--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our attitude towards what has happened to…" description: "\"Our attitude towards what has happened to us in life is the important thing to recognize. Once hopeless, my life is now hope-full, but it did not happe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/viktor-e-frankl-668_attitude_our-attitude-towards-what-has-happened-t_2755802.jpg" --- # Our attitude towards what has happened to us in life is… ![“Our attitude towards what has happened to us in life is the important thing to recognize. Once hopeless, my life is now hope-full, but it did not happen overnight. The last of human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, is to choose one's own way.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/viktor-e-frankl-668_attitude_our-attitude-towards-what-has-happened-t_2755802.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/viktor-e-frankl-668_attitude_our-attitude-towards-what-has-happened-t_2755802.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/viktor-e-frankl-668_attitude_our-attitude-towards-what-has-happened-t_2755802.jpg) > “Our attitude towards what has happened to us in life is the important thing to recognize. Once hopeless, my life is now hope-full, but it did not happen overnight. The last of human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, is to choose one's own way.” [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that our attitude toward events defines our freedom; choosing a positive outlook restores hope. **In simple terms:** Attitude creates freedom. Key Takeaway Choose hopeful perspective. Themes psychology existentialism freedom Mood thoughtful hopeful Type philosophical therapeutic When to use this quote - therapy sessions - crisis coping - personal growth Key Concepts meaning choice resilience Questions to Reflect On - What practices help shift mindset? - How does freedom coexist with external constraints? A Different Perspective Changing attitude can be difficult under trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom to choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-to-choose/) [Human freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-freedom/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Single mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-mom/) [Single parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-parent/) ## Related quotes > [One can choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/one-can-choose-one-s-attitude-in-any-given-set-of-circumstances/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-one-thing-you-can-t-take-away-from-me-is-the-way-i-choose-to-2/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/we-who-lived-in-concentration-camps-can-remember-the-men-who-walked/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The last of the human freedoms — to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-last-of-the-human-freedoms-to-choose-one-s-attitude-in-any-given-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Certainly one of our God-given privileges is the right to choose what our attitude will be in any given set of circumstances. We can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/certainly-one-of-our-god-given-privileges-is-the-right-to-choose-what/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing - the ability to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/everything-can-be-taken-from-a-man-but-one-thing-the-ability-to/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-can-be-taken-from-a-man-but-one-thing-the-last-of-human/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In acceptance of the limitations that life imposes on us and in knowing that we can choose our attitude in any given circumstance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-thomsen-brits/in-acceptance-of-the-limitations-that-life-imposes-on-us-and-in/) [Louisa Thomsen Brits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-thomsen-brits/) > [“In life's most difficult situations, it is our capacity to cope and personal resiliency that are put to the ultimate test. It's then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pattakos/in-life-s-most-difficult-situations-it-is-our-capacity-to-cope-and/) Alex Pattakos > [Our greatest freedom is the freedom to choose our attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-greatest-freedom-is-the-freedom-to-choose-our-attitude/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The one thing you can't take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. The last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-one-thing-you-can-t-take-away-from-me-is-the-way-i-choose-to-3/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Ultimate freedom is a man's right to choose his attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/ultimate-freedom-is-a-man-s-right-to-choose-his-attitude/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [When you have shot and killed a man you have in some measure clarified your attitude toward him. You have given a definite answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/when-you-have-shot-and-killed-a-man-you-have-in-some-measure/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [You can take away my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/you-can-take-away-my-wife-you-can-take-away-my-children-you-can-strip/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More by Viktor E. Frankl > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured. To be sure, people tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-the-past-nothing-is-irretrievably-lost-but-rather-on-the-contrary/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer... his unique opportunity lies in the way he bears his burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/when-a-man-finds-that-it-is-his-destiny-to-suffer-his-unique/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A negative attitude intensifies pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/a-positive-attitude-enables-a-person-to-endure-suffering-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“our sacrifice did have a meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-sacrifice-did-have-a-meaning/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-more-one-forgets-himself-by-giving-himself-to-a-cause-to-serve-or/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-i-venture-to-say-that-would-so/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's search for meaning is the chief motivation of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-search-for-meaning-is-the-chief-motivation-of-his-life/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-a-last-violent-protest-against-the-hopelessness-of-imminent-death/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one's belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one's right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-one-s-belief-but-it/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I think it was Lessing who once said, 'There are things which must cause you to lose your reason or you have none to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-think-it-was-lessing-who-once-said-there-are-things-which-must/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I believe that my handicap will only enhance my ability to help others. I know that without the suffering, the growth that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-believe-that-my-handicap-will-only-enhance-my-ability-to-help/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“He main retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp. Dostoevsky said once, 'There is only one thing that I dread: not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/he-main-retain-his-human-dignity-even-in-a-concentration-camp/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) [Explore all 381 Viktor E. Frankl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our attitude towards what has happened to us in life is the important thing to recognize. Once hopeless, my life is now hope-full, but it did not happen overnight. 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