--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We don't have to be defined by the things…" description: "\"We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past. Some people allow themselves to be controlled by regret. Maybe it's a regret..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/pittacus-lore-1736_get-over_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_1148185.png" --- # We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't… ![“We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past. Some people allow themselves to be controlled by regret. Maybe it's a regret, maybe it's not. It's merely something that happened. Get over it.” quote by Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/pittacus-lore-1736_get-over_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_1148185.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/pittacus-lore-1736_get-over_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_1148185.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/pittacus-lore-1736_get-over_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_1148185.png) > “We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past. Some people allow themselves to be controlled by regret. Maybe it's a regret, maybe it's not. It's merely something that happened. Get over it.” [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Past actions don’t define us; regret can imprison, but we can release it. **In simple terms:** Past doesn’t bind you; let go of regret. Key Takeaway Release regret, move forward. Themes self‑acceptance regret growth freedom Mood hopeful empowering Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - therapy - career changes - relationship healing Key Concepts psychology of regret personal empowerment narrative agency Questions to Reflect On - What lesson does your regret teach? - How can you transform regret into growth? A Different Perspective Regret may still inform valuable lessons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controlled Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlled-regret-3232691/) [Get over](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-over/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Maybe Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-regret-543820/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/over-it/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-maybe-941966/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“We didn’t have to be defined by the things we did or didn’t do in the past. Some people allow themselves to be controlled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/we-didn-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-things-we-did-or-didn-t-do-in-the/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Maybe there is some regret with how I left Southampton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-lovren/maybe-there-is-some-regret-with-how-i-left-southampton/) [Dejan Lovren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-lovren/) > [When you're young you say things you maybe regret, I have been there and I am sure every player has, you say something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/when-you-re-young-you-say-things-you-maybe-regret-i-have-been-there/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [I maybe regret for getting married at the young age...but never to the man I married and the father of my son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknowm/i-maybe-regret-for-getting-married-at-the-young-age-but-never-to-the/) [Unknowm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unknowm/) > [I did it to get what I want. Maybe I should regret that, but I can’t. Sometimes you do the bad thing and hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-did-it-to-get-what-i-want-maybe-i-should-regret-that-but-i-can-t/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I DON'T WANT to talk about me, of course, but it seems as though far too much attention has been lavished on you lately-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/i-don-t-want-to-talk-about-me-of-course-but-it-seems-as-though-far/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [“Think carefully before you do something because any action may have a consequence and later you can regret and maybe it can be too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romina-noriega/think-carefully-before-you-do-something-because-any-action-may-have-a/) [Romina Noriega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romina-noriega/) > [A little taekwondo Would be useful right now Too little too late She's got the upper hand somehow I look to the window To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/excision/a-little-taekwondo-would-be-useful-right-now-too-little-too-late-she/) [Excision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/excision/) > [I have many regrets, and I'm sure everyone does. The stupid things you do, you regret... if you have any sense, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/i-have-many-regrets-and-i-m-sure-everyone-does-the-stupid-things-you/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [I think that being good to people - you'll never regret that. Maybe you'll get walked all over, maybe you'll get tricked, maybe you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-think-that-being-good-to-people-you-ll-never-regret-that-maybe-you/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I will probably always cry myself to sleep, but knowing this, someday the tears won't be sad, or filled with regret. Maybe they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriana-trigiani/i-will-probably-always-cry-myself-to-sleep-but-knowing-this-someday/) [Adriana Trigiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriana-trigiani/) > [My only regret is maybe with Nailbomb. And it's that we didn't do more. Because that project had the capacity to offer a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cavalera/my-only-regret-is-maybe-with-nailbomb-and-it-s-that-we-didn-t-do-more/) [Max Cavalera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cavalera/) > [In the town of broken dreams the streets are filled with regret, maybe down in lonesome town I can learn to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-nelson/in-the-town-of-broken-dreams-the-streets-are-filled-with-regret-maybe/) [Ricky Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-nelson/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) ## More by Pittacus Lore > [“We’re Garde,’ I say, correcting this billion-year-old godlike energy force, because what the hell, we’ve come this far. ‘We’re here for your help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/we-re-garde-i-say-correcting-this-billion-year-old-godlike-energy/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-things-we-did-or-didn-t-do-in-our/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [I've learned that some memories surprise you and reveal a sharp edge just when you least expect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/i-ve-learned-that-some-memories-surprise-you-and-reveal-a-sharp-edge/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [And I'm certain one day, you'll make it back home. With love, Your friend and Cêpan, -H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/and-i-m-certain-one-day-you-ll-make-it-back-home-with-love-your/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [That ugly freak has spent so much time in my head, I should be charging him rent." -Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/that-ugly-freak-has-spent-so-much-time-in-my-head-i-should-be/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [ “\[John\] ‘You guys saved me first,’ I reply. \[Sarah\] ‘Yeah, obviously. So return the favor and save our planet.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/john-you-guys-saved-me-first-i-reply-sarah-yeah-obviously-so-return/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [I don’t know; I still like the name Six. Maren Elizabeth was when I was a different person, and right now Six just feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/i-don-t-know-i-still-like-the-name-six-maren-elizabeth-was-when-i-was/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“I frown, not stating the obvious, that Eight could be the one who was killed down in Florida.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/i-frown-not-stating-the-obvious-that-eight-could-be-the-one-who-was/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [If you ever know a man who tries to drown his sorrows, kindly inform him his sorrows know how to swim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/if-you-ever-know-a-man-who-tries-to-drown-his-sorrows-kindly-inform/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Never underestimate human stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/never-underestimate-human-stupidity/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“I work my hardest and she still kicks the crap out of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/i-work-my-hardest-and-she-still-kicks-the-crap-out-of-me/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“But a place is only as good as the people you know in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/but-a-place-is-only-as-good-as-the-people-you-know-in-it/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“Maybe it's a reminder from Henri that you're supposed to rake the lawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/maybe-it-s-a-reminder-from-henri-that-you-re-supposed-to-rake-the-lawn/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [During the fire: 'Some of the drunker ones don't move. Some of them laugh. One person says, "Where's the marshmallows?" Mark slaps him across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/during-the-fire-some-of-the-drunker-ones-don-t-move-some-of-them/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [You will be known as the One who protected the Eight.” - Hilde to One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/you-will-be-known-as-the-one-who-protected-the-eight-hilde-to-one/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) [Explore all 205 Pittacus Lore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) ## More Get over quotes > [You get through it, you just never get over it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-get-through-it-you-just-never-get-over-it/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-think-that-one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-to-be-is-a-black/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [A girl who would fall in love so easily or want a man to love her so easily would probably get over it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-girl-who-would-fall-in-love-so-easily-or-want-a-man-to-love-her-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You ask everybody you know: How long does it usually take to get over it? There are many formulas. One year for every year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-ask-everybody-you-know-how-long-does-it-usually-take-to-get-over/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Forgiveness ... is a willingness to get over what you think should have happened and an acceptance of the reality of what actually happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/forgiveness-is-a-willingness-to-get-over-what-you-think-should-have/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [We tend to think of orphans as being the protagonist of stories we read when we're kids, and yet here you are: you're an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/we-tend-to-think-of-orphans-as-being-the-protagonist-of-stories-we/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. Every single time you lift off the bone and open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/when-i-look-at-the-human-brain-i-m-still-in-awe-of-it-every-single/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Start enjoying the things you like about yourself, and if there are things you want to change, either get to work on it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benji-madden/start-enjoying-the-things-you-like-about-yourself-and-if-there-are/) [Benji Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benji-madden/) > [When you get over the anxiety, you discover you should have been mad a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-clampitt/when-you-get-over-the-anxiety-you-discover-you-should-have-been-mad-a/) [Amy Clampitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-clampitt/) > [I'm going to insist that we've got decent funding, enough teachers, and computers in the classroom, but unless you turn off the television set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-m-going-to-insist-that-we-ve-got-decent-funding-enough-teachers-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So I grew up feeling that I wasn't good enough, and that no-one would love me unless I was perfect. But no-one's perfect, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/so-i-grew-up-feeling-that-i-wasn-t-good-enough-and-that-no-one-would/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I can't get over this. Dad isn't Sam's dad? Dad is a friend? How was I supposed to know that? People shouldn't be allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-can-t-get-over-this-dad-isn-t-sam-s-dad-dad-is-a-friend-how-was-i/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I've seen people recover physical abilities, yet never get over emotional trauma after a serious accident. I've seen other people overcome the psychological and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/i-ve-seen-people-recover-physical-abilities-yet-never-get-over/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) > [ As you kind of get over the anxiety about \[science and evolution\], it actually adds to your sense of awe about this amazing universe… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/as-you-kind-of-get-over-the-anxiety-about-science-and-evolution-it/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Tomorrow I'll get over you if I just get through tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lila-mccann/tomorrow-i-ll-get-over-you-if-i-just-get-through-tonight/) [Lila McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lila-mccann/) [Browse all 523 Get over quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-over/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past. 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