--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The second rule is family is a choice.” I…" description: "\"“The second rule is family is a choice.” I thought about that. “You can’t choose your family. It’s all blood relations.” “Family consists of people you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/c-l-stone-8182_blood-relation_the-second-rule-is-family-is-a-choice-i_2675439.jpg" --- # The second rule is family is a choice.” I thought about… ![“The second rule is family is a choice.” I thought about that. “You can’t choose your family. It’s all blood relations.” “Family consists of people you care about, who care about you, who try to make an effort.” quote by C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/c-l-stone-8182_blood-relation_the-second-rule-is-family-is-a-choice-i_2675439.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/c-l-stone-8182_blood-relation_the-second-rule-is-family-is-a-choice-i_2675439.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/c-l-stone-8182_blood-relation_the-second-rule-is-family-is-a-choice-i_2675439.jpg) > ““The second rule is family is a choice.” I thought about that. “You can’t choose your family. It’s all blood relations.” “Family consists of people you care about, who care about you, who try to make an effort.”” [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Family is both a chosen bond and an inherent blood relation, defined by mutual care and effort. **In simple terms:** Family is chosen and blood‑bound. Key Takeaway Invest in caring relationships, chosen or not. Themes family choice blood ties Mood thoughtful warm Type sociological philosophical When to use this quote - family gatherings - friend groups - support networks - null Key Concepts social anthropology psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance chosen and biological family duties? - What defines a family beyond genetics? A Different Perspective Blood ties may impose obligations that conflict with choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blood relation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-relation/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) ## Related quotes > [“Family is a choice?" "It is?" His thumb pressed into my palm firmly. "It's your choice. Parents and siblings are your relations. Family takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/family-is-a-choice-it-is-his-thumb-pressed-into-my-palm-firmly-it-s/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [It's very hard to make arguments about the effects of cloning on family relations if family relations are in tatters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-kass/it-s-very-hard-to-make-arguments-about-the-effects-of-cloning-on/) [Leon Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-kass/) > [There was absolutely no pressure from the family. It was my choice to pursue a career in music. I always wanted to do music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armaan-malik/there-was-absolutely-no-pressure-from-the-family-it-was-my-choice-to/) [Armaan Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armaan-malik/) > [The friends we have, these are choices that - unlike family, which we have no choice in, and I love my family, thank God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-gilroy/the-friends-we-have-these-are-choices-that-unlike-family-which-we/) [Dan Gilroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-gilroy/) > [No single choice about how to organize work and family life is right or possible - for every family. And every choice has tradeoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/no-single-choice-about-how-to-organize-work-and-family-life-is-right/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [Fate makes us family. choice makes us friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/fate-makes-us-family-choice-makes-us-friends/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [“Jeff Hudson started me on a path that was key, and as life goes on it's become a mantra to me. It's that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mould/jeff-hudson-started-me-on-a-path-that-was-key-and-as-life-goes-on-it/) [Bob Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mould/) > [There's such a thing as a tribe - and family of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-tribe-and-family-of-choice/) [Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/) > [“A family by choice, not chance. A choice to love, and to be loved in return. A choice to take care of and enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-frazier/a-family-by-choice-not-chance-a-choice-to-love-and-to-be-loved-in/) [T.M. Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-frazier/) > [“Family is a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone-2/family-is-a-choice/) [C.L.Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone-2/) > [“That’s my second rule of life,” Dan said. “There’s always a guy named Joe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-watson/that-s-my-second-rule-of-life-dan-said-there-s-always-a-guy-named-joe/) [Jude Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-watson/) > [Oh, you're dating my ex...I thought the five second rule was for food only...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-you-re-dating-my-ex-i-thought-the-five-second-rule-was-for-food/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The first rule of improvisation is AGREE. Always agree and SAY YES … The second rule of improvisation is not only to say yes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/the-first-rule-of-improvisation-is-agree-always-agree-and-say-yes-the/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“The second rule of improvisation is not only to say yes, but YES, AND. You are supposed to agree and then add something of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/the-second-rule-of-improvisation-is-not-only-to-say-yes-but-yes-and/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [The first rule is not to lose. The second rule is not to forget the first rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/the-first-rule-is-not-to-lose-the-second-rule-is-not-to-forget-the/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) ## More by C.L. Stone > [“opened the door. He was leaning with his arm up on the frame, and his other hand on his hip. The way he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/opened-the-door-he-was-leaning-with-his-arm-up-on-the-frame-and-his/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“So how about this,” he said, focusing on the pan. “The next time we get the chance, you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/so-how-about-this-he-said-focusing-on-the-pan-the-next-time-we-get/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“F\*\*\*k thinking, thinking hurts the team, just jump.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/f-k-thinking-thinking-hurts-the-team-just-jump/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“Kota chuckled. “Regret that we ran into each other yet?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/kota-chuckled-regret-that-we-ran-into-each-other-yet/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“She fell over," Nathan said. "Yeah," Gabriel said. "I thought fainted all graceful. She just crashed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/she-fell-over-nathan-said-yeah-gabriel-said-i-thought-fainted-all/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“Shikata ga nai.” It can’t be helped. It”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/shikata-ga-nai-it-can-t-be-helped-it/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“Marései o trópos pou gelás." -Silas Korba”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/mar-sei-o-tr-pos-pou-gel-s-silas-korba/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“Will you buckle in? It’s bad enough we kidnapped you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/will-you-buckle-in-it-s-bad-enough-we-kidnapped-you/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“I looked back at Corey, sharing a glance with him. Corey smiled and lifted his hands up in a have-no-idea way. Russians are complicated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/i-looked-back-at-corey-sharing-a-glance-with-him-corey-smiled-and/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“I am not your doormat to lay out your problems on and then vanish without a word.” “Huh?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/i-am-not-your-doormat-to-lay-out-your-problems-on-and-then-vanish/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“Will you stop being cute? Your nose is smudging the window. My god, you’re worse than a puppy,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/will-you-stop-being-cute-your-nose-is-smudging-the-window-my-god-you/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“Avoiding heartbreak by never giving out my heart was the best solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/avoiding-heartbreak-by-never-giving-out-my-heart-was-the-best-solution/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“What did I tell you about that giggle? If you start now, you’ll go all evening and get all my patients started and it’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/what-did-i-tell-you-about-that-giggle-if-you-start-now-you-ll-go-all/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“He laughed. “You’re actually kind of cute. You should totally wear that your first day of school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/he-laughed-you-re-actually-kind-of-cute-you-should-totally-wear-that/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“think apple pie is my favorite. Although, ask me tomorrow and I might change my mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/think-apple-pie-is-my-favorite-although-ask-me-tomorrow-and-i-might/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) [Explore all 83 C.L. Stone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) ## More Blood relation quotes > [To-day there is hardly a woman of intelligence in all America ... who is not definitely and actively concerned in some social interest, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/to-day-there-is-hardly-a-woman-of-intelligence-in-all-america-who-is/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [A friend is the best gift we give to ourselves. Friends are those people in our life with whom we do not have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/a-friend-is-the-best-gift-we-give-to-ourselves-friends-are-those/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I am impressed by how much of my grandparent's life depended on continuities, contacts, connections, friendships, and blood relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-am-impressed-by-how-much-of-my-grandparent-s-life-depended-on/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Next to blood relationships, come water relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-crawford/next-to-blood-relationships-come-water-relationships/) [Stanley Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-crawford/) > [I think we all make our own families, whether they're comprised of blood relations or friends. Some people are lucky and love their families.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-cleland/i-think-we-all-make-our-own-families-whether-they-re-comprised-of/) [Jane Cleland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-cleland/) > [We dont have to have blood relations in order to be brothers and sisters. Flesh and blood, those are just things that were made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-dont-have-to-have-blood-relations-in-order-to-be-brothers-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never set a child afloat on the flat sea of life with only one sail to catch the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/never-set-a-child-afloat-on-the-flat-sea-of-life-with-only-one-sail/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [“What is family? they were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-is-family-they-were-the-people-who-claimed-you-in-good-in-bad-in-2/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Blood relations are the most durable and everlastings connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blood-relations-are-the-most-durable-and-everlastings-connections/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We should free ourselves from the narrowness of being related only to those familiar to us, either by the fact that they are blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/we-should-free-ourselves-from-the-narrowness-of-being-related-only-to/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Knowledge without action is like a bow without a string.” A relationship as close as blood relationship must be established between knowledge and action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-rosenthal/knowledge-without-action-is-like-a-bow-without-a-string-a/) [Franz Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-rosenthal/) > [“Like Newt Gingrich shifting the focus from local to national, social media has transformed politics from the public to the personal. Whereas, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-yates-sexton/like-newt-gingrich-shifting-the-focus-from-local-to-national-social/) [Jared Yates Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-yates-sexton/) > [“What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/what-is-family-they-were-the-people-who-claimed-you-in-good-in-bad-in-3/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“They were staggered to learn that a real tangible person, living in Minnesota, and married to their own flesh-and-blood relation, could apparently believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/they-were-staggered-to-learn-that-a-real-tangible-person-living-in/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [I love you but I am not your lover. i hug you but I am not ur life patner. I care for you but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/i-love-you-but-i-am-not-your-lover-i-hug-you-but-i-am-not-ur-life/) Junior Dè Rèál Testament [Browse all 44 Blood relation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-relation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The second rule is family is a choice.” I thought about that. “You can’t choose your family. It’s all blood relations.” “Family consists of people you care about, who care about you, who try to make an effort.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C.L. 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