--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Act with a determination not to be turned…" description: "\"Act with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future.\" — Robert E. Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/robert-e-lee-2368_determination_act-with-a-determination-not-to-be-turne_1478482.png" --- # Act with a determination not to be turned aside by… ![“Act with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future.” quote by Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/robert-e-lee-2368_determination_act-with-a-determination-not-to-be-turne_1478482.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/robert-e-lee-2368_determination_act-with-a-determination-not-to-be-turne_1478482.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/robert-e-lee-2368_determination_act-with-a-determination-not-to-be-turne_1478482.png) > “Act with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future.” [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on present action, ignoring past regrets and future anxieties, to maintain resolve. **In simple terms:** Stay determined, ignore past and future worries. Key Takeaway Act with present‑focused determination. Themes leadership resilience focus psychology strategy Mood determined steady Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - business decisions - personal goals - military planning - sports coaching Key Concepts mindfulness cognitive control motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can past lessons inform present action? - What strategies help balance focus and reflection? A Different Perspective May ignore valuable lessons from past experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Determination Turned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination-turned-5383171/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-the-future/) [Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears/) [Fears Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fears-future-1370660/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past Fears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-fears-3468136/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“1. An absence of fear of the future and of veneration for the past. 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With movement, there’s action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-ravikant/what-to-do-next-keep-moving-leave-behind-the-past-the-fears-the-guilt/) [Kamal Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-ravikant/) > [“But again, it’s as though the words are trapped, buried under past fears and past lives, like fossils compressed under layers of dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/but-again-it-s-as-though-the-words-are-trapped-buried-under-past/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [ “Fears of the future \[are\] almost always rooted in the past. 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Stand back up and face your fears of being hurt again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nylle/if-you-get-hurt-don-t-let-it-slow-you-down-stand-back-up-and-face/) [Nylle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nylle/) > [Face our fears. We are able to say, 'I Have Fallen, But I Will Get Up.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/face-our-fears-we-are-able-to-say-i-have-fallen-but-i-will-get-up/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) ## More by Robert E. Lee > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Alabama soldiers, all I ask of you is to keep up with the Texans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/alabama-soldiers-all-i-ask-of-you-is-to-keep-up-with-the-texans/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [You must study to be frank with the world: frankness is the child of honesty and courage. Say just what you mean to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/you-must-study-to-be-frank-with-the-world-frankness-is-the-child-of/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [...the framers of our Constitution never exhausted so much labor, wisdom and forbearance in its formation if it was intended to be broken up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/the-framers-of-our-constitution-never-exhausted-so-much-labor-wisdom/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/my-trust-is-in-the-mercy-and-wisdom-of-a-kind-providence-who-ordereth/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [All military history records the triumphs of discipline and courage far more frequently than numbers and resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/all-military-history-records-the-triumphs-of-discipline-and-courage/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A true man of honor feels humbled himself when he cannot help humbling others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-true-man-of-honor-feels-humbled-himself-when-he-cannot-help/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I will attack no matter what and win the war!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-will-attack-no-matter-what-and-win-the-war/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [A man may manifest and communicate his joy, but he should conceal and smother his grief as much as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/a-man-may-manifest-and-communicate-his-joy-but-he-should-conceal-and/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We poor sinners need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon through the all-sufficient merits of our Redeemer. And we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-poor-sinners-need-to-come-back-from-our-wanderings-to-seek-pardon/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Life processes take place in an aqueous medium. All organisms are composed mostly of water, whether they dwell in the oceans, lakes, and rivers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/life-processes-take-place-in-an-aqueous-medium-all-organisms-are/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We cannot afford to be idle, and though weaker than our opponents in men and military equipments, must endeavor to harass, if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-cannot-afford-to-be-idle-and-though-weaker-than-our-opponents-in/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [We must forgive our enemies. I can truly say that not a day has passed since the war began that I have not prayed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/we-must-forgive-our-enemies-i-can-truly-say-that-not-a-day-has-passed/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Lee tells his troops. After four years of arduous service marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/lee-tells-his-troops-after-four-years-of-arduous-service-marked-by/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation of manly character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/obedience-to-lawful-authority-is-the-foundation-of-manly-character/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) [Explore all 170 Robert E. Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) ## More Determination quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [In 1990, when they asked me to shoot a cover for 'British Vogue' to convey my personal vision of a woman, I explained that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/in-1990-when-they-asked-me-to-shoot-a-cover-for-british-vogue-to/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-not-willing-to-learn-no-one-can-help-you-if-you-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-as-much-as-government-can-do-and-must-do-it-is-ultimately-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't let a breath escape from your body without Krishna's name. That should be our determination throughout our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/don-t-let-a-breath-escape-from-your-body-without-krishna-s-name-that/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. 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Destiny can kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/i-am-all-about-self-determination-will-control-i-determine-my-path-in/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) [Browse all 3,068 Determination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Act with a determination not to be turned aside by thoughts of the past and fears of the future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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