--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We each have within ourselves the ability…" description: "\"“We each have within ourselves the ability to shape our own destinies. That much we understand. But, more important, each of us has an equal ability to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/margaret-weis-7932_change_we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-abilit_3178332.jpg" --- # We each have within ourselves the ability to shape our own… ![“We each have within ourselves the ability to shape our own destinies. That much we understand. But, more important, each of us has an equal ability to shape the destiny of the universe. Ah, that you find more difficult to believe. But I tell you it is so. You do not have to be the leader of the…” quote by Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/margaret-weis-7932_change_we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-abilit_3178332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/margaret-weis-7932_change_we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-abilit_3178332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/margaret-weis-7932_change_we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-abilit_3178332.jpg) > ““We each have within ourselves the ability to shape our own destinies. That much we understand. But, more important, each of us has an equal ability to shape the destiny of the universe. Ah, that you find more difficult to believe. But I tell you it is so. You do not have to be the leader of the Council. You do not have to be king or monarch or the head of a clan to have a significant impact on the world around you. In the vastness of the ocean, is any drop of water greater than another? No, you answer, and neither has a single drop the ability to cause a tidal wave. But, I argue, if a single drop falls into the ocean, it creates ripples. And these ripples spread. And perhaps - who knows - these ripples may grow and swell and eventually break foaming upon the shore. Like a drop in the vast ocean, each of us causes ripples as we move through our lives. The effects of whatever we do - insignificant as it may seem - spread out beyond us. We may never know what far-reaching impact even the simplest action might have on our fellow mortals. Thus we need to be conscious, all of the time, of our place in the ocean, of our place in the world, of our place among our fellow creatures. For if enough of us join forces, we can swell the tide of events - for good or for evil.”” [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual actions, though seemingly small, generate ripples that can influence larger events, especially when many act together. **In simple terms:** Small acts create wider effects. Key Takeaway Recognize and act with awareness. Themes interconnectedness responsibility collective impact agency Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decisions - community projects - environmental activism - social movements - team collaborations Key Concepts Ripple effect systems thinking emergence Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure your ripple? - What collective actions amplify your impact? A Different Perspective Impact may be delayed or invisible, making motivation hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Ripples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ripples/) [Vast ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vast-ocean/) ## Related quotes > [People say, what is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/people-say-what-is-the-sense-of-our-small-effort-they-cannot-see-that-2/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [You throw a rock in the water, and ripples spread out slowly. But they do go far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-koch/you-throw-a-rock-in-the-water-and-ripples-spread-out-slowly-but-they/) [Sebastian Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-koch/) > [“When you drop a pebble into a pond, ripples spread out, changing all the water in the pool. The ripples hit the shore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/when-you-drop-a-pebble-into-a-pond-ripples-spread-out-changing-all/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [What I want to bring out is how a pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions. Each one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/what-i-want-to-bring-out-is-how-a-pebble-cast-into-a-pond-causes/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/just-as-ripples-spread-out-when-a-single-pebble-is-dropped-into-water/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The big man in a small village is the big ship in a small lake! Let him sail to the vast oceans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-big-man-in-a-small-village-is-the-big-ship-in-a-small-lake-let/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I said, “But I am, Samuel. I am cursed. You’ve seen my mother. You know that is my destiny.” “I know,” he said. “But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-james/i-said-but-i-am-samuel-i-am-cursed-you-ve-seen-my-mother-you-know/) [David James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-james/) > [“Looking at a sea bird flapping its wings against the full moon I wish I could grow wings and fly away from everything and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-james/looking-at-a-sea-bird-flapping-its-wings-against-the-full-moon-i-wish/) [Monica James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-james/) > [“In true, Taoist parlance, 'immortality' refers to a spiritual state, not a condition of physical permanence. In his books on the teachings of Don…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/in-true-taoist-parlance-immortality-refers-to-a-spiritual-state-not-a/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Today, suddenly, I reached an absurd but unerring conclusion. In a moment of enlightenment, I realized that I'm nobody, absolutely nobody. When the lightning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/today-suddenly-i-reached-an-absurd-but-unerring-conclusion-in-a/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [We live as ripples of energy in the vast ocean of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/we-live-as-ripples-of-energy-in-the-vast-ocean-of-energy/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [the wealthy white western minority of the world could not hope to prosper if most of the rest of mankind were foundering in hopeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ward-baroness-jackson-of-lodsworth/the-wealthy-white-western-minority-of-the-world-could-not-hope-to/) [Barbara Ward, Baroness Jackson of Lodsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ward-baroness-jackson-of-lodsworth/) > [I can't even dial one phone number right away. But you strained your own body to go and see them. I was surprised. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arina-tanemura/i-can-t-even-dial-one-phone-number-right-away-but-you-strained-your/) [Arina Tanemura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arina-tanemura/) > [The improved American highway system isolated the American-in-transit. On his speedway he had no contact with the towns which he by-passed. If he stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/the-improved-american-highway-system-isolated-the-american-in-transit/) [Daniel J. Boorstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-boorstin/) > [“French Polynesia embraces a vast ocean area strewn with faraway outer islands, each with a mystique of its own. The 118 islands and atolls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stanley/french-polynesia-embraces-a-vast-ocean-area-strewn-with-faraway-outer/) David Stanley ## More by Margaret Weis > [“Hope lives. No matter the mistakes we make, no matter our blunders and misunderstandings, no matter the grief and sorrow and loss, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/hope-lives-no-matter-the-mistakes-we-make-no-matter-our-blunders-and/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [The heart communes best when it does not try to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/the-heart-communes-best-when-it-does-not-try-to-speak/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“The Imam and his priests were due to speak to the people at midnight. Feisal intended holding them spellbound and enthralled with his words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/the-imam-and-his-priests-were-due-to-speak-to-the-people-at-midnight/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [over protective? a butler in a grade- B movie? someones jewish mother? you got it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/over-protective-a-butler-in-a-grade-b-movie-someones-jewish-mother/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“In sound’s absence, silence echoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/in-sound-s-absence-silence-echoes/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“Remove your hands, brother!" Raistlin said in a flat, soft whisper. "I'll see you in the Abyss!" "I said remove your hands!" There was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/remove-your-hands-brother-raistlin-said-in-a-flat-soft-whisper-i-ll/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [its like you said? i lead my people-" forth!" zifnab carried on enthusiastically! " out of eygpt! out of bondage! across the desert! pillar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/its-like-you-said-i-lead-my-people-forth-zifnab-carried-on/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“If we deny love that is given to us, if we refuse to give love because we fear the pain of loss, then our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/if-we-deny-love-that-is-given-to-us-if-we-refuse-to-give-love-because/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“He writhed at the thought and vowed by the gods of magic, by all three gods of magic, that he would never return to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/he-writhed-at-the-thought-and-vowed-by-the-gods-of-magic-by-all-three/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [I like working closely with artists. I think that's very important in fantasy and science fiction - the visual aspect of the worlds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/i-like-working-closely-with-artists-i-think-that-s-very-important-in/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“The old dwarf drew himself up. His height was no longer impressive: the bowed back would not straighten, the legs could no longer support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/the-old-dwarf-drew-himself-up-his-height-was-no-longer-impressive-the/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“Tanis answered. “You’ll slow us up if you don’t.” “The men in my tribe can travel for many days without sleep,” Riverwind said. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/tanis-answered-you-ll-slow-us-up-if-you-don-t-the-men-in-my-tribe-can/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [“My waking and sleeping seem mixed together. I’m walking in a dream half the time, and sleeping through reality the other half.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/my-waking-and-sleeping-seem-mixed-together-i-m-walking-in-a-dream/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [A mage's soul is forged in the crucible of the magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/a-mage-s-soul-is-forged-in-the-crucible-of-the-magic/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) > [my dragon? save anybody? you must have have him confused with someone else- Smaug perhaps?...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/my-dragon-save-anybody-you-must-have-have-him-confused-with-someone/) [Margaret Weis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) [Explore all 86 Margaret Weis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We each have within ourselves the ability to shape our own destinies. That much we understand. But, more important, each of us has an equal ability to shape the destiny of the universe. Ah, that you find more difficult to believe. But I tell you it is so. You do not have to be the leader of the Council. You do not have to be king or monarch or the head of a clan to have a significant impact on the world around you. In the vastness of the ocean, is any drop of water greater than another? No, you answer, and neither has a single drop the ability to cause a tidal wave. But, I argue, if a single drop falls into the ocean, it creates ripples. And these ripples spread. And perhaps - who knows - these ripples may grow and swell and eventually break foaming upon the shore. Like a drop in the vast ocean, each of us causes ripples as we move through our lives. The effects of whatever we do - insignificant as it may seem - spread out beyond us. We may never know what far-reaching impact even the simplest action might have on our fellow mortals. Thus we need to be conscious, all of the time, of our place in the ocean, of our place in the world, of our place among our fellow creatures. For if enough of us join forces, we can swell the tide of events - for good or for evil.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Margaret Weis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-ability-to-shape-our-own-destinies/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-ability-to-shape-our-own-destinies/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/margaret-weis-7932_change_we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-abilit_3178332.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/margaret-weis-7932_change_we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-abilit_3178332.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ca/margaret-weis-7932_change_we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-abilit_3178332.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We each have within ourselves the ability to shape our own destinies. That much we understand. But, more…” — Margaret Weis", "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": "Margaret Weis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-weis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We each have within ourselves the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-ability-to-shape-our-own-destinies/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-weis/we-each-have-within-ourselves-the-ability-to-shape-our-own-destinies/#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 } } ] } ```