---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Life is too short to surrender as a…"
description: "\"“Life is too short to surrender as a matter of course to external influences.”\" — Steven Redhead"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/steven-redhead-550_external-influences_life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matt_2300279.jpg"
---

#  Life is too short to surrender as a matter of course to…

![“Life is too short to surrender as a matter of course to external influences.” quote by Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/steven-redhead-550_external-influences_life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matt_2300279.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/steven-redhead-550_external-influences_life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matt_2300279.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/steven-redhead-550_external-influences_life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matt_2300279.jpg)

> ““Life is too short to surrender as a matter of course to external influences.””

[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 is too brief to passively accept external pressures; one should actively shape one’s own path.

**In simple terms:** Don’t surrender to outside forces.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate personal agency and resistance.

Themes

autonomy self‑determination time resistance

Mood

motivational defiant

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career choices
- social conformity
- media influence
- personal goals

Key Concepts

existentialism personal freedom

Questions to Reflect On

- What influences you most?
- How can you assert autonomy daily?

A Different Perspective

External pressures can be overwhelming; balance needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[External influences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/external-influences/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-quotes/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Surrender-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender-quotes/)

## Related quotes

> [“Many external influences are driving change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/many-external-influences-are-driving-change/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

> [“Every person's true identity is beautiful, and much of the ugliness we observe in others was put inside of them by external influences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/every-person-s-true-identity-is-beautiful-and-much-of-the-ugliness-we/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [It was not really the external influences that made me a singer. Music was within me. I was full of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lata-mangeshkar/it-was-not-really-the-external-influences-that-made-me-a-singer-music/)

[Lata Mangeshkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lata-mangeshkar/)

> [God never forces a person's will into surrender, and He never begs. He patiently waits until that person willingly yields to Him. True surrender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/god-never-forces-a-person-s-will-into-surrender-and-he-never-begs-he/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“Never give in,never give up,never surrender no matter what!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/never-give-in-never-give-up-never-surrender-no-matter-what/)

[Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/)

> [“When we surrender in a spiritual sense, we let go of all effort and strain and instead are open to receive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/when-we-surrender-in-a-spiritual-sense-we-let-go-of-all-effort-and/)

[Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/)

> [“Surrender is an incredibly difficult topic in light of chronic illness, because loss is often continued and sustained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindee-snider-re/surrender-is-an-incredibly-difficult-topic-in-light-of-chronic/)

Cindee Snider Re

> [“When you feel at peace with your troubles, they turn into lessons and ladders to help you climb to the next level of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/when-you-feel-at-peace-with-your-troubles-they-turn-into-lessons-and/)

[Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkana, Ph.D, MBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/)

> [“In love, I will surrender myself and In war, you have to surrender yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/in-love-i-will-surrender-myself-and-in-war-you-have-to-surrender/)

[P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/)

> [“Yes, we were given the free-will to choose how to be, but we can still go back to the one who gave it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/yes-we-were-given-the-free-will-to-choose-how-to-be-but-we-can-still/)

[Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkana, Ph.D, MBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/)

> [“When you are blessed with a beautiful light, don’t ask where it comes from or why it comes, how it comes, when it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-are-blessed-with-a-beautiful-light-don-t-ask-where-it-comes/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Surrendering is not the giving up of something. True surrender is the total acceptance of yourself. You're not 'losing' anything in the surrender, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar/surrendering-is-not-the-giving-up-of-something-true-surrender-is-the/)

[Bashar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar/)

> [“Just as you can never squeeze water out of the water, you can never squeeze the good out of goodness: You simply tap into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/just-as-you-can-never-squeeze-water-out-of-the-water-you-can-never/)

[Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkana, Ph.D, MBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/)

> [“What if, one would fall into an empty abyss? Nothing truly outrageous would happen - or could it finally happen? Dare to soar Fly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ulonda-faye/what-if-one-would-fall-into-an-empty-abyss-nothing-truly-outrageous/)

[Ulonda Faye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ulonda-faye/)

> [“Obstacles are real only for those who surrender the obstacles in their minds!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/obstacles-are-real-only-for-those-who-surrender-the-obstacles-in/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

## 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 External influences quotes

> [“The vision teller tells the vision to unguarded minds' of prey. The programmed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/the-vision-teller-tells-the-vision-to-unguarded-minds-of-prey-the/)

[T.F. Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-hodge/)

> [Psychosynthesis is a method of psychological development and self realization for those who refuse to remain the slave of their own inner phantasms or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-assagioli/psychosynthesis-is-a-method-of-psychological-development-and-self/)

[Roberto Assagioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-assagioli/)

> [If such external influences are intrinsic to religion, then logic and scientific thought dictate that there must be a mechanism by which this influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-randall/if-such-external-influences-are-intrinsic-to-religion-then-logic-and/)

[Lisa Randall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-randall/)

> [Chicken masala is now Britain's true national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-cook/chicken-masala-is-now-britain-s-true-national-dish-not-only-because/)

[Robin Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-cook/)

> [“Every person's true identity is beautiful, and much of the ugliness we observe in others was put inside of them by external influences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/every-person-s-true-identity-is-beautiful-and-much-of-the-ugliness-we/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Many external influences are driving change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/many-external-influences-are-driving-change/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

> [First, in the history of words there is much that indicates the history of men, and in comparing the speech of to-day with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/first-in-the-history-of-words-there-is-much-that-indicates-the/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [It was not really the external influences that made me a singer. Music was within me. I was full of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lata-mangeshkar/it-was-not-really-the-external-influences-that-made-me-a-singer-music/)

[Lata Mangeshkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lata-mangeshkar/)

> [Bondage is - subjection to external influences and internal negative thoughts and attitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/bondage-is-subjection-to-external-influences-and-internal-negative/)

[W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/)

> [He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/he-that-would-be-superior-to-external-influences-must-first-become/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Contractile movements arise, sometimes at the instigation of external stimuli but sometimes also in the absence of any apparent external influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-wundt/contractile-movements-arise-sometimes-at-the-instigation-of-external/)

[Wilhelm Wundt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-wundt/)

> [Judo should be free as art and science from any external influences, political, national, racial, and financial or any other organized interest. And all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kano-jigoro/judo-should-be-free-as-art-and-science-from-any-external-influences/)

[Kano Jigoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kano-jigoro/)

> [“External influences create internal chaos.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-j-lewis-coleman-2/external-influences-create-internal-chaos/)

Valerie J Lewis Coleman

> [He who thinks he can have flesh and bones without being subject to any external influence, or any accidents of matter, unconsciously wishes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/he-who-thinks-he-can-have-flesh-and-bones-without-being-subject-to/)

[Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/)

> [Be selective about your external influences. Your multi-dimensional brain is influenced by everything you see, hear, read, smell, touch, feel or say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/be-selective-about-your-external-influences-your-multi-dimensional/)

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

[Browse all 20 External influences quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/external-influences/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Life is too short to surrender as a matter of course to external influences.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Steven Redhead"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matter-of-course-to-external/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "External influences"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matter-of-course-to-external/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/steven-redhead-550_external-influences_life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matt_2300279.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/steven-redhead-550_external-influences_life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matt_2300279.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b4/steven-redhead-550_external-influences_life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matt_2300279.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Life is too short to surrender as a matter of course to external influences.” — 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 too short to surrender...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matter-of-course-to-external/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/life-is-too-short-to-surrender-as-a-matter-of-course-to-external/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
