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You cannot depend upon anybody. There is no guide, no teacher, no authority. There is only you-your relationship with others and with the world-there is nothing else. When you realize this, it either brings great despair, from which comes cynicism and bitterness, or, in facing the fact that you and nobody else is responsible for the world and for yourself, for what you think, what you feel, how you act, all self-pity goes. Normally we thrive on blaming others, which is a form of self-pity.

Jiddu Krishnamurti#27

AuthoritySelfResponsibilityIndependenceBlameSelf reliance

About this quote

What does it mean?
There is no external authority or teacher; you alone are responsible for yourself and the world. Accepting this removes self-pity and blaming others.
In plain terms
No one else is responsible for you; you are responsible for your actions and the world.
What can you take from it?
Accept full responsibility for yourself and your world.

Where it applies

  • personal development
  • decision making
  • conflict resolution

Putting it to work

  • owning mistakes
  • avoiding blame
  • taking action

Questions to consider

  • Do you blame others for your problems?
  • Are you responsible for your actions?

Another view

It ignores systemic issues that genuinely limit individual control.

More from Jiddu Krishnamurti

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  2. It is important to understand from the very beginning that I am not formulating any philosophy or any theological structure of ideas or theological concepts. I…

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  3. As human beings living in this monstrously ugly world, let us ask ourselves, can this society, based on competition, brutality and fear, come to an end? Not as…

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