--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is to be lived, don't let life live…" description: "\"“Life is to be lived, don't let life live you.”\" — Steven Redhead" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/steven-redhead-550_life_life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live_442593.jpg" --- # Life is to be lived, don't let life live you. ![“Life is to be lived, don't let life live you.” quote by Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/steven-redhead-550_life_life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live_442593.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/steven-redhead-550_life_life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live_442593.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/steven-redhead-550_life_life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live_442593.jpg) > ““Life is to be lived, don't let life live you.”” [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life should be actively lived, not passively endured. **In simple terms:** Live actively, don’t let life control you. Key Takeaway Take charge of your choices. Themes agency mindfulness purpose Mood motivational inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily decisions - career planning - health habits Key Concepts autonomy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your day? - How can you balance surrender and control? A Different Perspective Life’s unpredictability can limit control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-quotes/) [Living life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-life/) [Motivational quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-quotes/) ## Related quotes > [“We let life live us, instead of us living life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-m-ryan/we-let-life-live-us-instead-of-us-living-life/) [Helen M. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-m-ryan/) > [“You know, there are two types of people-ones who live their lives, and ones whose lives live them. You need to be the former,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/you-know-there-are-two-types-of-people-ones-who-live-their-lives-and/) [H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/) > [“Always make the new day better than the previous day, live life don't let life live you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teisha-d-hines/always-make-the-new-day-better-than-the-previous-day-live-life-don-t/) [Teisha D Hines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teisha-d-hines/) > [“Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead let life live through you. And do not worry that you life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/try-not-to-resist-the-changes-that-come-your-way-instead-let-life/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [The life I live is different than the life I lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimani-addison/the-life-i-live-is-different-than-the-life-i-lived/) Kimani Addison > [“You have to get clear about the kind of life you can live here. Life can be lived anywhere, but not every life can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-black/you-have-to-get-clear-about-the-kind-of-life-you-can-live-here-life/) [Daniel Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-black/) > [Only a life lived for others is a life worthwile..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/only-a-life-lived-for-others-is-a-life-worthwile/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“I take account of my life and find that I have lived a lot and learned very little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/i-take-account-of-my-life-and-find-that-i-have-lived-a-lot-and/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [My personal life is lived as 'me,' but my professional life is lived as other people. In other words, when I go to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-shawn/my-personal-life-is-lived-as-me-but-my-professional-life-is-lived-as/) [Wallace Shawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-shawn/) > [I'm very drawn to the way in which a life lived can be an art of sorts or a failed art, and a life-lived-told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shields/i-m-very-drawn-to-the-way-in-which-a-life-lived-can-be-an-art-of/) [David Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shields/) > [Life is lived on the edge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/life-is-lived-on-the-edge/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [“The only life lost, is the life not lived.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-greenlee/the-only-life-lost-is-the-life-not-lived/) E.W. Greenlee > [A life not lived for others is not a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/a-life-not-lived-for-others-is-not-a-life/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [“... finally realizing that life was to be lived, rather than hoarded against an unseen tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/finally-realizing-that-life-was-to-be-lived-rather-than-hoarded/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“A life lived in moderation is a story nobody would read, much less live”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-keene/a-life-lived-in-moderation-is-a-story-nobody-would-read-much-less-live/) D.A. Keene ## More by Steven Redhead > [“Does your reality match your expectations? If not it's time to change either your expectations or your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/does-your-reality-match-your-expectations-if-not-it-s-time-to-change/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [What the Laws of Attraction are really about; how to harness the power of creation within you to make life what you truly desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-the-laws-of-attraction-are-really-about-how-to-harness-the-power/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“The best way to achieve a wonderful life is to have wonderful desires.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-best-way-to-achieve-a-wonderful-life-is-to-have-wonderful-desires/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“The waste of any resource is unnecessary and deplorable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-waste-of-any-resource-is-unnecessary-and-deplorable/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“There are potential opportunities for everyone to expand consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/there-are-potential-opportunities-for-everyone-to-expand-consciousness/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Life has the meaning we give it, no more, no less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-has-the-meaning-we-give-it-no-more-no-less/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Our destiny becomes the accumulation of the choices that we make; the choices of which paths we took in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/our-destiny-becomes-the-accumulation-of-the-choices-that-we-make-the/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“If you surrender your free will, then someone is bound to take the reins and lead you to a place that is not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/if-you-surrender-your-free-will-then-someone-is-bound-to-take-the/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Without a clear end goal any outcome will suffice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/without-a-clear-end-goal-any-outcome-will-suffice/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Aim to live the life that gives you the most of what you want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/aim-to-live-the-life-that-gives-you-the-most-of-what-you-want/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Realise that there is no necessity to always be serious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/realise-that-there-is-no-necessity-to-always-be-serious/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Continuously rambling thoughts disrupt the potential for positive thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/continuously-rambling-thoughts-disrupt-the-potential-for-positive/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“Always be in a position to manage your destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/always-be-in-a-position-to-manage-your-destiny/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [“There are those who bring chaos and upheaval wherever they go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/there-are-those-who-bring-chaos-and-upheaval-wherever-they-go/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) [Explore all 482 Steven Redhead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“There's more to life than you can see. Your sight is limited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-kling/there-s-more-to-life-than-you-can-see-your-sight-is-limited/) [Tammy Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-kling/) > [“I've spent much of my life calling my intuition "something wrong with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-l-lawlis/i-ve-spent-much-of-my-life-calling-my-intuition-something-wrong-with/) Deanna L. Lawlis > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Life is to be lived, don't let life live you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Redhead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/steven-redhead-550_life_life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live_442593.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/steven-redhead-550_life_life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live_442593.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cf/steven-redhead-550_life_life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live_442593.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Life is to be lived, don't let life live you.” — Steven Redhead", "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": "Steven Redhead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Life is to be lived, don't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-to-be-lived-don-t-let-life-live-you/#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 } } ] } ```