---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but…"
description: "\"“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but my past does not define me.”\" — Rachael Brownell"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/rachael-brownell-270987_sticks-and-stones_sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but_2966934.jpg"
---

#  Sticks and stones may break my bones, but my past does not…

![“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but my past does not define me.” quote by Rachael Brownell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/rachael-brownell-270987_sticks-and-stones_sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but_2966934.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/rachael-brownell-270987_sticks-and-stones_sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but_2966934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/rachael-brownell-270987_sticks-and-stones_sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but_2966934.jpg)

> ““Sticks and stones may break my bones, but my past does not define me.””

Rachael Brownell

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

One’s past does not dictate future identity; personal agency can break the hold of past hardships.

**In simple terms:** Past does not define you.

Key Takeaway

Own your present, shape your future.

Themes

self‑determination identity resilience growth empowerment

Mood

hopeful empowering

Type

Sticks and stones:0 Stones:0 Time:0 Sticks Stones:0 Bones Past:0 Stones Break:0 Break Bones:0

When to use this quote

- career changes
- relationship healing
- educational pursuits
- personal therapy
- creative expression

Key Concepts

narrative agency psychological freedom self‑concept

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you rewrite your personal narrative?
- What steps free you from past constraints?

A Different Perspective

Past trauma can still influence emotions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Sticks and stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-and-stones/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [..and only sticks and stones can break my bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/and-only-sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones/)

[Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/)

> [“sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will make me cry by myself in a corner for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-cry-by/)

[Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/)

> [“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but failure will get you killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-failure-will-get-you/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [“Sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can kill you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/sticks-and-stones-can-break-your-bones-but-names-can-kill-you/)

[Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but grenades and air strikes will silence Allah's throne.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mingo-kane/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-grenades-and-air-strikes/)

[Mingo Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mingo-kane/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words have the power to destroy me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-messe/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-have-the-power-to/)

[Ellie Messe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-messe/)

> [“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but now words can kill, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-now-words-can-kill-too/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [Sticks and stones may break your bones but mean words can tear holes in your spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/sticks-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-mean-words-can-tear-holes/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break your bones, but watch out for those damn words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticks-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-watch-out-for-those-damn/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-names-will-break-our-spirit/)

[James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/)

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones but word will never hurt me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-word-will-never-hurt-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Sticks and stones will break your bones if you ever try to cut me with your words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-parsons/sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-if-you-ever-try-to-cut-me/)

Taylor Parsons

> [Dear you ..sticks and stones may break my bones but they will never break us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-johnson/dear-you-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-they-will-never/)

[Natalya Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-johnson/)

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones but words are what will kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-are-what-will-kill-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-go-in-a/)

[Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/)

## More Sticks and stones quotes

> [“They call it a “Whippoorwill” because the call it makes sounds exactly like it’s saying “WHIPPOOR-WILLL,” but in a whistle. Oh it doesn’t stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-rohrig/they-call-it-a-whippoorwill-because-the-call-it-makes-sounds-exactly/)

[Kyle Rohrig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-rohrig/)

> [Colin thought about the dork mantra: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. What a dirty lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/colin-thought-about-the-dork-mantra-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [Trust the one Who's been where you are wishing all it was Was sticks and stones Those words cut deep but they don't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-hayes/trust-the-one-who-s-been-where-you-are-wishing-all-it-was-was-sticks/)

[Hunter Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-hayes/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-words-will-break-our-hearts/)

[Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/)

> [My parents said sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you. But I always felt a sense of exhilaration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/my-parents-said-sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-names/)

[Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/)

> [“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but failure will get you killed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-failure-will-get-you/)

[Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/)

> [I'm not the only kid who grew up this way, surrounded by people who used to say that rhyme about sticks and stones, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-koyczan/i-m-not-the-only-kid-who-grew-up-this-way-surrounded-by-people-who/)

[Shane Koyczan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-koyczan/)

> [I felt bad about myself because certain people were relentlessly attacking me and my reputation. My mom kept saying 'Let it go, Lauren, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-conrad/i-felt-bad-about-myself-because-certain-people-were-relentlessly/)

[Lauren Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-conrad/)

> [..and only sticks and stones can break my bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/and-only-sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones/)

[Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/)

> [“Sticks and stones are hard on bones, Aimed with angry art, Words can sting like anything But silence breaks the heart.’ Phyllis McGinley, "Ballade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilliana-anderson/sticks-and-stones-are-hard-on-bones-aimed-with-angry-art-words-can/)

[Lilliana Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilliana-anderson/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but I might be a vampire so I don't give a shit. I'll heal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-i-might-be-a-vampire-so-i/)

[Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/)

> [“Sticks and stones may break my bones’, as they say in the Middle Worlds, but with the right words you can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-as-they-say-in-the-middle-worlds/)

[Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/)

> [A liar is one of the nastiest people on the face of the earth. Whoever said sticks and stones may break my bones, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-p/a-liar-is-one-of-the-nastiest-people-on-the-face-of-the-earth-whoever/)

Donna P

> [Now sticks 'n' stones'll break ya bones, a little tokin' never hurt no one. Let's toke, toke, toke about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/now-sticks-n-stones-ll-break-ya-bones-a-little-tokin-never-hurt-no/)

[Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/)

[Browse all 166 Sticks and stones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-and-stones/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but my past does not define me.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rachael Brownell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-brownell/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-my-past-does-not-define-me/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Sticks and stones"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-brownell/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-my-past-does-not-define-me/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/rachael-brownell-270987_sticks-and-stones_sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but_2966934.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/rachael-brownell-270987_sticks-and-stones_sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but_2966934.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/rachael-brownell-270987_sticks-and-stones_sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but_2966934.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but my past does not define me.” — Rachael Brownell",
                "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": "Rachael Brownell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-brownell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Sticks and stones may break my...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-brownell/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-my-past-does-not-define-me/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-brownell/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-my-past-does-not-define-me/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```