--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most minds are the slaves of external…" description: "\"Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them.\" — Samuel Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/samuel-johnson-50_circumstances_most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-ci_1602621.png" --- # Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and… ![“Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/samuel-johnson-50_circumstances_most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-ci_1602621.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/samuel-johnson-50_circumstances_most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-ci_1602621.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/samuel-johnson-50_circumstances_most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-ci_1602621.png) > “Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. External pressures dominate thought, forcing conformity to whatever shapes them. **In simple terms:** External forces control minds. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent thinking. Themes freedom conformity mindset society philosophy Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - political discourse - education - media consumption - personal decisions Key Concepts determinism autonomy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - What influences your beliefs most? - How can you resist undue influence? A Different Perspective May underestimate personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) [Slaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slaves/) ## Related quotes > [“We are all of us the slaves of external circumstance: even at a table in some backstreet café, a sunny day can open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/we-are-all-of-us-the-slaves-of-external-circumstance-even-at-a-table/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [“Our minds become slaves to those we see as having total power to control us and to cause pain to us. We are quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/majid-kazmi/our-minds-become-slaves-to-those-we-see-as-having-total-power-to/) [Majid Kazmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/majid-kazmi/) > [I don't like the idea of fitting into a mould so as to conform. What I like is the danger, the difference - being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-seigner/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-fitting-into-a-mould-so-as-to-conform-what-i/) [Emmanuelle Seigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-seigner/) > [“we, individually, are responsible for everything in our lives, no matter the external circumstances”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/we-individually-are-responsible-for-everything-in-our-lives-no-matter/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [Happiness, as is evident, depends partly upon external circumstances and partly upon oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/happiness-as-is-evident-depends-partly-upon-external-circumstances/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Peace can be found within, no matter the external circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-lokos/peace-can-be-found-within-no-matter-the-external-circumstances/) [Allan Lokos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-lokos/) > [Many many external circumstances are outside of your control, but will affect the outcome, and you have to be OK with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kan/many-many-external-circumstances-are-outside-of-your-control-but-will/) [Justin Kan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kan/) > [Happiness doesn't come from external circumstances. It comes from the inside-regardless of what is happening around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/happiness-doesn-t-come-from-external-circumstances-it-comes-from-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [External circumstances can contribute to one's happiness and well-being, but ultimately happiness and suffering depend on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/external-circumstances-can-contribute-to-one-s-happiness-and-well/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“The motions of Grace, the hardness of heart; external circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-motions-of-grace-the-hardness-of-heart-external-circumstances/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [“Gross circumstances, subtle circumstances, and circumstances of the speech are of the non-Self (not mine); and dependent on an external power. External circumstances are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/gross-circumstances-subtle-circumstances-and-circumstances-of-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“You can always choose how you prefer to respond to any external circumstances. Do not define your happiness by what is happening around you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-zernoff/you-can-always-choose-how-you-prefer-to-respond-to-any-external/) [Raphael Zernoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-zernoff/) > [We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-cannot-choose-our-external-circumstances-but-we-can-always-choose/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [External circumstances will not change until internal belief systems change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/external-circumstances-will-not-change-until-internal-belief-systems/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“True peace is not found in external circumstances, but within ones own heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-aitchison/true-peace-is-not-found-in-external-circumstances-but-within-ones-own/) Graham Aitchison ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-circumstances-and-conform-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Circumstances" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-circumstances-and-conform-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/samuel-johnson-50_circumstances_most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-ci_1602621.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/samuel-johnson-50_circumstances_most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-ci_1602621.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/samuel-johnson-50_circumstances_most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-ci_1602621.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most minds are the slaves of external circumstances, and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them.” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most minds are the slaves of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-circumstances-and-conform-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/most-minds-are-the-slaves-of-external-circumstances-and-conform-to/#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 } } ] } ```