--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just as it is too simple to say that…" description: "\"“Just as it is too simple to say that people seek utility, it is too simple to say that people seek fitness. Instead, as we discuss next, human decisio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/anonymous-1_decision-making_just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-peo_3148224.jpg" --- # Just as it is too simple to say that people seek utility… ![“Just as it is too simple to say that people seek utility, it is too simple to say that people seek fitness. Instead, as we discuss next, human decision making is designed to achieve a set of very different evolutionary goals. In investigating how people meet these evolutionary goals, scientists…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/anonymous-1_decision-making_just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-peo_3148224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/anonymous-1_decision-making_just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-peo_3148224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/anonymous-1_decision-making_just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-peo_3148224.jpg) > ““Just as it is too simple to say that people seek utility, it is too simple to say that people seek fitness. Instead, as we discuss next, human decision making is designed to achieve a set of very different evolutionary goals. In investigating how people meet these evolutionary goals, scientists have discovered something important: solutions to these different problems often require us to make decisions in different—and sometimes completely incompatible—ways. We are, in fact, inconsistent by design.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human decision making serves multiple evolutionary goals, leading to inconsistent choices across contexts. **In simple terms:** People make conflicting decisions because they serve different deep goals. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance competing motivations. Themes evolution decision-making conflict goals inconsistency Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal finance - health choices - career planning - relationship decisions Key Concepts evolutionary psychology behavioral economics cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What underlying goal drives your current choice? - How can you align conflicting motivations? A Different Perspective Not all decisions are rational; emotions and biology intervene. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-different-790925/) [Evolutionary Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolutionary-goals-3849965/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Human Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-decision-954715/) [Make Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decisions/) ## Related quotes > [“Insight 1: Human decision making serves evolutionary goals. The traditional way of thinking about human behavior is based almost completely on a consideration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/insight-1-human-decision-making-serves-evolutionary-goals-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Often, the reason we’re so quick to judge other women with decisions different from our own is that we aren’t completely comfortable with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-wright/often-the-reason-we-re-so-quick-to-judge-other-women-with-decisions/) [Christy Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-wright/) > [There are no wrong decisions ― only different ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/there-are-no-wrong-decisions-only-different-ones/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [My research career has been devoted to understanding human decision-making and problem-solving processes. The pursuit of this goal has led me into the fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-a-simon/my-research-career-has-been-devoted-to-understanding-human-decision/) [Herbert A. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-a-simon/) > [“Hundreds of studies confirm that human forecasts are flawed and biased. Human decision making is not so great either. Again to take just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/hundreds-of-studies-confirm-that-human-forecasts-are-flawed-and/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [“We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-make-our-decisions-and-then-our-decisions-turn-around-and-make-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't make decisions when you are angry and don't make promises when you are happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-make-decisions-when-you-are-angry-and-don-t-make-promises-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We make thousands of decisions everyday in automatic mode without a mistake. Yet we don't reflect and celebrate this wonderful mode of human decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-long/we-make-thousands-of-decisions-everyday-in-automatic-mode-without-a/) [Rob Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-long/) > [Human decision-making is complex. On our own, our tendency to yield to short-term temptations, and even to addictions, may be too strong for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/human-decision-making-is-complex-on-our-own-our-tendency-to-yield-to/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Watson augments human decision-making because it isn't governed by human boundaries. It draws together all this information and forms hypotheses, millions of them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/watson-augments-human-decision-making-because-it-isn-t-governed-by/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [I like to think that since I was about 19, I have studied human decision-making and problem-solving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-a-simon/i-like-to-think-that-since-i-was-about-19-i-have-studied-human/) [Herbert A. Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-a-simon/) > [Every tragedy of the human experience can be attributed to one human decision - the decision to withdraw from each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/every-tragedy-of-the-human-experience-can-be-attributed-to-one-human/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Algorithms and data should support the human decision, not replace it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-fry/algorithms-and-data-should-support-the-human-decision-not-replace-it/) [Hannah Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-fry/) > [Of course, the character of my garden is also determined by things beyond any human decision, mine or anyone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-lacy/of-course-the-character-of-my-garden-is-also-determined-by-things/) [Allen Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-lacy/) > [Those who lack the confidence and esteem to make the decisions that they need to make for themselves, are usually the same ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-lack-the-confidence-and-esteem-to-make-the-decisions-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Decision making quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) [Rajnish Borah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnish-borah/) > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Browse all 4,912 Decision making quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just as it is too simple to say that people seek utility, it is too simple to say that people seek fitness. Instead, as we discuss next, human decision making is designed to achieve a set of very different evolutionary goals. In investigating how people meet these evolutionary goals, scientists have discovered something important: solutions to these different problems often require us to make decisions in different—and sometimes completely incompatible—ways. We are, in fact, inconsistent by design.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-people-seek-utility-it-is-too/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision making" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-people-seek-utility-it-is-too/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/anonymous-1_decision-making_just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-peo_3148224.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/anonymous-1_decision-making_just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-peo_3148224.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/anonymous-1_decision-making_just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-peo_3148224.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just as it is too simple to say that people seek utility, it is too simple to say that people seek fitness…” — Anonymous", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Just as it is too simple...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-people-seek-utility-it-is-too/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-as-it-is-too-simple-to-say-that-people-seek-utility-it-is-too/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```