Would ye both eat your cake and have your cake?
—John Heywood
You are either part of the solution or part of the problem.
—Eldridge Cleaver (1935–98) American Activist, Writer
We need to teach the next generation of children from day one that they are responsible for their lives. Mankind’s greatest gift, also its greatest curse, is that we have free choice. We can make our choices built from love or from fear.
—Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926-2004) American Psychiatrist
He that cannot decidedly say, “No,” when tempted to evil, is on the highway to ruin. He loses the respect even of those who would tempt him, and becomes but the pliant tool and victim of their evil designs.
—Joel Hawes (1789–1867) American Clergyman
We are as much informed of a writer’s genius by what he selects as by what he originates.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There are two paths people can take. They can either play now and pay later, or pay now and play later. Regardless of the choice, one thing is certain. Life will demand a payment.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Author, Speaker, Pastor
We are the only beings on the planet who lead such rich internal lives that it’s not the events that matter most to us, but rather, it’s how we interpret those events that will determine how we think about ourselves and how we will act in the future.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Happiness or unhappiness is often a matter of choice.
—Anonymous
Even as a tortoise draws in its limbs, the wise can draw in their senses at will.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
When a difficult situation comes into your life, it is possible to tune in to your mind and say, “Okay, choose”. Are you going to make yourself miserable or content? Are you going to visualize scarcity or abundance? Are you going to put yourself down for getting angry with your husband or are you simply going to notice what insecurity you were feeling at the time and discuss it with him? The choice is definitely yours. Pick the one that contributes most to your aliveness and growth.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
The acorn becomes an oak by means of automatic growth; no commitment is necessary. The kitten similarly becomes a cat on the basis of instinct. Nature and being are identical in creatures like them. But a man or woman becomes fully human only by his or her choices and his or her commitment to them. People attain worth and dignity by the multitude of decisions they make from day by day. These decisions require courage.
—Rollo May (1909–94) American Philosopher
Choose the life that is most useful, and habit will make it the most agreeable.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Each person designs his own life, freedom gives him the power to carry out his own designs, and power gives the freedom to interfere with the designs of others.
—Eric Berne (1910–70) Canadian Psychiatrist, Creator of Transactional Analysis
Living from the Creator Orientation is actually more challenging. In the Victim Orientation, I didn’t have to exercise conscious choice; I just reacted to my circumstances.
—David Emerald
Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody is going to know whether you did it or not.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Thus we see that the all important thing is not killing or giving life, drinking or not drinking, living in the town or the country, being unlucky or lucky, winning or losing. It is how we win, how we lose, how we live or die, finally, how we choose.
—Reginald Horace Blyth (1898–1964) British Japanologist, Zen Author
You must give up the way it is… to have it the way you want it.
—Unknown
If there are things you don’t like in the world you grew up in, make your own life different.
—R. David Thomas (1932–2002) American Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
I never really look for anything. What God throws my way comes. I wake up in the morning and whichever way God turns my feet, I go.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
You’re either attaching to your thoughts or inquiring. There’s no other choice.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
Just saying yes because you can’t bear the short-term pain of saying no is not going to help you do the work.
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
I think there is a choice possible to us at any moment, as long as we live. But there is no sacrifice. There is a choice, and the rest falls away. Second choice does not exist. Beware of those who talk about sacrifice.
—Muriel Rukeyser (1913–80) American Poet, Writer
No poet sings because he must sing. At least no great poet does. A great poet sings because he chooses to sing.
—Indian Proverb
Heaven on Earth is a choice you must make, not a place you must find.
—Wayne Dyer (1940–2015) American Self-Help Author
Watch what you choose to do. For instance, someone might want you to smoke. Never forget that I told you—don’t do it. Say no. That can of beer that somebody wants you to try, don’t do it. Don’t you ever do it. That drug that someone might want you to use, don’t touch it. Stay away from it. It can destroy you.
—Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) American Mormon Religious Leader
If there’s time for an emergency, why isn’t there time for brilliance, generosity or learning?
—Seth Godin (b.1960) American Entrepreneur
Everything is something you decide to do, and there is nothing you have to do.
—Denis Waitley (1933–2025) American Speaker, Consultant, Self-help Pioneer
The difficulty in life is the choice.
—George Moore (1852–1933) Irish Writer
As a child my family’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it.
—Buddy Hackett (1924–2003) American Comedian, Actor
It is always your next move.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
Leave a Reply