--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not what you did that matters, it's…" description: "\"It's not what you did that matters, it's what you don't do.\" — Mega" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mega-11739_matters_it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s_3211327.jpg" --- # It's not what you did that matters, it's what you don't do. ![“It's not what you did that matters, it's what you don't do.” quote by Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mega-11739_matters_it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s_3211327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mega-11739_matters_it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s_3211327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mega-11739_matters_it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s_3211327.jpg) > “It's not what you did that matters, it's what you don't do.” [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that inaction can be more consequential than actions taken, highlighting the importance of responsibility for what we neglect. **In simple terms:** Not doing something can be worse than doing something. Key Takeaway Pay attention to what you ignore. Themes responsibility consequences ethics Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace decisions - environmental stewardship Key Concepts moral duty accountability Questions to Reflect On - What are you avoiding that could cause harm? - How can you address overlooked duties? A Different Perspective Neglect may be justified by circumstances, reducing personal blame. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Did Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-matters-1924175/) [Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters/) [Matters Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-don-1652614/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [It doesn't matter what you did or where you were, it matters where you are and what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-did-or-where-you-were-it-matters-where-you/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [It matters if you don't just give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/it-matters-if-you-don-t-just-give-up/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [It doesn't matter what you did or where you were...it matters where you are and what you're doing. Get out there! Sing the song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-did-or-where-you-were-it-matters-where-you-2/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-have-integrity-nothing-else-matters-if-you-don-t-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's not always what you say that matters, sometimes it's what you don't say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-krabs/it-s-not-always-what-you-say-that-matters-sometimes-it-s-what-you-don/) [Mr. Krabs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-krabs/) > [“What you do matters more than what you don't do, but once in blue moon what you don't do matters much more than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/what-you-do-matters-more-than-what-you-don-t-do-but-once-in-blue-moon/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [What matters is not whether you put your fork or knife together because you've finished your meal, or something like that. What matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/what-matters-is-not-whether-you-put-your-fork-or-knife-together/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [It matters that you don't just give up,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/it-matters-that-you-don-t-just-give-up/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [The truth matters, and despite my objection to the creation of the Select Panel, as its Ranking Member, I will do all I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-truth-matters-and-despite-my-objection-to-the-creation-of-the/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Because it may seem like a small role now, but it matters. In the end, everything matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/because-it-may-seem-like-a-small-role-now-but-it-matters-in-the-end/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [“What you mean to find matters less than what you do find.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-collins/what-you-mean-to-find-matters-less-than-what-you-do-find/) [Paul Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-collins/) > [When you love someone, and you've lost that one, then nothing really matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/when-you-love-someone-and-you-ve-lost-that-one-then-nothing-really/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [To give importance to trifling matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/to-give-importance-to-trifling-matters/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) ## More by Mega > [One of the HARDEST things in life is LETTING GO of what you were USED TO and MOVING ON with something YOU'RE NOT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/one-of-the-hardest-things-in-life-is-letting-go-of-what-you-were-used/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [I belong to a society in which people go to collage because they're expected to, not because of a life purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/i-belong-to-a-society-in-which-people-go-to-collage-because-they-re/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [There's so many trials in life that you thought you can't overcome, but I know no matter what people say to you. you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/there-s-so-many-trials-in-life-that-you-thought-you-can-t-overcome/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [Inside me is a weak heart, but behind me is a string GOD! :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/inside-me-is-a-weak-heart-but-behind-me-is-a-string-god/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [Not all people can understand what you mean, we may have the same language but we don't have the same line of thinking! :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/not-all-people-can-understand-what-you-mean-we-may-have-the-same/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [WE are becoming anxious of what life has to offer . We have always wanted to be updated on what is new and cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/we-are-becoming-anxious-of-what-life-has-to-offer-we-have-always/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [If you don't want to lose the closeness you have with a person, DON'T FALL IN LOVE, stay as friends :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/if-you-don-t-want-to-lose-the-closeness-you-have-with-a-person-don-t/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [I was wondering why I fell for you, but one thing is for sure. I will always be the very good bestfriend of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/i-was-wondering-why-i-fell-for-you-but-one-thing-is-for-sure-i-will/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [Yesterday are far different from today and the generation to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/yesterday-are-far-different-from-today-and-the-generation-to-come/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [The best speech you could ever deliver in your life is PRAYER no mistakes, no corrections, The way you deliver it will be accepted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/the-best-speech-you-could-ever-deliver-in-your-life-is-prayer-no/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [They just pass, so if you do your best and you know that it's just taking for granted.. be strong and move on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/they-just-pass-so-if-you-do-your-best-and-you-know-that-it-s-just/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [They tell you to be yourself, then they judge you. For that, screw them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/they-tell-you-to-be-yourself-then-they-judge-you-for-that-screw-them/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [Let's treasure every moments we have with the people we love because not all goodbyes have signals..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/let-s-treasure-every-moments-we-have-with-the-people-we-love-because/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [Stay with the person who made no promises, but willing to make you happy & being valued like no other. :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/stay-with-the-person-who-made-no-promises-but-willing-to-make-you/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) > [When the time I kissed you, I didn't mean it.. Then ALCOHOL made me do it :) So don't expect too much.. :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/when-the-time-i-kissed-you-i-didn-t-mean-it-then-alcohol-made-me-do/) [Mega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) [Explore all 58 Mega quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/) ## More Matters quotes > [To give importance to trifling matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-heywood/to-give-importance-to-trifling-matters/) [John Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-heywood/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [The amount you give isn't important. What matters is what that amount represents in terms of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/the-amount-you-give-isn-t-important-what-matters-is-what-that-amount/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When you love someone, and you've lost that one, then nothing really matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnetha-faltskog/when-you-love-someone-and-you-ve-lost-that-one-then-nothing-really/) [Agnetha Faltskog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnetha-faltskog/) > [“What you mean to find matters less than what you do find.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-collins/what-you-mean-to-find-matters-less-than-what-you-do-find/) [Paul Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-collins/) > [Because it may seem like a small role now, but it matters. In the end, everything matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/because-it-may-seem-like-a-small-role-now-but-it-matters-in-the-end/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [The truth matters, and despite my objection to the creation of the Select Panel, as its Ranking Member, I will do all I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-truth-matters-and-despite-my-objection-to-the-creation-of-the/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [I don't really concern myself with matters that don't concern me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedella-marley/i-don-t-really-concern-myself-with-matters-that-don-t-concern-me/) [Cedella Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedella-marley/) > [The only thing that matters in college basketball is going to the Final Four.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/the-only-thing-that-matters-in-college-basketball-is-going-to-the/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Don't become a slave to non-crucial matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ringer/don-t-become-a-slave-to-non-crucial-matters/) [Robert Ringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ringer/) > [I don't know if I would have the same take on world matters and social issues if I were not gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-have-the-same-take-on-world-matters-and/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [If nothing matters, there's nothing to save.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/if-nothing-matters-there-s-nothing-to-save/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“I am not sure how to explain it, except that - truth matters to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/i-am-not-sure-how-to-explain-it-except-that-truth-matters-to-us/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“What lies before us and what lies within us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-lies-before-us-and-what-lies-within-us-are-small-matters/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,893 Matters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not what you did that matters, it's what you don't do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mega" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s-what-you-don-t-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Matters" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s-what-you-don-t-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mega-11739_matters_it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s_3211327.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mega-11739_matters_it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s_3211327.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ba/mega-11739_matters_it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s_3211327.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not what you did that matters, it's what you don't do.” — Mega", "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": "Mega", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mega/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not what you did that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s-what-you-don-t-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mega/it-s-not-what-you-did-that-matters-it-s-what-you-don-t-do/#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 } } ] } ```