--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That is what it is. We can't change it…" description: "\"“That is what it is. We can't change it. We just have to decide how we'll respond. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/randy-pausch-842_football_that-is-what-it-is-we-can-t-change-it-we_497816.png" --- # That is what it is. We can't change it. We just have to… ![“That is what it is. We can't change it. We just have to decide how we'll respond. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” quote by Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/randy-pausch-842_football_that-is-what-it-is-we-can-t-change-it-we_497816.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/randy-pausch-842_football_that-is-what-it-is-we-can-t-change-it-we_497816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa8/randy-pausch-842_football_that-is-what-it-is-we-can-t-change-it-we_497816.png) > ““That is what it is. We can't change it. We just have to decide how we'll respond. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”” [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot control circumstances, only our reactions; focus on agency within limits. **In simple terms:** You can’t change fate, only your response. Key Takeaway Choose your response wisely. Themes resilience choice agency acceptance mindset Mood inspirational pragmatic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal loss - health challenges - team projects - daily stress Key Concepts psychology philosophy decision making Questions to Reflect On - What can you control right now? - How does your mindset affect outcomes? A Different Perspective Ignoring external factors may oversimplify complex problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“We can't change it. We just have to decide how we'll respond. We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pauch/we-can-t-change-it-we-just-have-to-decide-how-we-ll-respond-we-cannot/) Randy Pauch > [“We cannot change the cards we are delt, just how we play the hand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-delt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand-if/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-game/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“It's not about the cards you're dealt, but how you play the hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/it-s-not-about-the-cards-you-re-dealt-but-how-you-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [You can't control the cards you're dealt, just how you play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/you-can-t-control-the-cards-you-re-dealt-just-how-you-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“You can't change the cards you are dealt unless you stack the deck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-blakeman/you-can-t-change-the-cards-you-are-dealt-unless-you-stack-the-deck/) [Terry Blakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-blakeman/) > [Leaders respond & change; the rest quit and blame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/leaders-respond-change-the-rest-quit-and-blame/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [If you want to change the way people respond to you, change the way you respond to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/if-you-want-to-change-the-way-people-respond-to-you-change-the-way/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“Yeah, it’s true we’re all dealt a set of cards. But it’s also true that it’s up to us to figure out how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/yeah-it-s-true-we-re-all-dealt-a-set-of-cards-but-it-s-also-true-that/) [Francis S. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [None of us have any control over the deck or the hand we've been dealt. What we do have is total responibility as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-alten/none-of-us-have-any-control-over-the-deck-or-the-hand-we-ve-been/) [Steve Alten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-alten/) > [I think a lot of women innately know how to play their hand. I'm not a big one for the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-heigl/i-think-a-lot-of-women-innately-know-how-to-play-their-hand-i-m-not-a/) [Katherine Heigl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-heigl/) > [Play the hand your dealt, don't play the hand you wish you were dealt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmina-siderovski/play-the-hand-your-dealt-don-t-play-the-hand-you-wish-you-were-dealt/) [Jasmina Siderovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmina-siderovski/) > [Everyone in this world is dealt a different hand-some better, some worse than others-but what's more important is how you play that hand. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ha/everyone-in-this-world-is-dealt-a-different-hand-some-better-some/) Christine Ha ## More by Randy Pausch > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-re-frustrated-with-people-when-they-ve-made-you-angry-it/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I was hugely impressed... was the ultimate example of a man who knew what he didn't know, was perfectly willing to admit it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-was-hugely-impressed-was-the-ultimate-example-of-a-man-who-knew/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [There's nothing about my life that I would have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-s-nothing-about-my-life-that-i-would-have-changed/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Complaining does not work as a strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/complaining-does-not-work-as-a-strategy/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“If other people owe you an apology, and your words of apology to them are proper and heartfelt, you still may not hear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-other-people-owe-you-an-apology-and-your-words-of-apology-to-them/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“The brick walls are there for a reason. they're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-for-a-reason-they-re-not-there-to-keep-us/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [People are more important than things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/people-are-more-important-than-things/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Anyone who knows me well will tell you that arrogance is one of my flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/anyone-who-knows-me-well-will-tell-you-that-arrogance-is-one-of-my/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/when-you-do-the-right-thing-good-stuff-has-a-way-of-happening/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [I don't believe in the no-win scenario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-don-t-believe-in-the-no-win-scenario/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [Chemo days make me tired, though it's hard to say that's because of the chemo when you have kids who have inherited their dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/chemo-days-make-me-tired-though-it-s-hard-to-say-that-s-because-of/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [And even though I did not reach the National Football League, I sometimes think I got more from pursuing that dream, and not accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/and-even-though-i-did-not-reach-the-national-football-league-i/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [there should be some lessons learned and how you can use the stuff you hear today to achieve your dreams or enable the dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/there-should-be-some-lessons-learned-and-how-you-can-use-the-stuff/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Explore all 347 Randy Pausch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“That is what it is. 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