---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Other people do not owe me their…"
description: "\"Other people do not owe me their availability.\" — Laura Schlessinger"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/laura-schlessinger-1708_availability_other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availab_1237635.png"
---

#  Other people do not owe me their availability.

![“Other people do not owe me their availability.” quote by Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/laura-schlessinger-1708_availability_other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availab_1237635.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/laura-schlessinger-1708_availability_other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availab_1237635.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/laura-schlessinger-1708_availability_other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availab_1237635.png)

> “Other people do not owe me their availability.”

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

## About This Quote

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

People are not obligated to be available for you; respect their autonomy and schedule.

**In simple terms:** People aren't responsible for your time.

Key Takeaway

Respect others' time.

Themes

boundaries respect personal responsibility

Mood

assertive considerate

Type

advice ethical

When to use this quote

- meeting planning
- friendship expectations
- work collaborations
- family obligations

Key Concepts

autonomy time management

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you politely request time without entitlement?
- What boundaries do you set for your own availability?

A Different Perspective

Assuming availability can strain relationships.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Availability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/availability/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Owe Availability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/owe-availability-3851762/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Owe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-owe-1357340/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/)

## Related quotes

> [My Motto: The only people I owe my loyalty to are the ones who never made me question theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhiess-krieg/my-motto-the-only-people-i-owe-my-loyalty-to-are-the-ones-who-never/)

[Jhiess Krieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhiess-krieg/)

> [The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-sum-which-two-married-people-owe-to-one-another-defies/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [As a state senator and then a congressman, I've had the privilege of trying to do good things for people to whom I owe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ackerman/as-a-state-senator-and-then-a-congressman-i-ve-had-the-privilege-of/)

[Gary Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ackerman/)

> [Scott Aukerman and Judd Apatow are two people who I owe a lot to, and it's always great to work with Scott whenever I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rust/scott-aukerman-and-judd-apatow-are-two-people-who-i-owe-a-lot-to-and/)

[Paul Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rust/)

> [I'll go back and take what the people owe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-ll-go-back-and-take-what-the-people-owe-me/)

[Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/)

> [Mind your own business in the face of angry people. You owe them nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mind-your-own-business-in-the-face-of-angry-people-you-owe-them/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only people you owe your loyalty to are those who never made you question theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/the-only-people-you-owe-your-loyalty-to-are-those-who-never-made-you/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [“My mother holds these markers all over town; people who owe her a favour. It might be a peek into planning documents, or preferential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-m-millennial/my-mother-holds-these-markers-all-over-town-people-who-owe-her-a/)

[I.M. Millennial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-m-millennial/)

> [There's certain people that you owe it to, for the things they've done for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/there-s-certain-people-that-you-owe-it-to-for-the-things-they-ve-done/)

[Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/)

> [“Each man must seek for himself the people who hold the essential beauty, and each man must eventually say to himself as I do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/each-man-must-seek-for-himself-the-people-who-hold-the-essential/)

[Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/)

> [“Some people owe everything they have to the bank accounts of their parents. I owe the state. Put simply, the state educated me, fixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/some-people-owe-everything-they-have-to-the-bank-accounts-of-their/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [One kid said to me, he said, Mr. Lloyd, we really owe you. And I explained to him, man, you owe me absolutely nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-lloyd/one-kid-said-to-me-he-said-mr-lloyd-we-really-owe-you-and-i-explained/)

[Earl Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-lloyd/)

> [The only people I owe my loyalty to are those who never made me question theirs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-people-i-owe-my-loyalty-to-are-those-who-never-made-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I talk to the guy who busted his butt all week to buy a color TV, and the woman who's raising her kids, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-jackson/i-talk-to-the-guy-who-busted-his-butt-all-week-to-buy-a-color-tv-and/)

[Keith Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-jackson/)

> [No, I don't want your money. The world moves less by money than by what you owe people and what they owe you. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/no-i-don-t-want-your-money-the-world-moves-less-by-money-than-by-what/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

## More by Laura Schlessinger

> [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [Don't worry so much about your self-esteem. Worry more about your character. Integrity is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/don-t-worry-so-much-about-your-self-esteem-worry-more-about-your/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [I'm not cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-not-cynical/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [A woman should always be more concerned with standing up for what is right than making sure everyone 'likes' her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/a-woman-should-always-be-more-concerned-with-standing-up-for-what-is/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [There's no point dating a guy who can't support a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/there-s-no-point-dating-a-guy-who-can-t-support-a-family/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [There's no battered woman alive who didn't know in advance that the man was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/there-s-no-battered-woman-alive-who-didn-t-know-in-advance-that-the/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [If there's an award for best mother-in-law in the universe, in the future, when my son gets married, I will win that award.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/if-there-s-an-award-for-best-mother-in-law-in-the-universe-in-the/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [Your mother doesn't own you. Your father doesn't own you. You own you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/your-mother-doesn-t-own-you-your-father-doesn-t-own-you-you-own-you/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [The path to solid, supportive, healthy relationships, self-respect, and a quality life starts with the usually painful decision to do the Right Thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/the-path-to-solid-supportive-healthy-relationships-self-respect-and-a/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [My sister is not a public person, so I don't think it's right to discuss her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/my-sister-is-not-a-public-person-so-i-don-t-think-it-s-right-to/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [The meaning of your life comes through your obligations to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/the-meaning-of-your-life-comes-through-your-obligations-to-others/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [I'm so happy, I can hardly spit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-so-happy-i-can-hardly-spit/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [Make believe I'm right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/make-believe-i-m-right/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [Everything I say is true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/everything-i-say-is-true/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

> [Never sell your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/never-sell-your-soul/)

[Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

[Explore all 214 Laura Schlessinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/)

## More Availability quotes

> [God does not ask your ability Or your inability. He asks only your availability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/god-does-not-ask-your-ability-or-your-inability-he-asks-only-your/)

[Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/)

> [But the grind has begun. The windows don’t open, and even the availability of near-constant jokes about Jews and Mormons fails to stem the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/but-the-grind-has-begun-the-windows-don-t-open-and-even-the/)

[Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/)

> [God does not ask about our ability, but our availability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-does-not-ask-about-our-ability-but-our-availability/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The electronics industry expanded rapidly and the seeds for the semiconductor and software revolution were planted. The postwar period also saw the suburbanization of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/the-electronics-industry-expanded-rapidly-and-the-seeds-for-the/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [If someone seems interested, but tells you they are spending time with someone else? Respect their choice and dont allow yourself to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/if-someone-seems-interested-but-tells-you-they-are-spending-time-with/)

[Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/)

> [It's long been accepted as fact that the availability of family planning services saves lives. Where women have access to these services, children and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/it-s-long-been-accepted-as-fact-that-the-availability-of-family/)

[Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/)

> [With that availability of cash coming in to your restaurant, get a chance when you buy your restaurant, pay it off first and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-treliving/with-that-availability-of-cash-coming-in-to-your-restaurant-get-a/)

[Jim Treliving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-treliving/)

> [That which distinguishes the new thought from the old is not a denial of this Divine Reality, but an affirmation of its immediate availability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/that-which-distinguishes-the-new-thought-from-the-old-is-not-a-denial/)

[Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/)

> [Casting is all about availability, as much as anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/casting-is-all-about-availability-as-much-as-anything-else/)

[William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/)

> [Those who have prophesied dreadful consequences as a result of the greater sexual freedom which the young assert - unwanted babies, venereal disease and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-ward/those-who-have-prophesied-dreadful-consequences-as-a-result-of-the/)

[Colin Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-ward/)

> [I've gone to big stadium rock concerts at some artist's invitation, and there's this invariable, fascinating and rather sad situation of concentric circles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/i-ve-gone-to-big-stadium-rock-concerts-at-some-artist-s-invitation/)

[William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/)

> [At each stage of development the child needs different resources from the family. During the first year, a variety of experience and the availability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kagan/at-each-stage-of-development-the-child-needs-different-resources-from/)

[Jerome Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kagan/)

> [ Whether or not science can be applied to that mental construct \[i.e. the designed entity\] is a matter of availability. If there is body… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/whether-or-not-science-can-be-applied-to-that-mental-construct-i-e/)

[Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/)

> [The Internet may fairly be regarded as a never-ending worldwide conversation. The government may not, through the , interrupt that conversation... As the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-dalzell/the-internet-may-fairly-be-regarded-as-a-never-ending-worldwide/)

[Stewart Dalzell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-dalzell/)

> [Prescription drugs and heroin act in very similar ways on the brain. And, unfortunately, heroin, because of its widespread availability is a lot cheaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/prescription-drugs-and-heroin-act-in-very-similar-ways-on-the-brain/)

[Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/)

[Browse all 164 Availability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/availability/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Other people do not owe me their availability.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Laura Schlessinger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availability/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Availability"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availability/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/laura-schlessinger-1708_availability_other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availab_1237635.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/laura-schlessinger-1708_availability_other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availab_1237635.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/laura-schlessinger-1708_availability_other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availab_1237635.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Other people do not owe me their availability.” — Laura Schlessinger",
                "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": "Laura Schlessinger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Other people do not owe me...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availability/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/other-people-do-not-owe-me-their-availability/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
