Asking Quote by Amy Poehler
“I think we should stop asking people in their 20s what they 'want to do' and start asking them what they don't want to do. Instead of asking students to 'declare their major' we should ask students to 'list what they will do anything to avoid.' It just makes a lot more sense.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New York Times, "Amy Poehler on Advice for Young Adults", 2015
Encourages focusing on avoiding undesirable paths rather than chasing vague aspirations, helping clarify values and decisions.
In simple terms: Identify what to avoid instead of what to pursue.
Key Takeaway
Define clear boundaries to guide choices.
Themes
career planning
self‑awareness
decision making
Mood
thoughtful
pragmatic
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- college major selection
- job search
- life planning
- relationship choices
Key Concepts
avoidance strategy
values clarification
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you avoid if you could?
- How does avoidance shape your goals?
A Different Perspective
May overlook positive opportunities by focusing only on negatives.
![“[On getting older]: You can witness young people embarrassing themselves and get a thrill--that it's not you. You can watch them throw around their "always"es and their "nevers" and "I'm the kind of person who..." and delight in the fact that you're past that point in your life. Feeling invisible…” quote by Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/08b/amy-poehler-1084_adventure_on-getting-older-you-can-witness-young-p_130766.jpg)
