---
title: "2 Adrift Quotes By Joseph Epstein"
description: "2 Adrift quotes by Joseph Epstein. Plus more from Joseph Epstein and more Adrift sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-mo_578339.jpg"
---

> [We do not choose to be born.We do not--most of us, choose to die, or the times or conditions of our death. But within all this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live--Courageously or in cowardice, Honorably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-most-of-us-choose-to-die-or-the/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-mo_578339.jpg)

> [Within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/within-this-realm-of-choicelessness-we-do-choose-how-we-live/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_within-this-realm-of-choicelessness-we-d_2940639.png)

## More by Joseph Epstein

> [I am basically a complainer and all the grounds for complaint have been swept out from under me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-basically-a-complainer-and-all-the-grounds-for-complaint-have/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [I think the story is my form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-think-the-story-is-my-form/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [I was recently asked what it takes to become a writer. Three things, I answered: first, one must cultivate incompetence at almost every other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-was-recently-asked-what-it-takes-to-become-a-writer-three-things-i/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [“To be in the middle of composing a book is almost always to feel oneself in a state of confusion, doubt and mental imprisonment…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/to-be-in-the-middle-of-composing-a-book-is-almost-always-to-feel/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [I am the heterosexual Truman Capote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-the-heterosexual-truman-capote/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [Not to like ice cream is to show oneself uninterested in food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/not-to-like-ice-cream-is-to-show-oneself-uninterested-in-food/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [We who are quotatious are never truly alone, but always hear the cheerful flow of remarks made by dead writers so much more intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/we-who-are-quotatious-are-never-truly-alone-but-always-hear-the/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [Culture means, I think, that you have widened your experience enough through reading and through being a little bit thoughtful about these things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/culture-means-i-think-that-you-have-widened-your-experience-enough/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [Food has it over sex for variety. Hedonistically, gustatory possibilities are much broader than copulatory ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/food-has-it-over-sex-for-variety-hedonistically-gustatory/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [“Getting rid of most of my personal library comported nicely with my longheld fantasy of traveling light, existing with minimal encumbrances, living simply. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/getting-rid-of-most-of-my-personal-library-comported-nicely-with-my/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [Envy is never general, but always very particular - at least envy of the kind one feels strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/envy-is-never-general-but-always-very-particular-at-least-envy-of-the/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [Many moons ago dictionaries of quotations may have been less needed than they are today. In those good/bad old days, people walked around with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/many-moons-ago-dictionaries-of-quotations-may-have-been-less-needed/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [Of the seven deadly sins, only envy is no fun at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/of-the-seven-deadly-sins-only-envy-is-no-fun-at-all/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [I know how many days in which I have just answered e-mail, had three phone calls and a two hour lunch. Poof, gone. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-know-how-many-days-in-which-i-have-just-answered-e-mail-had-three/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

> [I am married to someone I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/i-am-married-to-someone-i-love/)

[Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/joseph-epstein/#itemlist",
            "name": "2 Adrift Quotes By Joseph Epstein",
            "numberOfItems": 2,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "We do not choose to be born.We do not--most of us, choose to die, or the times or conditions of our death. But within all this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we shall live--Courageously or in cowardice, Honorably or dishonorably, With purpose or adrift. We decide what is important and what is trivial. What makes us significant is what we DO, Or REFUSE TO DO. WE DECIDE and WE CHOOSE--and so we give definition to our lives.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Joseph Epstein"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-most-of-us-choose-to-die-or-the/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-mo_578339.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-mo_578339.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-mo_578339.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“We do not choose to be born.We do not--most of us, choose to die, or the times or conditions of our death…” — Joseph Epstein",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Joseph Epstein"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/within-this-realm-of-choicelessness-we-do-choose-how-we-live/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_within-this-realm-of-choicelessness-we-d_2940639.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_within-this-realm-of-choicelessness-we-d_2940639.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a3/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_within-this-realm-of-choicelessness-we-d_2940639.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live.” — Joseph Epstein",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/joseph-epstein/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/joseph-epstein/",
            "name": "Adrift Quotes by Joseph Epstein",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/joseph-epstein/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b50/joseph-epstein-10324_adrift_we-do-not-choose-to-be-born-we-do-not-mo_578339.jpg"
            },
            "description": "2 Adrift quotes by Joseph Epstein. Plus more from Joseph Epstein and more Adrift sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/joseph-epstein/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/joseph-epstein/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Adrift",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Joseph Epstein",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adrift/joseph-epstein/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
