--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having it all means having the same work…" description: "\"Having it all means having the same work and family choices that men do. It doesn't mean having everything that you want. No one has that.\" — Anne-Mari..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/anne-marie-slaughter-12363_choices_having-it-all-means-having-the-same-work_2900676.jpg" --- # Having it all means having the same work and family… ![“Having it all means having the same work and family choices that men do. It doesn't mean having everything that you want. No one has that.” quote by Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/anne-marie-slaughter-12363_choices_having-it-all-means-having-the-same-work_2900676.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/anne-marie-slaughter-12363_choices_having-it-all-means-having-the-same-work_2900676.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb5/anne-marie-slaughter-12363_choices_having-it-all-means-having-the-same-work_2900676.jpg) > “Having it all means having the same work and family choices that men do. It doesn't mean having everything that you want. No one has that.” [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Equality of opportunity does not guarantee identical life choices; men and women face different constraints and priorities. **In simple terms:** Equality isn’t identical choices. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect diverse life paths. Themes gender equality work-life balance choice Mood thoughtful inspired Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - career planning - family negotiations - policy design - personal goal setting Key Concepts feminism social expectations career vs family Questions to Reflect On - How do societal norms shape your choices? - What policies could support varied life goals? A Different Perspective Assumes all individuals prioritize work over family equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Work And Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-and-family/) ## Related quotes > [If less is more; then having nothing means having everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-less-is-more-then-having-nothing-means-having-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Middle class' used to mean having two children and sending them to high-quality public schools, or even occasionally to private schools. It meant new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alissa-quart/middle-class-used-to-mean-having-two-children-and-sending-them-to/) [Alissa Quart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alissa-quart/) > [I mean, I'm about having fun. I'm not about what other people say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riff-raff/i-mean-i-m-about-having-fun-i-m-not-about-what-other-people-say/) [Riff Raff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riff-raff/) > [Own it. Just take it and say, 'Yes I will be great, I am going to be great.' Great doesn't mean being a movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/own-it-just-take-it-and-say-yes-i-will-be-great-i-am-going-to-be/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [“Being brave doesn't mean always having to fight alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-m-friesner/being-brave-doesn-t-mean-always-having-to-fight-alone/) [Esther M. Friesner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-m-friesner/) > [“Having the means to say something doesn't mean you have something to say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-a-dockins/having-the-means-to-say-something-doesn-t-mean-you-have-something-to/) Kathy A. Dockins > [“Our existence comes with Death. And it comes with suffering, death alone is not enough and pleasure have consequences. wicked and fucked. love comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-n-barin/our-existence-comes-with-death-and-it-comes-with-suffering-death/) [Ira N. Barin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-n-barin/) > [“In every moments of life, we're all having up and down. If there are no up or down, it means we didn't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rizky-adam-rifai/in-every-moments-of-life-we-re-all-having-up-and-down-if-there-are-no/) [Rizky Adam Rifai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rizky-adam-rifai/) > [“Having someone by your side who means something to you is a blessing and a curse at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-winter/having-someone-by-your-side-who-means-something-to-you-is-a-blessing/) [Vanessa Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-winter/) > [The key to having everything we want lies in expanding our definition of what's possible and focusing on what we want. That's it! Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/the-key-to-having-everything-we-want-lies-in-expanding-our-definition/) [Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/) > [It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/it-s-not-having-what-you-want-it-s-wanting-what-you-ve-got/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [“I hate not having what I want”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-hate-not-having-what-i-want/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Prosperity depends more on wanting what you have than having what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abert-f-geoffrey/prosperity-depends-more-on-wanting-what-you-have-than-having-what-you/) Abert F Geoffrey > [“Having this, we want that. Owning some, we want more. Standing here, we wish to be there. If it's impossible, we struggle to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/having-this-we-want-that-owning-some-we-want-more-standing-here-we/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“There is no greed in knowing what you want, getting what you want, to then having what you want. The only greed in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-pussell/there-is-no-greed-in-knowing-what-you-want-getting-what-you-want-to/) [Sarah Pussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-pussell/) ## More by Anne-Marie Slaughter > [The European problem is that it assumes that the minute a woman has a child, the mother identity subsumes the professional identity. Now she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/the-european-problem-is-that-it-assumes-that-the-minute-a-woman-has-a/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [My husband has spent more time with our children than I have. I don't think they're better or worse off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/my-husband-has-spent-more-time-with-our-children-than-i-have-i-don-t/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [“Corporate anthropologist Karen Stephenson argues that though trust is the natural glue of human connection since prehistoric times, it is mostly absent in modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/corporate-anthropologist-karen-stephenson-argues-that-though-trust-is/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [The American work environment has to change, not the women. We should be recognizing that what women are not fitting into is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/the-american-work-environment-has-to-change-not-the-women-we-should/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [Young men keep telling me they don't 'have it all' either. And they may have a point. But if you define 'having it all'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/young-men-keep-telling-me-they-don-t-have-it-all-either-and-they-may/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [ Do not vote for Hillary \[Clinton\] because she is a woman. Ask yourself, who has done more for women so far and who will… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/do-not-vote-for-hillary-clinton-because-she-is-a-woman-ask-yourself/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [Someone must transform income into the food, shelter, clothing, nurture, discipline, education, minding, nursing, transportation, and emotional support that creates life outside of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/someone-must-transform-income-into-the-food-shelter-clothing-nurture/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [“influence flows across networks up to three degrees away. What your friends’ friends eat or do or think will influence what you eat or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/influence-flows-across-networks-up-to-three-degrees-away-what-your/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [“We can only change and bring about change if we can genuinely open our minds to new thoughts and possibilities, for everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/we-can-only-change-and-bring-about-change-if-we-can-genuinely-open/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [If we're going to have better choices for women, we've got to have better choices for men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/if-we-re-going-to-have-better-choices-for-women-we-ve-got-to-have/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [ Our approach \[to global security\] has changed by the way we've elevated development. The biggest lesson is to recognize global responsibility. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/our-approach-to-global-security-has-changed-by-the-way-we-ve-elevated/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [Patriotism demands the ability to feel shame as much as to feel pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/patriotism-demands-the-ability-to-feel-shame-as-much-as-to-feel-pride/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [“Abram and Antonia Chayes even redefined sovereignty itself to mean not the right to be left alone but the right to participate in international…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/abram-and-antonia-chayes-even-redefined-sovereignty-itself-to-mean/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [Over my lifetime, women have demonstrated repeatedly that they can do anything that men can do, while still managing traditional women's work at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/over-my-lifetime-women-have-demonstrated-repeatedly-that-they-can-do/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) > [“It is society as a whole that assigns value and prestige to what people do;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-marie-slaughter/it-is-society-as-a-whole-that-assigns-value-and-prestige-to-what/) [Anne-Marie Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) [Explore all 55 Anne-Marie Slaughter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-marie-slaughter/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Having it all means having the same work and family choices that men do. 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