---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Free will is the sensation of making a…"
description: "\"Free will is the sensation of making a choice. The sensation is real, but the choice seems illusory. Laws of physics determine the future.\" — Brian Greene"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/brian-greene-2334_choice_free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-c_659340.png"
---

#  Free will is the sensation of making a choice. The…

![“Free will is the sensation of making a choice. The sensation is real, but the choice seems illusory. Laws of physics determine the future.” quote by Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/brian-greene-2334_choice_free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-c_659340.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/brian-greene-2334_choice_free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-c_659340.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/brian-greene-2334_choice_free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-c_659340.png)

> “Free will is the sensation of making a choice. The sensation is real, but the choice seems illusory. Laws of physics determine the future.”

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote contrasts the feeling of free will with deterministic physics, suggesting that while choices feel real, they may be predetermined by natural laws.

**In simple terms:** Free will feels real, but may be an illusion.

Key Takeaway

Recognize limits of control, act responsibly.

Themes

determinism free will consciousness physics philosophy

Mood

curious analytical

Type

scientific philosophical

When to use this quote

- making decisions
- ethical responsibility
- scientific inquiry
- personal accountability

Key Concepts

quantum mechanics causality subjective experience

Questions to Reflect On

- Can we reconcile free will with determinism?
- What does responsibility mean if choices are predetermined?

A Different Perspective

It may overlook emergent phenomena that allow genuine choice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws of physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws-of-physics/) [Making a choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-choice/) [Physics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physics/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [“People liked to imagine they were free to choose their own lives, but she had learned that choice was sometimes illusory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/people-liked-to-imagine-they-were-free-to-choose-their-own-lives-but/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [As a personal matter, I stopped voting more than a decade ago, on the grounds that it helped me as an analyst not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/as-a-personal-matter-i-stopped-voting-more-than-a-decade-ago-on-the/)

[Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/)

> [There’s a redemptive power that making a choice has rather than feeling like you’re an effect to all the things that are happening. Make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/there-s-a-redemptive-power-that-making-a-choice-has-rather-than/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [Life does not give itself to one who tries to keep all its advantages at once. I have often thought morality may perhaps consist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-blum/life-does-not-give-itself-to-one-who-tries-to-keep-all-its-advantages/)

[Leon Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-blum/)

> [“It would not benefit us if we stand always at the fork in the road, never making a choice, never making any mistake, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-soriano/it-would-not-benefit-us-if-we-stand-always-at-the-fork-in-the-road/)

[Jocelyn Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-soriano/)

> [“Ian pretended that not knowing what to do was the hard part when, somewhere inside, I think he knew that making a choice about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-jay/ian-pretended-that-not-knowing-what-to-do-was-the-hard-part-when/)

[Meg Jay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-jay/)

> [“You can't always make good choices. Sometimes you have to settle for making a choice you can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikki-wakefield/you-can-t-always-make-good-choices-sometimes-you-have-to-settle-for/)

[Vikki Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikki-wakefield/)

> [“At times, good enough and done is a smarter choice than perfect, and simply making a choice is often a sign of maturity, balance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myquillyn-smith/at-times-good-enough-and-done-is-a-smarter-choice-than-perfect-and/)

[Myquillyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myquillyn-smith/)

> [Some of our important choices have a time line. If we delay a decision, the opportunity is gone forever. Sometimes our doubts keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/some-of-our-important-choices-have-a-time-line-if-we-delay-a-decision/)

[James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/)

> [If she doesn't speak, she is making a choice. If she doesn't try, she can lose her chance forever. -An-mei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/if-she-doesn-t-speak-she-is-making-a-choice-if-she-doesn-t-try-she/)

[Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/)

> [“Making a choice is a powerful privilege. Accepting one is strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/making-a-choice-is-a-powerful-privilege-accepting-one-is-strength/)

[Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/)

> [Every time you're making a choice, one choice is the safe/comfortable choice - and one choice is the risky/uncomfortable choice. the risky/uncomfortable choice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/every-time-you-re-making-a-choice-one-choice-is-the-safe-comfortable/)

[Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/)

> [You have to continuously make choices throughout your life. Whether it is made consciously or unconsciously, by making a choice means that you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/you-have-to-continuously-make-choices-throughout-your-life-whether-it/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [“She cried, 'No choice! No choice!' She doesn't know. If she doesn't speak, she is making a choice. If she doesn't try, she can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/she-cried-no-choice-no-choice-she-doesn-t-know-if-she-doesn-t-speak/)

[Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/)

> [“When you finally get down to making a choice from your narrowed-down list of alternatives, and you’ve cognitively evaluated the issues, and emotionally and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/when-you-finally-get-down-to-making-a-choice-from-your-narrowed-down/)

[Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/)

## More by Brian Greene

> [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [The number of e-mails and letters that I get from choreographers, from sculptors, from composers who are being inspired by science is huge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-number-of-e-mails-and-letters-that-i-get-from-choreographers-from/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [One of the wonders of science is that it is completely universal. It crosses national boundaries with total ease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/one-of-the-wonders-of-science-is-that-it-is-completely-universal-it/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [String theory is the most developed theory with the capacity to unite general relativity and quantum mechanics in a consistent manner. I do believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/string-theory-is-the-most-developed-theory-with-the-capacity-to-unite/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [But, as Einstein once said, “For we convinced physicists, the distinction between past, present, and future is only an illusion, however persistent.”5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/but-as-einstein-once-said-for-we-convinced-physicists-the-distinction/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [Sometimes attaining the deepest familiarity with a question is our best substitute for actually having the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/sometimes-attaining-the-deepest-familiarity-with-a-question-is-our/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [When kids look up to great scientists the way they do to great musicians and actors, civilization will jump to the next level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/when-kids-look-up-to-great-scientists-the-way-they-do-to-great/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [I have long thought that anyone who does not regularly - or ever - gaze up and see the wonder and glory of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/i-have-long-thought-that-anyone-who-does-not-regularly-or-ever-gaze/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [There are many of us thinking of one version of parallel universe theory or another. If it's all a lot of nonsense, then it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/there-are-many-of-us-thinking-of-one-version-of-parallel-universe/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [As every parent knows, children begin life as uninhibited, unabashed explorers of the unknown. From the time we can walk and talk, we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/as-every-parent-knows-children-begin-life-as-uninhibited-unabashed/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [The full name of string theory is really superstring theory. The 'super' stands for this feature called supersymmetry, which, without getting into any details,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-full-name-of-string-theory-is-really-superstring-theory-the-super/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [For most people, the major hurdle in grasping modern insights into the nature of the universe is that these developments are usually phrased using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/for-most-people-the-major-hurdle-in-grasping-modern-insights-into-the/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [Writing for the stage is different from writing for a book. You want to write in a way that an actor has material to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/writing-for-the-stage-is-different-from-writing-for-a-book-you-want/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [We know that if supersymmetric particles exist, they must be very heavy; otherwise we would have spotted them by now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/we-know-that-if-supersymmetric-particles-exist-they-must-be-very/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

> [The beauty of string theory is the metaphor kind of really comes very close to the reality. The strings of string theory are vibrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-beauty-of-string-theory-is-the-metaphor-kind-of-really-comes-very/)

[Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

[Explore all 168 Brian Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/)

## More Choice 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/)

> [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/)

[Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/)

> [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [“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/)

> [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/)

[Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/)

[Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/)

> [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/)

Randy C. Dockens

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/)

[Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/)

> [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/)

> [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

[Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Free will is the sensation of making a choice. The sensation is real, but the choice seems illusory. Laws of physics determine the future.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brian Greene"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-choice-the-sensation-is-real/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-choice-the-sensation-is-real/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/brian-greene-2334_choice_free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-c_659340.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/brian-greene-2334_choice_free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-c_659340.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/brian-greene-2334_choice_free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-c_659340.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Free will is the sensation of making a choice. The sensation is real, but the choice seems illusory. Laws of…” — Brian Greene",
                "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": "Brian Greene",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Free will is the sensation of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-choice-the-sensation-is-real/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/free-will-is-the-sensation-of-making-a-choice-the-sensation-is-real/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
