---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What you are born to be, you will be…"
description: "\"“What you are born to be, you will be, whether it be priest or sailor. So step up and be it. Let them do nothing to you. Be the one who shapes yourself..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/robin-hobb-489_quote_what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whet_1843783.jpg"
---

#  What you are born to be, you will be, whether it be priest…

![“What you are born to be, you will be, whether it be priest or sailor. So step up and be it. Let them do nothing to you. Be the one who shapes yourself. Be who you are, and eventually all will have to recognize who you are, whether they are willing to admit it or not.” quote by Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/robin-hobb-489_quote_what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whet_1843783.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/robin-hobb-489_quote_what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whet_1843783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/robin-hobb-489_quote_what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whet_1843783.jpg)

> ““What you are born to be, you will be, whether it be priest or sailor. So step up and be it. Let them do nothing to you. Be the one who shapes yourself. Be who you are, and eventually all will have to recognize who you are, whether they are willing to admit it or not.””

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

## About This Quote

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

Identity and self‑determination are shaped by personal choice, not destiny or others’ expectations.

**In simple terms:** You become who you choose, not what others dictate.

Key Takeaway

Own your path, shape your future.

Themes

self‑discovery agency identity resilience

Mood

determined confident reflective

Type

advice motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- relationship boundaries
- creative projects
- life transitions

Key Concepts

existentialism personal growth self‑actualization

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you resist imposed roles?
- What steps help you affirm your true self?

A Different Perspective

External pressures can still limit opportunities despite personal resolve.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

## Related quotes

> [Love is the great truth we all know in our hearts and must eventually recognize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-overmire/love-is-the-great-truth-we-all-know-in-our-hearts-and-must-eventually/)

[Laurence Overmire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-overmire/)

> [True greatness is the most ready to recognize and most willing to obey those simple outward laws which have been sanctioned by the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/true-greatness-is-the-most-ready-to-recognize-and-most-willing-to/)

[James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/)

> [The priest is not made. He must be born a priest; must inherit his office. I refer to the new birth-the birth of water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-priest-is-not-made-he-must-be-born-a-priest-must-inherit-his/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [I have to admit that I get quite emotional listening to the amazing talent that exists in the New York subways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-o-hare/i-have-to-admit-that-i-get-quite-emotional-listening-to-the-amazing/)

[Lisa O'Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-o-hare/)

> [My first exposure to sanitation issues occurred when I got admission into an engineering college. They probably didn't want to admit me and informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-murty/my-first-exposure-to-sanitation-issues-occurred-when-i-got-admission/)

[Sudha Murty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-murty/)

> [As far as I can tell, the only unambiguous consequence of the claimed invasion of Earth by beings from another star system has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/as-far-as-i-can-tell-the-only-unambiguous-consequence-of-the-claimed/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [There is something in me-I just can't stand to admit defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-sills/there-is-something-in-me-i-just-can-t-stand-to-admit-defeat/)

[Beverly Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-sills/)

> [I love you. But I have no right to admit it to myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snyder/i-love-you-but-i-have-no-right-to-admit-it-to-myself/)

Brittany\_Snyder

> [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/)

[Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/)

> [If you're in rock 'n' roll, you're not supposed to admit to liking theatre stuff, but I'm a big theatregoer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/if-you-re-in-rock-n-roll-you-re-not-supposed-to-admit-to-liking/)

[Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/)

> [Most celebrities are not going to admit they had work done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nassif/most-celebrities-are-not-going-to-admit-they-had-work-done/)

[Paul Nassif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nassif/)

> [I'll admit a little something: If I go to one of those hotels where there's, like, a $50 omelet, I'm taking the silverware home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-ll-admit-a-little-something-if-i-go-to-one-of-those-hotels-where/)

[Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/)

> [I think it takes a lot for you to admit you made a mistake and correct it right away, especially on live television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/i-think-it-takes-a-lot-for-you-to-admit-you-made-a-mistake-and/)

[Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/)

> [I am not perfect by any means and ill be the first to admit I make plenty of mistakes but I wont make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-perfect-by-any-means-and-ill-be-the-first-to-admit-i-make/)

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

> [It is hard to admit to someone that you love him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misherie/it-is-hard-to-admit-to-someone-that-you-love-him/)

[Misherie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misherie/)

## More by Robin Hobb

> [Boredom is vastly underrated. Boredom means that nothing is trying to kill you every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/boredom-is-vastly-underrated-boredom-means-that-nothing-is-trying-to/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I tried to leave you alone, Fitz. To find what peace you could, even if it excluded me from your life.” Ten years ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-tried-to-leave-you-alone-fitz-to-find-what-peace-you-could-even-if/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“Do you think you're taking Etta out of here?" "Yes," Kennit called over his shoulder up the sairs. "What about all these dead men?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/do-you-think-you-re-taking-etta-out-of-here-yes-kennit-called-over/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“A way out is a way in. Then,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/a-way-out-is-a-way-in-then/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“Die in your dreams, wake up insane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/die-in-your-dreams-wake-up-insane/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I felt a familiar squeezing in what I thought must be my heart. I had heard of being "heartbroken" or "heavy-hearted" but I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-felt-a-familiar-squeezing-in-what-i-thought-must-be-my-heart-i-had/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“They spoke of a dream of a child who bore the heart of a wolf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/they-spoke-of-a-dream-of-a-child-who-bore-the-heart-of-a-wolf/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“We all perish in our last attempt to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/we-all-perish-in-our-last-attempt-to-live/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“There is always power in holding a secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/there-is-always-power-in-holding-a-secret/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“... finally realizing that life was to be lived, rather than hoarded against an unseen tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/finally-realizing-that-life-was-to-be-lived-rather-than-hoarded/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“Why, I suddenly wondered, had I wasted all those hours I could have spent with her? Why hadn’t I gone with them, to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/why-i-suddenly-wondered-had-i-wasted-all-those-hours-i-could-have/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I think I made a better boy than I do a man, I admitted ruefully to the wolf. Why not wait until you've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-think-i-made-a-better-boy-than-i-do-a-man-i-admitted-ruefully-to/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“So, with all the wide world to choose from, you didn't choose at all. You simply stopped wandering one day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/so-with-all-the-wide-world-to-choose-from-you-didn-t-choose-at-all/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

> [“I don't think I can stand it much longer,” he warned her. “Something will have to give way. And I fear it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-don-t-think-i-can-stand-it-much-longer-he-warned-her-something-will/)

[Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

[Explore all 500 Robin Hobb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/)

## More Admit quotes

> [It is hard to admit to someone that you love him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misherie/it-is-hard-to-admit-to-someone-that-you-love-him/)

[Misherie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misherie/)

> [I am not perfect by any means and ill be the first to admit I make plenty of mistakes but I wont make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-perfect-by-any-means-and-ill-be-the-first-to-admit-i-make/)

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

> [I think it takes a lot for you to admit you made a mistake and correct it right away, especially on live television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/i-think-it-takes-a-lot-for-you-to-admit-you-made-a-mistake-and/)

[Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/)

> [I'll admit a little something: If I go to one of those hotels where there's, like, a $50 omelet, I'm taking the silverware home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-olyphant/i-ll-admit-a-little-something-if-i-go-to-one-of-those-hotels-where/)

[Timothy Olyphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-olyphant/)

> [Most celebrities are not going to admit they had work done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nassif/most-celebrities-are-not-going-to-admit-they-had-work-done/)

[Paul Nassif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nassif/)

> [If you're in rock 'n' roll, you're not supposed to admit to liking theatre stuff, but I'm a big theatregoer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-deyoung/if-you-re-in-rock-n-roll-you-re-not-supposed-to-admit-to-liking/)

[Dennis DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-deyoung/)

> [No one likes to admit they are racist or bear prejudices. Nor do they even like to be open and honest when they witness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/no-one-likes-to-admit-they-are-racist-or-bear-prejudices-nor-do-they/)

[Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/)

> [I love you. But I have no right to admit it to myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snyder/i-love-you-but-i-have-no-right-to-admit-it-to-myself/)

Brittany\_Snyder

> [There is something in me-I just can't stand to admit defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-sills/there-is-something-in-me-i-just-can-t-stand-to-admit-defeat/)

[Beverly Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-sills/)

> [As far as I can tell, the only unambiguous consequence of the claimed invasion of Earth by beings from another star system has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/as-far-as-i-can-tell-the-only-unambiguous-consequence-of-the-claimed/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [My first exposure to sanitation issues occurred when I got admission into an engineering college. They probably didn't want to admit me and informed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-murty/my-first-exposure-to-sanitation-issues-occurred-when-i-got-admission/)

[Sudha Murty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-murty/)

> [I have to admit that I get quite emotional listening to the amazing talent that exists in the New York subways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-o-hare/i-have-to-admit-that-i-get-quite-emotional-listening-to-the-amazing/)

[Lisa O'Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-o-hare/)

> [I was ashamed to admit I was hipped to the idea of acting. That's why I started in with the props.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/i-was-ashamed-to-admit-i-was-hipped-to-the-idea-of-acting-that-s-why/)

[John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/)

> [I admit that I am very possessive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kunal-khemu/i-admit-that-i-am-very-possessive/)

[Kunal Khemu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kunal-khemu/)

> [Some people need to grow up and learn how to admit when they're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-need-to-grow-up-and-learn-how-to-admit-when-they-re-wrong/)

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

Browse all 816 Admit quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“What you are born to be, you will be, whether it be priest or sailor. So step up and be it. Let them do nothing to you. Be the one who shapes yourself. Be who you are, and eventually all will have to recognize who you are, whether they are willing to admit it or not.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robin Hobb"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whether-it-be-priest-or-sailor-so/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Admit"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whether-it-be-priest-or-sailor-so/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/robin-hobb-489_quote_what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whet_1843783.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/robin-hobb-489_quote_what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whet_1843783.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/robin-hobb-489_quote_what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whet_1843783.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What you are born to be, you will be, whether it be priest or sailor. So step up and be it. Let them do…” — Robin Hobb",
                "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": "Robin Hobb",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What you are born to be,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whether-it-be-priest-or-sailor-so/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/what-you-are-born-to-be-you-will-be-whether-it-be-priest-or-sailor-so/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
