--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do know that I'm responsible not for…" description: "\"I do know that I'm responsible not for what happens, but for what I make of it.\" — Sidney Poitier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/sidney-poitier-4270_happens_i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-w_1860697.jpg" --- # I do know that I'm responsible not for what happens, but… ![“I do know that I'm responsible not for what happens, but for what I make of it.” quote by Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/sidney-poitier-4270_happens_i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-w_1860697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/sidney-poitier-4270_happens_i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-w_1860697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/sidney-poitier-4270_happens_i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-w_1860697.jpg) > “I do know that I'm responsible not for what happens, but for what I make of it.” [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Responsibility lies not in events themselves but in how we interpret and act upon them. **In simple terms:** We control our responses to events. Key Takeaway Choose purposeful actions over passive reactions. Themes responsibility agency mindset Mood determined calm Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - career setbacks - personal loss - daily stress Key Concepts free will personal accountability Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide what to make of a situation? - What habits help you stay proactive? A Different Perspective External forces can limit options despite our mindset. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Happens Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-make-441380/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Know Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-responsible-808803/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Responsible Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible-happens-2501915/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing happens until I make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-wilson/nothing-happens-until-i-make-it-happen/) [Scott Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-wilson/) > [“If you want to know who is responsible for anything, as who benefits from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/if-you-want-to-know-who-is-responsible-for-anything-as-who-benefits/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [Whatever happens, you can always make it back somehow!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-berrington/whatever-happens-you-can-always-make-it-back-somehow/) [Emily Berrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-berrington/) > [“Don’t just hope it happens you have to make it happen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelina-zahra-janmohamed/don-t-just-hope-it-happens-you-have-to-make-it-happen/) [Shelina Zahra Janmohamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelina-zahra-janmohamed/) > [Up to this point your life has pretty much sucked. You’re not responsible for that. But you are responsible for what happens from here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/up-to-this-point-your-life-has-pretty-much-sucked-you-re-not/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [I believe we're responsible for everything that happens to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/i-believe-we-re-responsible-for-everything-that-happens-to-us/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [“You are not responsible for anything that happens to you as a child but you are 100% responsible for your own healing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/you-are-not-responsible-for-anything-that-happens-to-you-as-a-child/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [The man with the ball is responsible for what happens to the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-rickey/the-man-with-the-ball-is-responsible-for-what-happens-to-the-ball/) [Branch Rickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-rickey/) > [Though I am not always responsible for what happens to me, I am responsible for how I handle what happens to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/though-i-am-not-always-responsible-for-what-happens-to-me-i-am/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [We are responsible for everything that happens in this world. We are warriors of light, and with the strength of our love and of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-are-responsible-for-everything-that-happens-in-this-world-we-are/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [My heart is so heavy when I see the reality of the Indian reservation and as an American, I know I am, too, responsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/my-heart-is-so-heavy-when-i-see-the-reality-of-the-indian-reservation/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Well if you were asking my personal opinion on that I think the answer can only be yes but it was missed. Much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/well-if-you-were-asking-my-personal-opinion-on-that-i-think-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [If we really want to know who is responsible for the mess we're in, all we have to do is look in the mirror.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/if-we-really-want-to-know-who-is-responsible-for-the-mess-we-re-in/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [“When you are drowned by your sorry state, and you feel as if you are carried away from the road that leads to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-are-drowned-by-your-sorry-state-and-you-feel-as-if-you-are/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [Those who know should be responsible for the failures of those who don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/those-who-know-should-be-responsible-for-the-failures-of-those-who/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) ## More by Sidney Poitier > [Jackie Robinson is a true legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/jackie-robinson-is-a-true-legend/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [In my case, the body of work stands for itself... I think my work has been representative of me as a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/in-my-case-the-body-of-work-stands-for-itself-i-think-my-work-has/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [You don't have to become something that you aren't to become better than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/you-don-t-have-to-become-something-that-you-aren-t-to-become-better/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [So it's been kind of a long road, but it was a good journey altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/so-it-s-been-kind-of-a-long-road-but-it-was-a-good-journey-altogether/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I'd seen my father. He was a poor man, and I watched him do astonishing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-d-seen-my-father-he-was-a-poor-man-and-i-watched-him-do-astonishing/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [If the image one holds of one's self contains elements that don't square with reality, one is best advised to let go of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/if-the-image-one-holds-of-one-s-self-contains-elements-that-don-t/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I think the way I want to think. I live the way I want to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-think-the-way-i-want-to-think-i-live-the-way-i-want-to-live/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I had learned something of Miami from people who had visited there, so I knew what to expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-had-learned-something-of-miami-from-people-who-had-visited-there-so/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [We're all imperfect, and life is simply a perpetual, unending struggle against those imperfections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/we-re-all-imperfect-and-life-is-simply-a-perpetual-unending-struggle/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I did not go into the film business to be symbolized as someone else's vision of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-did-not-go-into-the-film-business-to-be-symbolized-as-someone-else/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I find myself, at this time in my life, no less challenged, no less plagued, no less intrigued by what I still don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-find-myself-at-this-time-in-my-life-no-less-challenged-no-less/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [Living consciously involves being genuine; it involves listening and responding to others honestly and openly; it involves being in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/living-consciously-involves-being-genuine-it-involves-listening-and/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [Every new fashion is a form of rebellion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/every-new-fashion-is-a-form-of-rebellion/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [I'll always be chasing you... Glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-ll-always-be-chasing-you-glory/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) > [So I'm OK with myself, with history, my work, who I am and who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/so-i-m-ok-with-myself-with-history-my-work-who-i-am-and-who-i-was/) [Sidney Poitier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) [Explore all 112 Sidney Poitier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/) ## More Happens quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [The amazing thing is that we live our lives with the hope that things will go right, that things will happen. And all along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/the-amazing-thing-is-that-we-live-our-lives-with-the-hope-that-things/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [I had sort of had a 21st birthday when I was 17, 18 years old living in Japan. I had all of that stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-wright/i-had-sort-of-had-a-21st-birthday-when-i-was-17-18-years-old-living/) [Sarah Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-wright/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [This mind is a prison. It cannot find any freedom anywhere. It must die before freedom comes to you. But we have taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/this-mind-is-a-prison-it-cannot-find-any-freedom-anywhere-it-must-die/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) [Browse all 13,486 Happens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do know that I'm responsible not for what happens, but for what I make of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sidney Poitier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-what-happens-but-for-what-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-what-happens-but-for-what-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/sidney-poitier-4270_happens_i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-w_1860697.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/sidney-poitier-4270_happens_i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-w_1860697.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/sidney-poitier-4270_happens_i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-w_1860697.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do know that I'm responsible not for what happens, but for what I make of it.” — Sidney Poitier", "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": "Sidney Poitier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-poitier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do know that I'm responsible...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-what-happens-but-for-what-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-poitier/i-do-know-that-i-m-responsible-not-for-what-happens-but-for-what-i/#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 } } ] } ```