Chosen Quote by Catherynne M. Valente
““No one is chosen. Not ever. Not in the real world. You chose to climb out of your window and ride on a Leopard. You chose to get a witch's Spoon back and to make friends with a Wyvern. You chose to trade your shadow for a child's life. You chose not to let the Marquess hurt your friend - you chose to smash her cages! You chose to face your own death, not to balk at a great sea to cross and no ship to cross it in. And twice now, you have chosen not to go home when you might have, if only you abandoned your friends. You are not the chosen one, September. Fairyland did not choose you - you chose yourself. . . You chose. You chose it all. Just like you chose your path on the beach: to lose your heart is not a path for the faint and fainting.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, 2011
The protagonist repeatedly asserts agency, choosing difficult, self‑sacrificial actions over passive destiny.
In simple terms: Choosing actions defines you, not fate.
Key Takeaway
Embrace personal responsibility and courageous choices.
Themes
agency
self‑determination
heroism
fantasy adventure
Mood
determined
inspirational
Type
mythic
motivational
When to use this quote
- facing danger
- protecting friends
- rejecting imposed roles
- making sacrifices
Key Concepts
free will
moral courage
identity formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What choices define your identity?
- When have you chosen the harder path?
A Different Perspective
The narrative’s fantastical setting may limit real‑world applicability.
![“[In science any model depends on a pre-chosen taxonomy] a set of classifications into which we divide the enormous complexity of the real world... Land, labor, and capital are extremely heterogeneous aggregates, not much better than earth, air, fire, and water.” quote by Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/47e/kenneth-e-boulding-3728_air_in-science-any-model-depends-on-a-pre-ch_12383.jpg)
