--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are responsible for the predictable…" description: "\"You are responsible for the predictable consequences of your actions.\" — Noam Chomsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/noam-chomsky-42_action_you-are-responsible-for-the-predictable_3098732.jpg" --- # You are responsible for the predictable consequences of… ![“You are responsible for the predictable consequences of your actions.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/noam-chomsky-42_action_you-are-responsible-for-the-predictable_3098732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/noam-chomsky-42_action_you-are-responsible-for-the-predictable_3098732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/noam-chomsky-42_action_you-are-responsible-for-the-predictable_3098732.jpg) > “You are responsible for the predictable consequences of your actions.” [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your actions inevitably lead to outcomes, and you must accept accountability for those outcomes. **In simple terms:** Actions have results; you must own them. Key Takeaway Own the results of what you do. Themes responsibility ethics consequences Mood reflective serious Type ethical political When to use this quote - personal decisions - policy making - leadership - social activism Key Concepts agency cause and effect political theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess potential impacts before acting? - What steps can you take to mitigate unintended effects? A Different Perspective It can be hard to predict all outcomes, especially in complex systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences/) ## Related quotes > [If you grow up in a home where actions don't lead to predictable consequences, you don't develop strategies to control your impulses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-you-grow-up-in-a-home-where-actions-don-t-lead-to-predictable/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I love being the bad guy, simply because I was always so responsible, so predictable growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-brown/i-love-being-the-bad-guy-simply-because-i-was-always-so-responsible/) [Sandra Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-brown/) > [I don't give advice. I can't tell anybody what to do. Instead I say this is what we know about this problem at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/i-don-t-give-advice-i-can-t-tell-anybody-what-to-do-instead-i-say/) [Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/) > [“There was honor in facing the consequences of one’s actions. Wasn’t there?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/there-was-honor-in-facing-the-consequences-of-one-s-actions-wasn-t/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [There has to be measures for players to know the consequences for their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-stoops/there-has-to-be-measures-for-players-to-know-the-consequences-for/) [Bob Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-stoops/) > [There are always consequences to actions that you take. There are consequences to inaction. And thinking through, asking the questions, "Well, then what happens?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/there-are-always-consequences-to-actions-that-you-take-there-are/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-we-are-not-free-to-choose-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is interesting to see how humans would act if they knew there were never any consequences for their actions because the next day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-james-williams/it-is-interesting-to-see-how-humans-would-act-if-they-knew-there-were/) [Tyler James Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-james-williams/) > [Nothing happens in a vacuum in life: every action has a series of consequences, and sometimes it takes a long time to fully understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/nothing-happens-in-a-vacuum-in-life-every-action-has-a-series-of/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“...you have to deal with the consequences of your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/you-have-to-deal-with-the-consequences-of-your-actions/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Actions have consequences. In actions have them. We set things in motion by what we don't do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/actions-have-consequences-in-actions-have-them-we-set-things-in/) [Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/) > [Leaders are responsible not for running public opinion polls but for the consequences of their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/leaders-are-responsible-not-for-running-public-opinion-polls-but-for/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“There are always consequences for our actions, and sometimes we pay dearly if we fail to make good choices with our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-h-fowler/there-are-always-consequences-for-our-actions-and-sometimes-we-pay/) [H.H. Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-h-fowler/) > [The times are too difficult and the crisis too severe to indulge in schadenfreude. Looking at it in perspective, the fact that there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-times-are-too-difficult-and-the-crisis-too-severe-to-indulge-in/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The educational system in the US was a highly predictable victim of the neoliberal reaction, guided by the maxim of "private affluence and public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-educational-system-in-the-us-was-a-highly-predictable-victim-of/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More by Noam Chomsky > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [If you believe in democracy, why shouldn't you know what the government is doing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-believe-in-democracy-why-shouldn-t-you-know-what-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are questions as to whether it should even exist. Who should corporations be responsive to, the management of a corporation? Theoretically they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-questions-as-to-whether-it-should-even-exist-who-should/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Governments regard their own citizens as their main enemy, and they have to be - protect themselves. That's why you have state secret laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/governments-regard-their-own-citizens-as-their-main-enemy-and-they/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I don't join the New Atheists. So, for example, I wouldn't have the arrogance to lecture some mother who hopes to see her dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-don-t-join-the-new-atheists-so-for-example-i-wouldn-t-have-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ I wrote an article about the marine landing \[in Haiti\] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-landing-in-haiti-right-away-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [American society is now remarkably atomized. Political organizations have collapsed. In fact, it seems like even bowling leagues are collapsing. The left has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/american-society-is-now-remarkably-atomized-political-organizations/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Discovery is the ability to be puzzled by simple things. Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/discovery-is-the-ability-to-be-puzzled-by-simple-things-noam-chomsky/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's an interesting book about that called The Third Reich and the Ivory Tower, written by Stephen H. Norwood. It has a long discussion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-an-interesting-book-about-that-called-the-third-reich-and-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [This is class war on an international scale, and power is in the hands of those who control the international economic system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/this-is-class-war-on-an-international-scale-and-power-is-in-the-hands/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The 50,000 Korean mercenaries we had in Vietnam were professional killers and just massacred people outright. And the American army did plenty of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-50-000-korean-mercenaries-we-had-in-vietnam-were-professional/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Explore all 2,129 Noam Chomsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [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/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! 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