---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a person to feel responsible for his…"
description: "\"For a person to feel responsible for his actions, he must sense that the behavior has flowed from the self.\" — Stanley Milgram"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/stanley-milgram-22480_action_for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his_2106967.jpg"
---

#  For a person to feel responsible for his actions, he must…

![“For a person to feel responsible for his actions, he must sense that the behavior has flowed from the self.” quote by Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/stanley-milgram-22480_action_for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his_2106967.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/stanley-milgram-22480_action_for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his_2106967.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/stanley-milgram-22480_action_for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his_2106967.jpg)

> “For a person to feel responsible for his actions, he must sense that the behavior has flowed from the self.”

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

## About This Quote

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

Responsibility arises when one perceives actions as originating from one's own self rather than external forces.

**In simple terms:** Self‑originated actions create responsibility.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate self‑awareness.

Themes

responsibility self‑agency ethics

Mood

introspective analytical

Type

philosophical psychological

When to use this quote

- leadership
- personal accountability
- moral decisions

Key Concepts

psychology philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you feel your actions flow from you?
- How can you strengthen self‑origin?

A Different Perspective

External pressures can blur self‑origin.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/)

## Related quotes

> [If we want to make sense of our behavior - all the best, worst, and everything in between - we're not going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/if-we-want-to-make-sense-of-our-behavior-all-the-best-worst-and/)

[Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/)

> [I do feel I'm responsible to carrying on the music. That's what I was charged with as a kid. When I was a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-carter/i-do-feel-i-m-responsible-to-carrying-on-the-music-that-s-what-i-was/)

[Carlene Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-carter/)

> [If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/)

[Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/)

> [I feel responsible for everybody, and I couldn't imagine a scenario where I wouldn't be directing what was happening, at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-daniels/i-feel-responsible-for-everybody-and-i-couldn-t-imagine-a-scenario/)

[Greg Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-daniels/)

> [I feel responsible. That's the way my personality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-di-matteo/i-feel-responsible-that-s-the-way-my-personality-is/)

[Roberto Di Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-di-matteo/)

> [The fact of the matter is I always have a really high sense of responsibility to the reader, whether it's a few readers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-i-always-have-a-really-high-sense-of/)

[Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/)

> [The insecurity that comes from being behind bars with, at best, imperfect oversight makes us all feel responsible only for ourselves. We end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-manning/the-insecurity-that-comes-from-being-behind-bars-with-at-best/)

[Chelsea Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-manning/)

> [“Make people feel great when they feel small. Make them feel responsible when they feel great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/make-people-feel-great-when-they-feel-small-make-them-feel/)

[Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/)

> [I feel responsible that everyone has a really wonderful experience and to do the best work possible, and to always know my lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-margulies/i-feel-responsible-that-everyone-has-a-really-wonderful-experience/)

[Julianna Margulies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-margulies/)

> [“You will feel more responsible for your own words when you notice how your words can affect lives of other people. You will feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/you-will-feel-more-responsible-for-your-own-words-when-you-notice-how/)

[Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/)

> [Guilt is generally formed when we feel we have done something wrong, upset someone, when we feel responsible for upsetting someone or for doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/guilt-is-generally-formed-when-we-feel-we-have-done-something-wrong/)

[DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/)

> [Generosity helps us make a concerted effort to keep the needs of others in the forefront of our thinking. Rich people should not feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/generosity-helps-us-make-a-concerted-effort-to-keep-the-needs-of/)

[Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/)

> [I feel responsible, as many other people's lives hang on the success of a drama in which I appear. But in essence, I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-hyung-sik/i-feel-responsible-as-many-other-people-s-lives-hang-on-the-success/)

[Park Hyung-sik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-hyung-sik/)

> [Anything in which you're playing someone real does make you feel responsible for making the story as true as it can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-campbell/anything-in-which-you-re-playing-someone-real-does-make-you-feel/)

[Georgina Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-campbell/)

> [Offer Your Goodwill to others. But, dont feel responsible for the problems of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/offer-your-goodwill-to-others-but-dont-feel-responsible-for-the/)

Senoraroy

## More by Stanley Milgram

> [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [Obedience is the psychological mechanism that links individual action to political purpose. It is the dispositional cement that binds men to systems of authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/obedience-is-the-psychological-mechanism-that-links-individual-action/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [It may be that we are puppets-puppets controlled by the strings of society. But at least we are puppets with perception, with awareness. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/it-may-be-that-we-are-puppets-puppets-controlled-by-the-strings-of/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [When an individual wishes to stand in opposition to authority, he does best to find support for his position from others in his group.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/when-an-individual-wishes-to-stand-in-opposition-to-authority-he-does/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [Relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/relatively-few-people-have-the-resources-needed-to-resist-authority/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [Each individual possesses a conscience which to a greater or lesser degree serves to restrain the unimpeded flow of impulses destructive to others. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/each-individual-possesses-a-conscience-which-to-a-greater-or-lesser/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [“It has been reliably established that from 1933 to 1945 millions of innocent people were systematically slaughtered on command. Gas chambers were built, death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/it-has-been-reliably-established-that-from-1933-to-1945-millions-of/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [I would say, on the basis of having observe a thousand people in the experiment and having my own intuition shaped and informed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-would-say-on-the-basis-of-having-observe-a-thousand-people-in-the/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [The state produced in the laboratory may be likened to a light doze, compared to the profound slumber induced by the preponent authority system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/the-state-produced-in-the-laboratory-may-be-likened-to-a-light-doze/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [The essence in obedience consists in the fact that a person comes to view himself as an instrument for carrying out another person's wishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/the-essence-in-obedience-consists-in-the-fact-that-a-person-comes-to/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [The disappearance of a sense of responsibility is the most far-reaching consequence of submission to authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/the-disappearance-of-a-sense-of-responsibility-is-the-most-far/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [The soldier does not wish to appear a coward, disloyal, or un-American. The situation has been so defined that he can see himself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/the-soldier-does-not-wish-to-appear-a-coward-disloyal-or-un-american/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [Although a person acting under authority performs actions that seem to violate standards of conscience, it would not be true to say that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/although-a-person-acting-under-authority-performs-actions-that-seem/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [Some system of authority is a requirement of all communal living, and it is only the man dwelling in isolation who is not forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/some-system-of-authority-is-a-requirement-of-all-communal-living-and/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [And perhaps our awareness is the first step to our liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/and-perhaps-our-awareness-is-the-first-step-to-our-liberation/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

[Explore all 27 Stanley Milgram quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

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

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "For a person to feel responsible for his actions, he must sense that the behavior has flowed from the self.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stanley Milgram"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his-actions-he-must-sense-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his-actions-he-must-sense-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/stanley-milgram-22480_action_for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his_2106967.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/stanley-milgram-22480_action_for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his_2106967.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/221/stanley-milgram-22480_action_for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his_2106967.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“For a person to feel responsible for his actions, he must sense that the behavior has flowed from the self.” — Stanley Milgram",
                "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": "Stanley Milgram",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "For a person to feel responsible...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his-actions-he-must-sense-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/for-a-person-to-feel-responsible-for-his-actions-he-must-sense-that/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
