for those left behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/increased-demands-on-the-members-of-the-iowa-national-guard-often/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [Work-based learning is a game changer. It's like test driving a career, and I have seen it in action with our registered apprenticeship programs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/work-based-learning-is-a-game-changer-it-s-like-test-driving-a-career/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [The Invest in Iowa Act is a bold vision for Iowa that lowers the overall tax burden on Iowans, and invests significantly in mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/the-invest-in-iowa-act-is-a-bold-vision-for-iowa-that-lowers-the/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [It takes courage to come forward, and I don't want any victim of sexual harassment to think twice about doing so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/it-takes-courage-to-come-forward-and-i-don-t-want-any-victim-of/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [My message is that it's never too late. If it's something you want to do or if it's important to you, go for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/my-message-is-that-it-s-never-too-late-if-it-s-something-you-want-to/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [We know the job market is changing by the minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/we-know-the-job-market-is-changing-by-the-minute/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) > [I just believe that we should never stop fighting on behalf of the unborn and that's what we're going to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-reynolds/i-just-believe-that-we-should-never-stop-fighting-on-behalf-of-the/) [Kim Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) [Explore all 99 Kim Reynolds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-reynolds/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've made it pretty clear that I can't legislate or dictate proper behavior. You can't. 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