---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The universe doesn’t give you what you…"
description: "\"“The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions. In essence, you don't get what you ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/steve-maraboli-178_actions_the-universe-doesn-t-give-you-what-you-a_82014.jpg"
---

#  The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your…

![“The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions. In essence, you don't get what you WANT, you get what you ARE.” quote by Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/steve-maraboli-178_actions_the-universe-doesn-t-give-you-what-you-a_82014.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/steve-maraboli-178_actions_the-universe-doesn-t-give-you-what-you-a_82014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/009/steve-maraboli-178_actions_the-universe-doesn-t-give-you-what-you-a_82014.jpg)

> ““The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions. In essence, you don't get what you WANT, you get what you ARE.””

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote emphasizes that outcomes stem from actions and personal identity rather than mere wishes, highlighting the power of behavior over passive desire.

**In simple terms:** Actions shape reality, not thoughts alone.

Key Takeaway

Identity drives results.

Themes

personal responsibility self-actualization mindset action vs. intention authenticity

Mood

motivated reflective empowering

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- goal setting
- career advancement
- habit formation
- leadership
- personal growth

Key Concepts

agency self-concept behavioral impact

Practical Applications

- coaching
- self-help programs

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your daily behavior reflect who you want to become?
- What actions can you take now to align with your desired identity?

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## Related quotes

> [“The universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts - it gives you what you demand with your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-universe-doesn-t-give-you-what-you-ask-for-with-your-thoughts-it-2/)

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> [The universe doesnt give you what you ask for with your thoughts - it gives you what you demand with your actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/the-universe-doesnt-give-you-what-you-ask-for-with-your-thoughts-it/)

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> [“We have the free will to think our own thoughts, which gives us domain over our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laureli-blyth/we-have-the-free-will-to-think-our-own-thoughts-which-gives-us-domain/)

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> [“Our thoughts gives our dreams direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ramovha/our-thoughts-gives-our-dreams-direction/)

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> [“The words a person reads and hears and repeats become his own, enter his verbal storehouse. When needed they become, even if he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-seidel/the-words-a-person-reads-and-hears-and-repeats-become-his-own-enter/)

Moshe Seidel

> [Never ask for someone's thoughts on autism unless you are prepared to hear a story that doesn't resemble your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-duncan/never-ask-for-someone-s-thoughts-on-autism-unless-you-are-prepared-to/)

[Stuart Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-duncan/)

> [Ask yourself, "How are my thoughts, words and deeds affecting my friends, my spouse, my neighbour, my child, my employer, my subordinates, my fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/ask-yourself-how-are-my-thoughts-words-and-deeds-affecting-my-friends/)

[Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/)

> [“If I ever ask for your thoughts and prayers, please kill me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-earl/if-i-ever-ask-for-your-thoughts-and-prayers-please-kill-me/)

Jim Earl

> [“I was going to ask your thoughts on the war, but if you’re too upset . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-was-going-to-ask-your-thoughts-on-the-war-but-if-you-re-too-upset/)

[Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/)

> [If you want to determine if your thoughts are from the enemy or from God, ask yourself, 'Are these thoughts I’d choose to have?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stormie-omartian/if-you-want-to-determine-if-your-thoughts-are-from-the-enemy-or-from/)

[Stormie Omartian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stormie-omartian/)

> [The universe doesn't owe you a sense of hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-universe-doesn-t-owe-you-a-sense-of-hope/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [“the universe doesn’t exist without a perceiver of that universe.") All”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grout/the-universe-doesn-t-exist-without-a-perceiver-of-that-universe-all/)

[Pam Grout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grout/)

> [“We take over six hundred pages of math and force-feed it to the universe through an electromagnetic funnel. We tell the universe ‘I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-clines/we-take-over-six-hundred-pages-of-math-and-force-feed-it-to-the/)

[Peter Clines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-clines/)

> [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/)

[Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/)

## More by Steve Maraboli

> [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [Its a lack of clarity that creates chaos and frustration. Those emotions are poison to any living goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/its-a-lack-of-clarity-that-creates-chaos-and-frustration-those/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [“Fear has the role we give it. We are able to empower or poison ourselves to whatever degree we want. This is the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/fear-has-the-role-we-give-it-we-are-able-to-empower-or-poison/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [“There is no greater force for change than people inspired to live a better life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/there-is-no-greater-force-for-change-than-people-inspired-to-live-a/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [“If the things behind you are tripping you, you're moving in the wrong direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-the-things-behind-you-are-tripping-you-you-re-moving-in-the-wrong/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [“We need more than just the Law of Attraction. We need to connect with its more successful twin, the Law of Generosity. And further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/we-need-more-than-just-the-law-of-attraction-we-need-to-connect-with/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [God is the architect of the event; you are the interpreter of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/god-is-the-architect-of-the-event-you-are-the-interpreter-of-the/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [“Life had broken her; just as it had broken him. But when they got together, their pieces became whole. And they continued on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/life-had-broken-her-just-as-it-had-broken-him-but-when-they-got/)

[Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

> [“How would your life be different if...You could control the outcome of your day, your week, your year? Let today be the day...You embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/how-would-your-life-be-different-if-you-could-control-the-outcome-of/)

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> [“If you want drama, settle for the one who will change your relationship status. If you want love, wait for the one who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-you-want-drama-settle-for-the-one-who-will-change-your/)

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[Explore all 990 Steve Maraboli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/)

## More Actions quotes

> [“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/)

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