John Ashbery Quotes

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.

I think there are huge lessons there, for young people who are getting started in life, as well as other people. And that is, to take responsibility for your own life. Only you are responsible for the course you take from there.

If someone else isn't making it happen for you, make it happen yourself.

That's the kind of motif I bring to the books - that people take charge of their own lives.

I want people to see that you don't need to rely on other people to make your dreams happen: you have to grab them yourself.

Self-help must precede help from others. Even for making certain of help from heaven, one has to help oneself.

The only person who is going to give you security and the life you want is you.

If you're sitting around waiting on somebody to save you, to fix you, to even help you, you are wasting your time because only you have the power to take responsibility to move your life forward.

No one else has ever opened doors for me. I opened them myself.

Can't nothing make your life work if you ain't the architect.

I run my own world, because I very firmly believe that my destiny, my future is in my hands and I don't want to blame anybody else for the path that I take.

I am responsible for me. I can kind of take care of what I need to do and should do what I like to do.

I know that no one can really stop me but myself and that really no one can help me but myself.

I was always led to believe you should take care of yourself, trust in your abilities and you're the author of your own destiny.

The important thing is to concentrate upon what you can do - by yourself, upon your own initiative.

Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.

I developed a sense of maturity when it comes to being dependent upon other people. I don't feel anyone really truly wants me to win more than I do.

If no one's doing the creative work that you want to do, do it yourself.

The gods help them that help themselves.

I take full responsibility for my life and my career.

If you want to do something, just do it. No one is going to do it for you.

Years ago I learned to be totally responsible for Dionne Warwick. I will not wait for opportunities. I will create them.

I learned not to depend on other people. I needed support, but it's you who has to go out and deliver.

For me, nothing is given.

Man must assume responsibility for the direction of his life and destiny.