--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have come to an odd belief, which is…" description: "\"I have come to an odd belief, which is that we don't make decisions so much as the decisions make us. The goal of a decision isn't just to find the pat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/andy-dunn-5159_belief_i-have-come-to-an-odd-belief-which-is-th_1377039.png" --- # I have come to an odd belief, which is that we don't make… ![“I have come to an odd belief, which is that we don't make decisions so much as the decisions make us. The goal of a decision isn't just to find the path forward, but to become someone entirely different than who we might have been as a function of the path we take.” quote by Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/andy-dunn-5159_belief_i-have-come-to-an-odd-belief-which-is-th_1377039.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/andy-dunn-5159_belief_i-have-come-to-an-odd-belief-which-is-th_1377039.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fa/andy-dunn-5159_belief_i-have-come-to-an-odd-belief-which-is-th_1377039.png) > “I have come to an odd belief, which is that we don't make decisions so much as the decisions make us. The goal of a decision isn't just to find the path forward, but to become someone entirely different than who we might have been as a function of the path we take.” [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Decisions shape identity more than identity shapes decisions; choices transform who we become. **In simple terms:** Choices change us more than we change choices. Key Takeaway Embrace decisions as identity tools. Themes identity choice growth self‑development Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal relationships - life transitions - creative projects Key Concepts psychology agency determinism Questions to Reflect On - How have past choices reshaped your self‑image? - Do you feel trapped by a decision you made? A Different Perspective Not all decisions have equal impact; some are trivial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) ## Related quotes > [“making a decision isn't about knowing every potential consequence. It's about knowing what you want and chasing a path that takes you in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malinda-lo/making-a-decision-isn-t-about-knowing-every-potential-consequence-it/) [Malinda Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malinda-lo/) > [A wrong decision isn't forever; it can always be reversed. The losses from a delayed decision are forever; they can never be retrieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/a-wrong-decision-isn-t-forever-it-can-always-be-reversed-the-losses/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Discussion is just a tool. You have to aim; the final goal must be a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harri-holkeri/discussion-is-just-a-tool-you-have-to-aim-the-final-goal-must-be-a/) [Harri Holkeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harri-holkeri/) > [A goal or decision without a deadline has no urgency. It has no real beginning or end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/a-goal-or-decision-without-a-deadline-has-no-urgency-it-has-no-real/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I have one goal with all my decision: to do whatever is needed to win today's game. I'm loyal to my players, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-have-one-goal-with-all-my-decision-to-do-whatever-is-needed-to-win/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [Seize what's been handed you. Make smart decisions. Make decisions because life is a temporary situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/seize-what-s-been-handed-you-make-smart-decisions-make-decisions/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [You mustn't regret decisions that you make. Because the decisions are made out of your gut in a way and you have to stick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/you-mustn-t-regret-decisions-that-you-make-because-the-decisions-are/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [“Try to make decisions that you know you can live with and accept responsibility for all of the decisions that you make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-caldwell/try-to-make-decisions-that-you-know-you-can-live-with-and-accept/) J.J. Caldwell > [Strictly speaking, we do not make decisions. Decisions make us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/strictly-speaking-we-do-not-make-decisions-decisions-make-us/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Many people say, "Well, I'd love to make a decision like that, but I'm not sure how I could change my life." They're paralyzed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-people-say-well-i-d-love-to-make-a-decision-like-that-but-i-m/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sometimes we make decisions and we think that the decisions we make are to our benefit. Other times, we make decisions and at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/sometimes-we-make-decisions-and-we-think-that-the-decisions-we-make/) [Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/) > [We need to ask our policy makers and those we elect to office who are supposed to make decisions to give us the evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/we-need-to-ask-our-policy-makers-and-those-we-elect-to-office-who-are/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [Life have many ways to show us who is in charge,It's always US ,we make our decisions and we make our future , Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laylablack/life-have-many-ways-to-show-us-who-is-in-charge-it-s-always-us-we/) Laylablack > [You have to make decisions for yourself before you can make decisions with someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-to-make-decisions-for-yourself-before-you-can-make-decisions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“President Obama once said in an interview, “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-meadows/president-obama-once-said-in-an-interview-you-ll-see-i-wear-only-gray/) [Martin Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-meadows/) ## More by Andy Dunn > [Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) cannot be medicated. It is treatable only through therapy. The problem is therapy is rarely sought by the afflicted. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd-cannot-be-medicated-it-is/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [The life of an entrepreneur is the life of a human. Some days are amazing. Some days are a struggle. A lot are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/the-life-of-an-entrepreneur-is-the-life-of-a-human-some-days-are/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [A great merchant delivers both joy and profit. Then profit gets reinvested in more joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/a-great-merchant-delivers-both-joy-and-profit-then-profit-gets/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [Every company can use someone advocating loudly for the customer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/every-company-can-use-someone-advocating-loudly-for-the-customer/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [Tolerance, diversity, and inclusion are not political opinions. They are non-negotiable human rights - hard fought and secured in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/tolerance-diversity-and-inclusion-are-not-political-opinions-they-are/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [When the forces of liberalism and capitalism converge, change happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/when-the-forces-of-liberalism-and-capitalism-converge-change-happens/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [What Americans do is we come to each other's aid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/what-americans-do-is-we-come-to-each-other-s-aid/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [Not all Millennials think alike. A demographic is not a psychographic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/not-all-millennials-think-alike-a-demographic-is-not-a-psychographic/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > ['I'm sorry, honey. I was wrong.' Are there six more magical words you can say to your wife?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/i-m-sorry-honey-i-was-wrong-are-there-six-more-magical-words-you-can/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [A founder is the emotional energy aorta of a company. The energy that emanates from a founder attracts people and capital to the endeavor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/a-founder-is-the-emotional-energy-aorta-of-a-company-the-energy-that/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [The illusion when things are going your way is that it's gonna just keep going. But it never does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/the-illusion-when-things-are-going-your-way-is-that-it-s-gonna-just/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [As a society, we must not allow human rights abuses to go unnoticed and undocumented; it is a vital mission to fight ignorance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/as-a-society-we-must-not-allow-human-rights-abuses-to-go-unnoticed/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [The rise of women and feminism is well documented. What is equally fascinating - and less talked about - is the impact this has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/the-rise-of-women-and-feminism-is-well-documented-what-is-equally/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [It is obvious, in retrospect, to lean on those who love us most. With depression, in part because of the shame attached to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/it-is-obvious-in-retrospect-to-lean-on-those-who-love-us-most-with/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) > [My mom is a Sikh immigrant born in a refugee camp. My Irish-Swedish-Norwegian-Danish-English-American dad grew up Baptist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/my-mom-is-a-sikh-immigrant-born-in-a-refugee-camp-my-irish-swedish/) [Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) [Explore all 103 Andy Dunn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have come to an odd belief, which is that we don't make decisions so much as the decisions make us. 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