---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pen is in your hands, the rest is…"
description: "\"The pen is in your hands, the rest is still unwritten.\" — Natasha Bedingfield"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/238/natasha-bedingfield-10590_graduation_the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-sti_2884457.jpg"
---

#  The pen is in your hands, the rest is still unwritten.

![“The pen is in your hands, the rest is still unwritten.” quote by Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/238/natasha-bedingfield-10590_graduation_the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-sti_2884457.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/238/natasha-bedingfield-10590_graduation_the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-sti_2884457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/238/natasha-bedingfield-10590_graduation_the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-sti_2884457.jpg)

> “The pen is in your hands, the rest is still unwritten.”

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

## About This Quote

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

You hold the power to shape your future; the rest is unwritten.

**In simple terms:** You control your destiny.

Key Takeaway

Take charge of your story.

Themes

empowerment creativity future

Mood

motivational hopeful

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- writing
- personal goals

Key Concepts

agency possibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What story will you write?
- How do you handle uncertainty?

A Different Perspective

It can feel overwhelming to start.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/)

## Related quotes

> [“Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedignfield/today-is-where-your-book-begins-the-rest-is-still-unwritten/)

Natasha Bedignfield

> [Always read with a pen in your hands, not beside you on the table, but actually in your hand, ready, armed ... Put a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-parks/always-read-with-a-pen-in-your-hands-not-beside-you-on-the-table-but/)

[Tim Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-parks/)

> [No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/no-one-else-can-feel-it-for-you-only-you-can-let-it-in-no-one-else-no/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [“Staring at the blank page before you open up the dirty window let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find. Today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the-2/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [Live your life with arms wide open. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/live-your-life-with-arms-wide-open-today-is-where-your-book-begins/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [In the deep, unwritten wisdom of life there are many things to be learned that cannot be taught. We never know them by hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hope/in-the-deep-unwritten-wisdom-of-life-there-are-many-things-to-be/)

[Anthony Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hope/)

> [Custom, that unwritten law, By which the people keep even kings in awe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-davenport/custom-that-unwritten-law-by-which-the-people-keep-even-kings-in-awe/)

Charles Davenport

> [“After those four years, he returned to the Midwest. He'd turned twenty-five, the Age of Unfolding, and it was time to write a novel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/after-those-four-years-he-returned-to-the-midwest-he-d-turned-twenty/)

[Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/)

> [Just as the common law derives from ancient precedents - judges' decisions - rather than statutes, baseball's codes are the game's distilled mores. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-will/just-as-the-common-law-derives-from-ancient-precedents-judges/)

[George Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-will/)

> [“Unwritten words grow out of silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/unwritten-words-grow-out-of-silence/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [New Haven cultivates ... an open gloom that seems happy to acknowledge disrepair and the superfluity of appearance. ... I realized that what cramped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-suleri/new-haven-cultivates-an-open-gloom-that-seems-happy-to-acknowledge/)

Sara Suleri

> [There are magic moments, involving great physical fatigue and intense motor excitement, that produce visions of people known in the past. As I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-magic-moments-involving-great-physical-fatigue-and-intense/)

[Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/)

> [For those of us in the political business, generally, it's been pretty much an unwritten but understood rule that family and children are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/for-those-of-us-in-the-political-business-generally-it-s-been-pretty/)

[Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/)

> [“Don't be the forgotten voice in an unwritten book. Ikke bli den glemte stemmen i en uskreven bok.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atle-jarn-s-ler-y/don-t-be-the-forgotten-voice-in-an-unwritten-book-ikke-bli-den-glemte/)

[Atle Jarnæs Lerøy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atle-jarn-s-ler-y/)

> [I filled in for Papa Roach because we weren't doing much. Unwritten Law had a few more shows booked, but I got the call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-palermo/i-filled-in-for-papa-roach-because-we-weren-t-doing-much-unwritten/)

[Tony Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-palermo/)

## More by Natasha Bedingfield

> [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [I love arranging my music, not in alphabetical order but by mood, creating playlists for when I have energy and want to work out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-love-arranging-my-music-not-in-alphabetical-order-but-by-mood/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [The best thing about being a married woman is sleeping naked everyday and still liking the guy that I'm with...He keeps the romance alive!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/the-best-thing-about-being-a-married-woman-is-sleeping-naked-everyday/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [I know I should keep this a secret, but C�line Dion is something of an icon to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-know-i-should-keep-this-a-secret-but-c-line-dion-is-something-of-an/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [The music technology scene is changing so fast it's hard to keep up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/the-music-technology-scene-is-changing-so-fast-it-s-hard-to-keep-up/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [Guys in America are a bit more forward than in England. You can be out, food shopping, and guys will just come up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/guys-in-america-are-a-bit-more-forward-than-in-england-you-can-be-out/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [I know I should keep this a secret, but Celine Dion is something of an icon to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-know-i-should-keep-this-a-secret-but-celine-dion-is-something-of-an/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [Feel the rain on your skin. No one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in. No one else can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/feel-the-rain-on-your-skin-no-one-else-can-feel-it-for-you-only-you/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [People don't listen to one radio station. On iTunes you can mix different worlds and bring country and pop and folk and live music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/people-don-t-listen-to-one-radio-station-on-itunes-you-can-mix/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [Write your own songs. It helps you to mean what you're singing, which will then make it mean something to listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/write-your-own-songs-it-helps-you-to-mean-what-you-re-singing-which/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [I was interested in psychology because I knew that'd make me a better songwriter. It'd give me a deeper insight into people. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-was-interested-in-psychology-because-i-knew-that-d-make-me-a-better/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [I really like the Spice Girls and I want to go and see them on the tour. I should write for them and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-really-like-the-spice-girls-and-i-want-to-go-and-see-them-on-the/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [I get very deep into the writing and recording process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-get-very-deep-into-the-writing-and-recording-process/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [I got a job as soon as I could - 11 or 12. I started babysitting and then I got a part-time job at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-got-a-job-as-soon-as-i-could-11-or-12-i-started-babysitting-and/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

> [Staring at the blank page before you, open up a dirty window. Let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find. Reaching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-a-dirty-window-let-the/)

[Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

[Explore all 64 Natasha Bedingfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/)

## More Graduation quotes

> [Each year more than 100,000 high school graduates, with proved ability, do not enter college because they cannot afford it. And if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/each-year-more-than-100-000-high-school-graduates-with-proved-ability/)

[Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/)

> [Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it sure has earned a lot of people graduate degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-irving/curiosity-may-have-killed-the-cat-but-it-sure-has-earned-a-lot-of/)

Robyn Irving

> [A much as I say I'm ready to graduate I know I'm going to miss high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-much-as-i-say-i-m-ready-to-graduate-i-know-i-m-going-to-miss-high/)

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

> [My graduation speech: I would like to thank wikipedia, copy and paste. I'm out peeps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brookelle-willcox/my-graduation-speech-i-would-like-to-thank-wikipedia-copy-and-paste-i/)

Brookelle Willcox

> [Just wanted to congratulate myself on sitting through your graduation ceremony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-wanted-to-congratulate-myself-on-sitting-through-your-graduation/)

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

> [“Only one-third of college students from the bottom quarter of households graduate, while two-thirds of students from the top quarter do. Both ability and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temin/only-one-third-of-college-students-from-the-bottom-quarter-of/)

Peter Temin

> [When one considers our nation's educational foundations - Harvard, Yale, Princeton and most of our respected institutions were originally Christian - it becomes evident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/when-one-considers-our-nation-s-educational-foundations-harvard-yale/)

[Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/)

> [In the summer we graduated we flipped out completely, drinking beer, cruising in our cars and beating up each other. It was a crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/in-the-summer-we-graduated-we-flipped-out-completely-drinking-beer/)

[Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/)

> [My undergraduate studies at Brown and graduate degrees from Harvard prepared me for a multifaceted career as an actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/my-undergraduate-studies-at-brown-and-graduate-degrees-from-harvard/)

[Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/)

> [John Shook's experience shows just how important problemsolving is at Toyota - it comes before any other job skill for the graduate intake. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-burns/john-shook-s-experience-shows-just-how-important-problemsolving-is-at/)

Martin Burns

> [The golden opportunity you are seeking is within yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-engelbreit/the-golden-opportunity-you-are-seeking-is-within-yourself/)

[Mary Engelbreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-engelbreit/)

> [“On the other side of graduation was her actual life, the slow narrowing of possibilities that would catch her and freeze her in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ling-ma/on-the-other-side-of-graduation-was-her-actual-life-the-slow/)

[Ling Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ling-ma/)

> [Go God's way! His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/go-god-s-way-his-is-the-most-reliable-route-to-follow-when-life-gets/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [“The last days before graduation are bad enough, God knows--out of the womb you go, ready or not. The halls rang with the laughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-savage/the-last-days-before-graduation-are-bad-enough-god-knows-out-of-the/)

[Elizabeth Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-savage/)

> [And the commencement of atonement is the sense of its necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/and-the-commencement-of-atonement-is-the-sense-of-its-necessity/)

[Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/)

[Browse all 1,260 Graduation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The pen is in your hands, the rest is still unwritten.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Natasha Bedingfield"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-still-unwritten/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Graduation"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-still-unwritten/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/238/natasha-bedingfield-10590_graduation_the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-sti_2884457.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/238/natasha-bedingfield-10590_graduation_the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-sti_2884457.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/238/natasha-bedingfield-10590_graduation_the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-sti_2884457.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The pen is in your hands, the rest is still unwritten.” — Natasha Bedingfield",
                "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": "Natasha Bedingfield",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The pen is in your hands,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-still-unwritten/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/the-pen-is-in-your-hands-the-rest-is-still-unwritten/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
