--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We must not let the actions or words of…" description: "\"We must not let the actions or words of others determine our responses. Magnanimous people make the choice to respond to the indignities of others base..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/stephen-covey-339_action_we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of_762134.png" --- # We must not let the actions or words of others determine… ![“We must not let the actions or words of others determine our responses. Magnanimous people make the choice to respond to the indignities of others based upon their own principles and their own value system rather than their moods or anger.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/stephen-covey-339_action_we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of_762134.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/stephen-covey-339_action_we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of_762134.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/stephen-covey-339_action_we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of_762134.png) > “We must not let the actions or words of others determine our responses. Magnanimous people make the choice to respond to the indignities of others based upon their own principles and their own value system rather than their moods or anger.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People should base their reactions on personal principles rather than others' behavior or emotions. **In simple terms:** Respond with your own values, not others' actions. Key Takeaway Cultivate principled, calm responses. Themes principles self‑control emotional intelligence relationships integrity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - leadership - personal development - handling criticism - maintaining composure in disputes Key Concepts magnanimity value‑based decision making self‑regulation Questions to Reflect On - What core values guide your reactions? - How can you practice responding without anger? A Different Perspective Maintaining calm may be difficult when provoked or under stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Indignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indignity/) [Interpersonal skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interpersonal-skills/) [Magnanimous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magnanimous/) [Mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mood/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Value system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-system/) [Value systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-systems/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Magnanimous people have no vanity, they have no jealousy, and they feed on the true and the solid wherever they find it. And, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-wyck-brooks/magnanimous-people-have-no-vanity-they-have-no-jealousy-and-they-feed/) [Van Wyck Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-wyck-brooks/) > [How delightful is the company of generous people, who overlook trifles and keep their minds instinctively fixed on whatever is good and positive in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-wyck-brooks/how-delightful-is-the-company-of-generous-people-who-overlook-trifles/) [Van Wyck Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-wyck-brooks/) > [To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-touch-the-soul-of-another-human-being-is-to-walk-on-holy-ground/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The amateur salesman sells products; the professional sells solutions to needs and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-amateur-salesman-sells-products-the-professional-sells-solutions/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Nothing is more exciting and bonding in relationships than creating together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/nothing-is-more-exciting-and-bonding-in-relationships-than-creating/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Love is a verb. Love – the feeling – is the fruit of love, the verb. So love her. Sacrifice. Listen to her. Empathize.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/love-is-a-verb-love-the-feeling-is-the-fruit-of-love-the-verb-so-love/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-want-to-have-a-more-pleasant-cooperative-teenager-be-a-more/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [People with a scarcity mentality think there is only so much in the world to go around. It's as if they see life as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/people-with-a-scarcity-mentality-think-there-is-only-so-much-in-the/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Treat them all the same by treating them differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/treat-them-all-the-same-by-treating-them-differently/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To receive gratitude with grace is a form of gratitude by itself, and not always an easy art to master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-receive-gratitude-with-grace-is-a-form-of-gratitude-by-itself-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Whether or not we belong to a church or service organization or have a job that provides meaningful service opportunities, not a day goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/whether-or-not-we-belong-to-a-church-or-service-organization-or-have/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Conflict is not necessarily bad. If you can avoid taking conflict personally, it is actually a way to get better decisions and better results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-sinha/conflict-is-not-necessarily-bad-if-you-can-avoid-taking-conflict/) Sonali Sinha > [When air is charged with emotions, an attempt to teach is often perceived as a form of judgment and rejection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-air-is-charged-with-emotions-an-attempt-to-teach-is-often/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't talk your way out of a problem you behaved your way into!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-talk-your-way-out-of-a-problem-you-behaved-your-way-into/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What distinguishes leaders in medicine goes far beyond that knowledge, into interpersonal skills like empathy, conflict resolution, and people development.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/what-distinguishes-leaders-in-medicine-goes-far-beyond-that-knowledge/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## 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": "We must not let the actions or words of others determine our responses. Magnanimous people make the choice to respond to the indignities of others based upon their own principles and their own value system rather than their moods or anger.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of-others-determine-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of-others-determine-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/stephen-covey-339_action_we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of_762134.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/stephen-covey-339_action_we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of_762134.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/049/stephen-covey-339_action_we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of_762134.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We must not let the actions or words of others determine our responses. Magnanimous people make the choice…” — Stephen Covey", "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": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We must not let the actions...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of-others-determine-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-must-not-let-the-actions-or-words-of-others-determine-our/#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 } } ] } ```