Quotes About Choice

People are scared of the alternative.

Missing a train is only painful if you run after it! Likewise, not matching the idea of success others expect from you is only painful if that's what you are seeking. You stand above the rat race and the pecking order, not outside of it, if you do so by choice.

it depends on how the choices are presented to you.

Someone with optionality—the right to pick and choose his story—is only reporting on what suits his purpose.

Ainoa asia, jota onnetar ei säätele, on käyttäytymiseni.

At the limit, you can decide whether to be (relatively) poor, but free of your time, or rich but as dependent as a slave.

Avoid calling heroes those who had no other choice.

In fact for most people except those that are very ill, the risks outweigh the benefits.

he had so little to lose. She accepted since she had no choice.

the alternative would have been inconceivable.

the choices and preferences are those of the majority.

judged by their actions, not by the results. No matter how sophisticated our choices, how good we are at dominating the odds, randomness will have the last word.

because they want to make sure it is available if they decide they want to use it on a whim.

in order to make a decision you need to focus on the consequences (which you can know) rather than the probability (which you can't know) is the central idea of uncertainty.

Optionality is Promethean, narratives are Epimethean—

The question is: what would you like to be, a dog or a wolf?

The original Aramaic version had a wild ass, instead of a wolf, showing off his freedom. But the wild ass ends up eaten by the lion. Freedom entails risks—real skin in the game. Freedom is never free.

which does not require knowledge or intelligence, merely rationality in choice.

Freedom entails risks—real skin in the game. Freedom is never free.

Where is the role of optionality in this?

Era livre quem aceitava viver o que havia para ser vivido. Era livre quem fazia dos pensamentos saúde e riqueza, e não uma armadilha para acabar asfixiado.

Ta? duvarlar de?ildir zindan? zindan yapan, Ya da demir parmakl?klar kafesi yaratan.

If you were given a book with the story of your life, would you read the end?

The idea of Original Sin—of guilt where there is no possibility of innocence, no freedom of choice, no alternatives available—is anti-self-esteem by its very nature. The very notion of guilt without volition or responsibility is an assault on reason as well as on morality.