--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe we live in a universe where all you…" description: "\"“Maybe we live in a universe where all you have control over is your own kindness.”\" — Polly Horvath" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/polly-horvath-17892_kindness_maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-yo_63003.png" --- # Maybe we live in a universe where all you have control… ![“Maybe we live in a universe where all you have control over is your own kindness.” quote by Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/polly-horvath-17892_kindness_maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-yo_63003.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/polly-horvath-17892_kindness_maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-yo_63003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/polly-horvath-17892_kindness_maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-yo_63003.png) > ““Maybe we live in a universe where all you have control over is your own kindness.”” [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We may lack control over external events, but we can always choose how kindly we act toward others. **In simple terms:** Kindness is the only controllable virtue. Key Takeaway Choose kindness regardless of circumstance. Themes agency virtue humanity resilience choice Mood hopeful reflective Type aphorism motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace dynamics - community volunteering - conflict resolution Key Concepts control empathy inner strength Practical Applications - coaching for compassionate leadership - teaching emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How does focusing on kindness affect your sense of agency? - What limits, if any, exist on choosing kindness? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“We do not simply live in this universe. The universe lives within us. 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So control it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noormohammad-bhuayan/the-human-mind-is-the-most-unreliable-things-in-the-universe-so/) [Noormohammad Bhuayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noormohammad-bhuayan/) > [the universe is under the control of a loving purpose, and that in the struggle for righteousness man has cosmic companionship (angels). Behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-universe-is-under-the-control-of-a-loving-purpose-and-that-in-the/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Paul was coursing at fantastic speed towards the area where the little twin stars Rhium and Antirhium revolved around each other. “Hurry,” were his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty/paul-was-coursing-at-fantastic-speed-towards-the-area-where-the/) [R.A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty/) > [“We do not simply live in this universe. The universe lives within us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-do-not-simply-live-in-this-universe-the-universe-lives-within-us-2/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Polly Horvath > [The library in summer is the most wonderful thing because there you get books on any subject and read them each for only as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/the-library-in-summer-is-the-most-wonderful-thing-because-there-you/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“The only really interesting things about someone that makes you want to explore them further is their heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/the-only-really-interesting-things-about-someone-that-makes-you-want/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“It disguises itself as motor vehicle knowledge, but really it's physics, which any other time would be fascinating but not right now, not while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/it-disguises-itself-as-motor-vehicle-knowledge-but-really-it-s/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“I think that it is death alone that makes things poignant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/i-think-that-it-is-death-alone-that-makes-things-poignant/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“It’s not the natural disasters you have to fear. It’s the ones that are inside of you, waiting to happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/it-s-not-the-natural-disasters-you-have-to-fear-it-s-the-ones-that/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“My mother smoked too but I guessed by now she had quit the habit, which was, I supposed, one of the advantages of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/my-mother-smoked-too-but-i-guessed-by-now-she-had-quit-the-habit/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“It is never a bad thing to take up your fair share of space," said Mr. Bunny ambiguously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/it-is-never-a-bad-thing-to-take-up-your-fair-share-of-space-said-mr/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“Yesterday I was so full of hope. My life seemed blessed, full of adventures and answered prayers, and now something very, very bad has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/yesterday-i-was-so-full-of-hope-my-life-seemed-blessed-full-of/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [Sometimes you get tempted to make something wonderful even better but in doing so you lose what was so wonderful to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/sometimes-you-get-tempted-to-make-something-wonderful-even-better-but/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“All kinds of ordinary people gave their whole hearts to things you wouldn't think you could give your heart to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/all-kinds-of-ordinary-people-gave-their-whole-hearts-to-things-you/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [The richness of our lives depends on what we are willing to notice and what we are willing to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/the-richness-of-our-lives-depends-on-what-we-are-willing-to-notice/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [“Don’t worry the trolls don’t come to you. It’s your own darkness that leads you to the trolls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/don-t-worry-the-trolls-don-t-come-to-you-it-s-your-own-darkness-that/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [You know what Sunday is, it's a day with a lot of potential for naps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/you-know-what-sunday-is-it-s-a-day-with-a-lot-of-potential-for-naps/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [I want someone who puts the whole ball of wax at risk. I want the kind of marriage where we would follow each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/i-want-someone-who-puts-the-whole-ball-of-wax-at-risk-i-want-the-kind/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) > [The only really interesting thing about someone that makes you want to explore them further is their heart, and Miss Honeycut has a teeny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/the-only-really-interesting-thing-about-someone-that-makes-you-want/) [Polly Horvath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) [Explore all 36 Polly Horvath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/) ## More Kindness quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/) Unkown > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [Praise will come to those whose kindness leaves you without debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-finn/praise-will-come-to-those-whose-kindness-leaves-you-without-debt/) [Neil Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-finn/) > [“A little bit of kindness goes a long way with women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/a-little-bit-of-kindness-goes-a-long-way-with-women/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [The smartest people are the ones who can bring a little bit of heaven to earth by using there kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isiahnunn/the-smartest-people-are-the-ones-who-can-bring-a-little-bit-of-heaven/) IsiahNunn > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 6,600 Kindness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Maybe we live in a universe where all you have control over is your own kindness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Polly Horvath" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-you-have-control-over-is-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Kindness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-you-have-control-over-is-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/polly-horvath-17892_kindness_maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-yo_63003.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/polly-horvath-17892_kindness_maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-yo_63003.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/polly-horvath-17892_kindness_maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-yo_63003.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Maybe we live in a universe where all you have control over is your own kindness.” — Polly Horvath", "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": "Polly Horvath", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-horvath/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Maybe we live in a universe...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-you-have-control-over-is-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-horvath/maybe-we-live-in-a-universe-where-all-you-have-control-over-is-your/#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 } } ] } ```