--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A system of limitless individual choices…" description: "\"A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.\" — Cas..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/cass-sunstein-7201_choices_a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices_3159326.png" --- # A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to… ![“A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.” quote by Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/cass-sunstein-7201_choices_a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices_3159326.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/cass-sunstein-7201_choices_a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices_3159326.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/cass-sunstein-7201_choices_a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices_3159326.png) > “A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.” [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unlimited personal communication choices can undermine collective civic responsibility and democratic self‑governance. **In simple terms:** Too much individual freedom in communication can harm democracy. Key Takeaway Balance free speech with civic duty. Themes democracy communication citizenship individualism Mood analytical concerned Type political philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - social media regulation - community building Key Concepts public sphere media ethics collective responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What limits protect democracy without stifling speech? - How can individuals act responsibly online? A Different Perspective Freedom may conflict with social cohesion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-choice/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Limitless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitless/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self-government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-government/) ## Related quotes > [Thus, and not otherwise, the world was made. Either something or nothing must depend on individual choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/thus-and-not-otherwise-the-world-was-made-either-something-or-nothing/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I'm trying to mediate between individual agency and structural determination. I accept that people make individual choices, quite thoughtful, quite careful, quite difficult choices,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-clover/i-m-trying-to-mediate-between-individual-agency-and-structural/) [Joshua Clover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-clover/) > [Make ethical choices in what we buy, do, and watch. In a consumer-driven society our individual choices, used collectively for the good of animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/make-ethical-choices-in-what-we-buy-do-and-watch-in-a-consumer-driven/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [I think when we make choices—for each choice is individual of the choices we have made before—we must examine not only our reasons for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-think-when-we-make-choices-for-each-choice-is-individual-of-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“our personality type is the “canvas” and our individual choices and experiences are the “paint” we each use in creating our unique lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-baker/our-personality-type-is-the-canvas-and-our-individual-choices-and/) [Marissa Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-baker/) > [“The way we live has less to do with individual choices and more to do with the general bent of our society than many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-way-we-live-has-less-to-do-with-individual-choices-and-more-to-do/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [... patriarchy creates megapatterns that affect us all--even as we forge different individual choices within them--just as do themegapatterns of nationalism or racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/patriarchy-creates-megapatterns-that-affect-us-all-even-as-we-forge/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [In an essay 10 years ago, I pointed out that it is utterly logical for polygamy rights to follow gay rights. After all, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-krauthammer/in-an-essay-10-years-ago-i-pointed-out-that-it-is-utterly-logical-for/) [Charles Krauthammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-krauthammer/) > [The usual marriage in traditional cultures was arranged for by the families. It wasn't a person-to-person decision at all. . . . In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-usual-marriage-in-traditional-cultures-was-arranged-for-by-the/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Happiness is actually an individual choice, even in the midst of negative circumstances. It's not something our employers can give to us, though they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/happiness-is-actually-an-individual-choice-even-in-the-midst-of/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [“Based upon the tournament results and the formal propositions, four simple suggestions are offered for individual choice: do not be envious of the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-axelrod/based-upon-the-tournament-results-and-the-formal-propositions-four/) Robert Axelrod > [From about age 17 to 25, a time some people describe as "beautiful youth," it was "arranged" for me to live with two different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-jianwei/from-about-age-17-to-25-a-time-some-people-describe-as-beautiful/) [Wang Jianwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-jianwei/) > [Law has at least two roles: one is to define and regulate the limits of acceptable behavior. The other is to teach principles for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/law-has-at-least-two-roles-one-is-to-define-and-regulate-the-limits/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Any group or "collective," large or small, is only a number of individuals. A group can have no rights other than the rights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/any-group-or-collective-large-or-small-is-only-a-number-of/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [A state should protect citizens in general and women in particular. And in the 21st Century, every society needs to respect the individual choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-fernandez/a-state-should-protect-citizens-in-general-and-women-in-particular/) [Alberto Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-fernandez/) ## More by Cass Sunstein > [I think President Barack Obama has been an extraordinarily successful president, and that this period will record that with a bunch of exclamation points.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-president-barack-obama-has-been-an-extraordinarily-successful/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [I am proud to say that the Federalist Society was founded in part at the University of Chicago, and one of its best characteristics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-am-proud-to-say-that-the-federalist-society-was-founded-in-part-at/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Groups become more extreme and entrenched in their beliefs and polarized from others when members only exchange information that reinforces their views and filter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/groups-become-more-extreme-and-entrenched-in-their-beliefs-and/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Those who believe in climate change, as I do, I think it's also fair to say that they are more receptive to confirming evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/those-who-believe-in-climate-change-as-i-do-i-think-it-s-also-fair-to/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [I think it's a very firm part of human nature that if you surround yourself with like-minded people, you'll end up thinking more extreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-think-it-s-a-very-firm-part-of-human-nature-that-if-you-surround/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [There is no liberty without dependency. That is why we should celebrate tax day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/there-is-no-liberty-without-dependency-that-is-why-we-should/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [And so it's no surprise that people who object to the death penalty on pure moral grounds also think it has no deterrent effect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/and-so-it-s-no-surprise-that-people-who-object-to-the-death-penalty/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [It is even possible that desirable redistribution is more likely to occur through climate change policy than otherwise, or to be accomplished more effectively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/it-is-even-possible-that-desirable-redistribution-is-more-likely-to/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Presumed consent preserves freedom of choice, but it is different from explicit consent because it shifts the default rule. Under this policy, all citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/presumed-consent-preserves-freedom-of-choice-but-it-is-different-from/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [A well-functioning democracy has a culture of free speech, not simply legal protection of free speech. It encourages independence of mind. It imparts a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/a-well-functioning-democracy-has-a-culture-of-free-speech-not-simply/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [I'm also a big Bob Dylan fan. The songs on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - which is one of his best early albums -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/i-m-also-a-big-bob-dylan-fan-the-songs-on-the-freewheelin-bob-dylan/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [So, you could often say things are terrible and that accounts for what happened, or things are really bright, and that accounts for what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/so-you-could-often-say-things-are-terrible-and-that-accounts-for-what/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Wikipedia works because those who know the truth are usually more numerous and committed than those who believe in a falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/wikipedia-works-because-those-who-know-the-truth-are-usually-more/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [For the Sanders supporters, there's a thought that the people who are well off are doing really great, and the system is systematically unfair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/for-the-sanders-supporters-there-s-a-thought-that-the-people-who-are/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [Whatever your gender, you can be a Star Wars fan. Of course I knew it from life before, but the core of enthusiastic female…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/whatever-your-gender-you-can-be-a-star-wars-fan-of-course-i-knew-it/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) [Explore all 93 Cass Sunstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) ## 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": "A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cass Sunstein" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices-with-respect-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices-with-respect-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/cass-sunstein-7201_choices_a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices_3159326.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/cass-sunstein-7201_choices_a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices_3159326.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/cass-sunstein-7201_choices_a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices_3159326.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest…” — Cass Sunstein", "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": "Cass Sunstein", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A system of limitless individual choices,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices-with-respect-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices-with-respect-to/#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 } } ] } ```