--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any time you do something, you make…" description: "\"Any time you do something, you make decisions about time and space. I wanted those decisions to be out of my hands. I could be dragged, carried along b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/vito-acconci-13895_action_any-time-you-do-something-you-make-decis_3234338.jpg" --- # Any time you do something, you make decisions about time… ![“Any time you do something, you make decisions about time and space. I wanted those decisions to be out of my hands. I could be dragged, carried along by another person, I could be a receiver. I could be the agent of the overall scheme, but I didn't want to be the agent of the particular action. I…” quote by Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/vito-acconci-13895_action_any-time-you-do-something-you-make-decis_3234338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/vito-acconci-13895_action_any-time-you-do-something-you-make-decis_3234338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcf/vito-acconci-13895_action_any-time-you-do-something-you-make-decis_3234338.jpg) > “Any time you do something, you make decisions about time and space. I wanted those decisions to be out of my hands. I could be dragged, carried along by another person, I could be a receiver. I could be the agent of the overall scheme, but I didn't want to be the agent of the particular action. I could make the ultimate decision that my space is going to change now, but I don't know where it's going to go.” [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on relinquishing control over personal direction, preferring external influence over autonomous choice about space and time. **In simple terms:** Giving up control over where you go and what you do. Key Takeaway Embrace external forces to discover new paths. Themes control agency space time choice Mood reflective uncertain Type philosophical personal When to use this quote - creative projects - personal relationships - career moves - travel planning Key Concepts existentialism autonomy determinism Questions to Reflect On - How does surrendering control affect your identity? - When is it beneficial to let others guide you? A Different Perspective Relying on others can limit personal responsibility and lead to loss of self. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Agents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agents/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Decisions Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-hands-5313251/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Make Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decisions/) [My space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-space/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Receiver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receiver/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time and space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-space/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Ultimate Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate-decision-1653888/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-decisions-6131056/) ## Related quotes > [It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/it-is-hard-to-imagine-a-more-stupid-or-more-dangerous-way-of-making/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Marriage is the ultimate decision of love…..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pratik-sharma/marriage-is-the-ultimate-decision-of-love/) [Pratik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pratik-sharma/) > [Your Happiness is who you are and your decision about your life is the ultimate decision and goal for you in life, you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/your-happiness-is-who-you-are-and-your-decision-about-your-life-is/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [The Ultimate decision, the fastest decision there is, is ACTION!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/the-ultimate-decision-the-fastest-decision-there-is-is-action/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [I can pick out people in this city to follow. I can be in a show at the Museum of Modern Art, my space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-can-pick-out-people-in-this-city-to-follow-i-can-be-in-a-show-at/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [My success as a young athlete contributed to major disagreements between my parents and my mom had to make the ultimate decision to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyjah-huston/my-success-as-a-young-athlete-contributed-to-major-disagreements/) [Nyjah Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyjah-huston/) > [I have a lot of objects in my space, little things, reminders, memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-newson/i-have-a-lot-of-objects-in-my-space-little-things-reminders-memories/) [Marc Newson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-newson/) > [One of the things, and the most exciting, actually definitely the most exciting thing is, having children. You know, I didn't have children before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/one-of-the-things-and-the-most-exciting-actually-definitely-the-most/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) > [Home has always been one of the most important things. If I don't feel at home in my space, then I feel really unmoored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/home-has-always-been-one-of-the-most-important-things-if-i-don-t-feel/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [I don't mind solitude. I love talking to other people, but I do need my space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-chang/i-don-t-mind-solitude-i-love-talking-to-other-people-but-i-do-need-my/) [Iris Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-chang/) > [Why not go down the pub? A guy once came up to me at a gig and asked me if I had MySpace. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/why-not-go-down-the-pub-a-guy-once-came-up-to-me-at-a-gig-and-asked/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [You occupied my space. But because you were not in my present, when I looked into my future I saw . . . nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/you-occupied-my-space-but-because-you-were-not-in-my-present-when-i/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I learned that I could control my life. You are the master of your fate. . . you are the captain of your soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-learned-that-i-could-control-my-life-you-are-the-master-of-your/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Men want to destroy the women: you've become bigger than me, people love you more, you have a public platform, that's my space you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-holmes/men-want-to-destroy-the-women-you-ve-become-bigger-than-me-people/) [Rachel Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-holmes/) > [ The scenery was very beautiful. But I did not see The Great Wall \[of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yang-liwei/the-scenery-was-very-beautiful-but-i-did-not-see-the-great-wall-of/) [Yang Liwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yang-liwei/) ## More by Vito Acconci > [I like Richard Serra sculptures too but I wish they had a goddamn hot dog stand inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-like-richard-serra-sculptures-too-but-i-wish-they-had-a-goddamn-hot/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [It was an incredible way to grow up, because words that you're taught - these definite things - you realize they sort of beautifully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/it-was-an-incredible-way-to-grow-up-because-words-that-you-re-taught/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Architecture is inherently a totalitarian activity. One thing we hate about it is that when you design a space, you're probably designing people's behavior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/architecture-is-inherently-a-totalitarian-activity-one-thing-we-hate/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [ \[Photography was necessary to\] make my place in the art-world: in order to do this, I had to make a picture, since a picture… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/photography-was-necessary-to-make-my-place-in-the-art-world-in-order/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Especially once those poetry events began, because, yeah, the stuff was still on the page, but the page was starting to spill into real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/especially-once-those-poetry-events-began-because-yeah-the-stuff-was/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I became much more interested in plot when I really didn't consider myself a writer anymore. When I was in an art context and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-became-much-more-interested-in-plot-when-i-really-didn-t-consider/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [The kind of influence you want is a much deeper influence. It's like empowerment. Things are like this, but what if they were like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/the-kind-of-influence-you-want-is-a-much-deeper-influence-it-s-like/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [If something's public then it seems like the important thing is the person in that public. And the notion of rhetoric. I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/if-something-s-public-then-it-seems-like-the-important-thing-is-the/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Everybody uses labels: they give you a handle on things - an over-simplified handle, sure, but without labels, without ads, without words, the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/everybody-uses-labels-they-give-you-a-handle-on-things-an-over/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [My first pieces, in an art context, were ways to get myself off the page and into real space. These photographic pieces were ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/my-first-pieces-in-an-art-context-were-ways-to-get-myself-off-the/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [I came from the time of so-called New Criticism - the poem in itself, the writing in itself - but around that time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/i-came-from-the-time-of-so-called-new-criticism-the-poem-in-itself/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [There's a legal term for a problem in public space: something that might draw people to an area-say, across train tracks-where they might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/there-s-a-legal-term-for-a-problem-in-public-space-something-that/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Public space can be a lot better with some private space to contradict it and vice versa. It keeps the system alive. If the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/public-space-can-be-a-lot-better-with-some-private-space-to/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [As a kid I learned notions of art and notions of not having any money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/as-a-kid-i-learned-notions-of-art-and-notions-of-not-having-any-money/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) > [Maybe I had to stop photographing so that I could learn to touch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vito-acconci/maybe-i-had-to-stop-photographing-so-that-i-could-learn-to-touch/) [Vito Acconci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) [Explore all 48 Vito Acconci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vito-acconci/) ## 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. 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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. 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