It Is What It Is Quotes

By Clifton Sankofa

School Leader, Language Arts Expert & Master Quote Curator

Published October 23, 2023

Check out our it is what it is quotes and determine for yourself whether this phrase is toxic or empowering.

In this era, it is what it is has grown to become a very popular form of expression.

People from all walks of life use this phrase.

Find out more with our it is what it is quotes below.

What is colloquial language?

Colloquial language is the formal way people speak.

It is kind of like how when writing, I would type “kind of,” but when speaking, I would say “kinda.”

Some phrases become colloquial, and the terms do not always match the meanings they convey.

Some famous American colloquials are:

Yolo
It is what it is
I could care less

What does it is what it is actually mean?

The thing with colloquial language is that the meaning can change depending on who you ask.

A word can mean one thing in one part of the country and mean something else in another state.

For many, the phrase, it is what it is, means that a person believes they cannot change anything about their current circumstances.

Some people utter this phrase when they feel attempting to mend, fix, or adjust a scenario would be pointless.

Many find the phrase it is what it is to be toxic because they believe the phrase suggests a lack of accountability.

People tend to say it is what it is when they have done something wrong, made a mistake, or caused a conflict but do not wish to be held accountable for their actions.

The positive side of it is what it is

Some feel the phrase it is what it is is a way to express the wisdom of picking your battles.

For others, it is what it is conveys a form of peace of mind.

Over time, we inevitably learn that many aspects of life are out of our control; hence, it is what it is.

Some people use this phrase as a way to communicate an inner peace of mind with what is.

For example, another adage suggests that two things are certain: death and taxes.

A person might fight tooth and nail, arguing back and forth with the IRS, using their energy and resources to avoid paying a tax or fee.

Another person may say it is what it is; make their payment and keep it moving.

Life’s beauty is that we interpret language how we prefer!

It is what it is!

For more, check out our it is what it is quotes.

Short it is what it is quotes for moving forward

Sometimes, we just have to acknowledge that it is what it is.

1. “All my friends seem to be smart arses. Like many things, it is what it is.” — Markus Zusak

2. “It is what it is, but there is no rivalry beyond games and what happens on the pitch.” — Cristiano Ronaldo

3. “What comes, when it comes, will be what it is.” ― Alberto Caeiro, The Collected Poems of Alberto Caeiro

4. “Face your fear. Accept your war. It is what it is.” — Zakk Wylde

5. “It is what it is. Either walk on or accept.” — Deborah Lawrenson

6. “It is what it is. I can’t change what’s happened to me.” — Giles Duley

7. “It is what it is quotes can be interpreted in many ways.” — Pennybook

8. “Beauty is not the cause of something; it is what it is.” — Emily Dickinson

9. “Not everything happens when you expect it; it is what it is.” — Kali Uchis

10. “If you put aside the fantasy of it, it is what it is and has to be done.” — Neil Peart

The top it is what it is quotes about acceptance

These quotes remind us how acceptance makes life flow much easier.

11. “It is what it is, man, I don’t be trippin’. I couldn’t tell God when I wanted to be born.”
— Kevin Gates

12. “It’s not necessarily what a family is typically supposed to look like. But it is what it is.” — Queen Latifah

13. “As a new mom, it is what it is, and we just have to do our best.” — Kourtney Kardashian

14. “I’m just not into trying to convince people like me. I always say to myself; It is what it is.” — NeNe Leakes

15. “You either grow with this sport, or you get left behind. It’s sad, but it is what it is.”
— Max Holloway

16. “There’s nothing to be done, I guess. It is what it is.” — Blake Nelson

17. “You get to the point where you’re like, ‘I’m just doing me, and if people don’t like it, then it is what it is.’” — Bebe Rexha

18. “I’m sorry. It is what it is. I’m dying this way. With the crown on my head, nobody can take nothing away from me.” — Lil Kim

19. “It is what it is. I am who I am. Bottom line.” — Lil’ Kim

20. “It is what it is, it is what you make it.” — James Durbin

The best it is what it is quotes for when enough is enough

This selection of quotes reminds us that we should push ourselves to the limit, but sometimes you have to accept it is what it is.

21. “Covid makes the job harder. But it is what it is, and we have to get on with it.” — Rob Page

22. “It would make my life a lot easier, but it is what it is. What can I do?” — Nico Hulkenberg

23. “So it is what it is. There comes a time when things can work out and everybody can be happy, and that’s what it’s all about in the end, everybody being happy and working it out.” — Nas

24. “Just be able to pursue success and know that whatever happens, it is what it is.” — Cooper Kupp

25. “Boxing’s a poor man’s sport. We can’t afford to play golf or tennis. It is what it is.” — Sugar Ray Leonard

26. “My whole thing with the whole weight situation is it is what it is. It’s never been my identity.” — Katy Mixon

27. “Some people like me, some people don’t. It is what it is.” — Jo Frost

28. “I just sit down and write the best song for the best moment, and however it comes out, it is what it is.” — Brantley Gilbert

29. “It is what it is should not be used in any context at all.” — Taylor Maness

30. “I can’t change it. I can’t fix it. It is what it is. I’m just living.” — Ryan Sheckler

It is what it is quotes and sayings about life

Check out these interesting it is what it is quotes to live by.

31. “It is what it is, and it ain’t nothin’ else. Everything is clearly, openly, plainly delivered.” — Dan Flavin

32. “The roster that we have today may change tomorrow. It is what it is for right now.” — Nick Saban

33. “You know, there’s nothing you can do about your public image. It is what it is.” — Christopher Walken

34. “Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie.” — Miyamoto Musashi

35. “I never like it when a celebrity goes on Twitter and says, ‘This isn’t true!’ It is what it is; I tend not to do that.” — Harry Styles

36. “People like crap. It doesn’t matter. I think if you have a big mouth and you perform so-so, it is what it is.” — Gegard Mousasi

37. “The function of criticism should be to show how it is what it is, even that it is what it is, rather than to show what it means.” — Susan Sontag

38. “One door shuts, and another one opens, and you just kind of follow that path. My path has been a little curvy, but it is what it is. It’s all good.” — John Corabi

39. “Saying “It is what it is” is essentially like closing a book.” — Taylor Maness

40. “Just understand that I’m trying to get to the quarterback by any means necessary. And if I have to throw somebody out of the way to do it, it is what it is.” — Khalil Mack

Famous it is what it is quotes from successful people

We close our list with these insightful quotes.

41. “I regret that I wasn’t more successful with my marriages, but it is what it is.” — Ted Turner

42. “By saying, “It is what it is,” you are ridding yourself of all personal accountability.” — Taylor Maness

43. “Being perceived as a guy is nothing new or complicated to me. It is what it is.” — Saskia de Brauw

44. “Things change. We have to change with them. There’s no point in liking or not liking it. It is what it is.” — Stanley Donen

45. “One good thing about the past is that you can’t change it. So there’s no reason to go back. It’s there. It is what it is.” — Neil Young

46. “As my dad said, ‘Nic, it is what it is, it’s not what it should have been, not what it could have been, it is what it is.’” — Nicole Kidman

47. “The artistic element of Manhattan has kind of moved to Brooklyn. It is what it is. I say better that than an urban war zone.” — Julian Casablancas

48. “The Madden Curse has really taken on a life of its own. People just love talking about it, and it is what it is, but I look at it as a challenge.” — Drew Brees

49. “You know, I don’t think my music is important, I don’t think it’s changing the world, I don’t think it’s art. I just think it’s music. It is what it is.” — Sufjan Stevens

50. “There is a certain saying, however, that holds far more weight than many others. I’m referring to the dangerously popular saying, ‘It is what it is.’” — Taylor Maness