--- 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.”\" — Pittacus Lore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/pittacus-lore-1736_defined_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_27767.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.” quote by Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/pittacus-lore-1736_defined_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_27767.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/pittacus-lore-1736_defined_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_27767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/pittacus-lore-1736_defined_we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-thing_27767.png) > ““We don't have to be defined by the things we did or didn't do in our past.”” [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. You can choose your identity beyond past actions, focusing on present agency and future possibilities. **In simple terms:** Past doesn't dictate who you become. Key Takeaway Identity is a present choice. Themes self‑determination growth agency resilience future‑orientation Mood hopeful empowering Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career transition - personal reinvention - overcoming regret - starting a new hobby - recovering from failure Key Concepts identity choice time Practical Applications - coaching sessions - self‑help workshops Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your past still influence you? - How can you actively shape your future identity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Defined Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined-things-417156/) [Didn Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-past-417157/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Things Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-did/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We don't have to be defined by the things that we did or didn't do in our past- Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/we-don-t-have-to-be-defined-by-the-things-that-we-did-or-didn-t-do-in/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [“How you matter is defined by the things that matter to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/how-you-matter-is-defined-by-the-things-that-matter-to-you/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“We are not defined by our things. Its not our clothes we wear or the cars we own or the art we aquire. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/we-are-not-defined-by-our-things-its-not-our-clothes-we-wear-or-the/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [You didn't get past something like that, you go through it -- and for that reason alone, I understood more about her than she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/you-didn-t-get-past-something-like-that-you-go-through-it-and-for/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [I hope to have a long career, and I don't want to be defined by things that aren't the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bay/i-hope-to-have-a-long-career-and-i-don-t-want-to-be-defined-by-things/) [James Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bay/) > [“Ever, we are not defined by our things. It's not the clothes we wear, the cars that we drive, the art we acquire -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/ever-we-are-not-defined-by-our-things-it-s-not-the-clothes-we-wear/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [We are not defined by our things. It´s not the clothes that we wear, the cars that we drive, the art we acquire- It´s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/we-are-not-defined-by-our-things-it-s-not-the-clothes-that-we-wear/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [“In this moment I'm not defined by the other things, the things that happened to me, the things I didn't choose. This is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-whitney/in-this-moment-i-m-not-defined-by-the-other-things-the-things-that/) [Daisy Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-whitney/) > [I am not to be defined. I am all things. I am the queen of everything. Every woman is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrine-steffans/i-am-not-to-be-defined-i-am-all-things-i-am-the-queen-of-everything/) [Karrine Steffans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrine-steffans/) > [Our lives are not defined by the things we possess. Our lives are defined by the things we pursue. Make sure what you own,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-lives-are-not-defined-by-the-things-we-possess-our-lives-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't want to be defined by being scared of things. I want to be defined by all the things that I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-front/i-don-t-want-to-be-defined-by-being-scared-of-things-i-want-to-be/) [Rebecca Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-front/) > [“We are defined by those things we lack: the things we strive for and the things we require to make us whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-bolton/we-are-defined-by-those-things-we-lack-the-things-we-strive-for-and/) [Raymond Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-bolton/) > [“How you matter is defined by the things that matter to you. You matter as much as the things that matter to you do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/how-you-matter-is-defined-by-the-things-that-matter-to-you-you-matter/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [All of my old videos and the things I did on MTV, my old public access show - it was sort of all made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/all-of-my-old-videos-and-the-things-i-did-on-mtv-my-old-public-access/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [Always regret the things you did do, never the things you didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-koomson/always-regret-the-things-you-did-do-never-the-things-you-didn-t/) [Dorothy Koomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-koomson/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [“You can't escape who you are, but you also should know what you could be”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/you-can-t-escape-who-you-are-but-you-also-should-know-what-you-could/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) [Explore all 205 Pittacus Lore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) ## More Defined quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/jazz-is-not-something-that-can-be-defined-through-blunt-instruments/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [Among the many factors that make a return to halcyon days of the first decades of the postwar era virtually impossible is the decline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gilpin/among-the-many-factors-that-make-a-return-to-halcyon-days-of-the/) [Robert Gilpin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gilpin/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [ The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Historically, usury was defined as any interest whatever on an unproductive loan.Our whole banking system I have ever abhorred, I continue to abhor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/historically-usury-was-defined-as-any-interest-whatever-on-an/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [Marriage and the creation of families has been an integral part of our society since its creation; it should not be defined without the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-foster-bennett/marriage-and-the-creation-of-families-has-been-an-integral-part-of/) [Robert Foster Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-foster-bennett/) > [Before it can be solved, a problem must be clearly defined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/before-it-can-be-solved-a-problem-must-be-clearly-defined/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [My life had been defined by the apartheid years. 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