--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It matters not how we were brought up…" description: "\"“It matters not how we were brought up. What determines our way of acting is the manner in which we administrate our will. A man is the sum of all his ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/paulo-coelho-10_acting_it-matters-not-how-we-were-brought-up-wh_1846846.jpg" --- # It matters not how we were brought up. What determines our… ![“It matters not how we were brought up. What determines our way of acting is the manner in which we administrate our will. A man is the sum of all his wishes, which determine his way of living and dying.” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/paulo-coelho-10_acting_it-matters-not-how-we-were-brought-up-wh_1846846.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/paulo-coelho-10_acting_it-matters-not-how-we-were-brought-up-wh_1846846.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ca/paulo-coelho-10_acting_it-matters-not-how-we-were-brought-up-wh_1846846.jpg) > ““It matters not how we were brought up. What determines our way of acting is the manner in which we administrate our will. A man is the sum of all his wishes, which determine his way of living and dying.”” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our upbringing is less decisive than how we wield our will; our wishes shape our life and death. **In simple terms:** Will, not upbringing, defines us. Key Takeaway Cultivate purposeful will. Themes willpower self-determination identity Mood determined thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decision making - life planning - ethical choices Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What wishes drive your actions? - Can will overcome past conditioning? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Acting Manner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting-manner-2395062/) [Administrate Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administrate-man-2395063/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Manner Administrate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manner-administrate-2395065/) [Way Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-acting-416775/) [Way of living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-living/) [Wishes Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishes-determine-2395064/) ## Related quotes > [Don't just say what you want to mean, really mean what you say by acting in the manner that you speak of !! We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jsv/don-t-just-say-what-you-want-to-mean-really-mean-what-you-say-by/) [JSV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jsv/) > [A disciple...can never imitate his guide's steps. You have your own way of living your life, of dealing with problems, and of winning. Teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-disciple-can-never-imitate-his-guide-s-steps-you-have-your-own-way/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [From the moment we are born, people tell us that the world is like this and like that, this way, that way. 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It's a whole different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-hu/it-s-fun-being-able-to-suit-up-and-go-and-kick-butt-and-not-have-to/) [Kelly Hu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-hu/) > [“You cannot think your way into a new way of acting, but you can act your way into a new way of thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-think-your-way-into-a-new-way-of-acting-but-you-can-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Paulo Coelho > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. 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And walk when it is time to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/eat-when-it-is-time-to-eat-and-walk-when-it-is-time-to-walk/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [People are reading more and writing more because of the internet. So the virtual world is a way for me to listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-are-reading-more-and-writing-more-because-of-the-internet-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Trudi se da zivis, sjecanja su za starije ljude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/trudi-se-da-zivis-sjecanja-su-za-starije-ljude/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-someone-leaves-it-s-because-someone-else-is-about-to-arrive/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. 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