--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Convictions are a matter of choice, not…" description: "\"Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.\" — Charles R. Swindoll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/charles-r-swindoll-878_choice_convictions-are-a-matter-of-choice-not-f_1853869.png" --- # Convictions are a matter of choice, not force. ![“Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.” quote by Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/charles-r-swindoll-878_choice_convictions-are-a-matter-of-choice-not-f_1853869.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/charles-r-swindoll-878_choice_convictions-are-a-matter-of-choice-not-f_1853869.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1f/charles-r-swindoll-878_choice_convictions-are-a-matter-of-choice-not-f_1853869.png) > “Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.” [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choices shape convictions; they are chosen, not imposed. **In simple terms:** Convictions come from choices, not force. Key Takeaway Make deliberate choices to define beliefs. Themes choice belief agency Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decisions - leadership - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What choices have defined your core beliefs? - Can convictions be truly free? A Different Perspective External pressures can still influence choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Convictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convictions/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ## Related quotes > [A very popular error: having the courage of one's convictions; rather it is a matter of having the courage for an attack on one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-very-popular-error-having-the-courage-of-one-s-convictions-rather/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I want your love by your choice, not by my force !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/i-want-your-love-by-your-choice-not-by-my-force/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Let me propose that if your beliefs or convictions matter more to you than people—if they require you to act as though you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kreider/let-me-propose-that-if-your-beliefs-or-convictions-matter-more-to-you/) [Tim Kreider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kreider/) > [Never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/never-give-in-except-to-convictions-of-honor-and-good-sense/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [I am a fairly go-with-the-flow guy. Don't get me wrong, I have convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-katsuyama/i-am-a-fairly-go-with-the-flow-guy-don-t-get-me-wrong-i-have/) [Brad Katsuyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-katsuyama/) > [Be true to your own highest convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/be-true-to-your-own-highest-convictions/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [My problem is I'm a man of no convictions - at least, I think I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hampton/my-problem-is-i-m-a-man-of-no-convictions-at-least-i-think-i-am/) [Christopher Hampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hampton/) > [I don't think my religious convictions should be held against me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-don-t-think-my-religious-convictions-should-be-held-against-me/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [Personal convictions are not politics. Personal convictions, if they become the subject of a group conviction, they become a cult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-finkelstein/personal-convictions-are-not-politics-personal-convictions-if-they/) [Norman Finkelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-finkelstein/) > [What God lacks is convictions- stability of character. He ought to be a Presbyterian or a Catholic or something- not try to be everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/what-god-lacks-is-convictions-stability-of-character-he-ought-to-be-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Your fixed convictions concerning the things that really matter mold your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/your-fixed-convictions-concerning-the-things-that-really-matter-mold/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [What are the moral convictions most fondly held by barbarous and semi-barbarous people? They are the convictions that authority is the soundest basis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/what-are-the-moral-convictions-most-fondly-held-by-barbarous-and-semi/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [I don't think that my particular religious convictions should be held against me in this campaign any more than the Prime Minister's lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-don-t-think-that-my-particular-religious-convictions-should-be-held/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [The men who succeed best in public life are those who take the risk of standing by their own convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-men-who-succeed-best-in-public-life-are-those-who-take-the-risk/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## More by Charles R. Swindoll > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Grace is ours. Let's live it! Deny it or debate it and we kill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/grace-is-ours-let-s-live-it-deny-it-or-debate-it-and-we-kill-it/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Cults use our vocabulary, but they don't use our dictionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/cults-use-our-vocabulary-but-they-don-t-use-our-dictionary/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [No pressure is greater than God's power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/no-pressure-is-greater-than-god-s-power/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Go God's way! His is the most reliable route to follow when life gets complicated. It will have its tough moments, but you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/go-god-s-way-his-is-the-most-reliable-route-to-follow-when-life-gets/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [For there to be true maturity, people must be given room to grow, which includes room to fail...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/for-there-to-be-true-maturity-people-must-be-given-room-to-grow-which/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Anyone who influences others is a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/anyone-who-influences-others-is-a-leader/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Nothing is so common as unsuccessful men with talent. They lack only determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/nothing-is-so-common-as-unsuccessful-men-with-talent-they-lack-only/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Faith is like lighting the torch that passes from one person to the next. You can't light the torch of another if yours isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/faith-is-like-lighting-the-torch-that-passes-from-one-person-to-the/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude... When my attitudes are right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-believe-the-single-most-significant-decision-i-can-make-on-a-day-to/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Two words will help you cope when you run low on hope: accept and trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/two-words-will-help-you-cope-when-you-run-low-on-hope-accept-and-trust/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Thanksgiving speaks in clear, crisp tones of forgotten terms, like integrity - bravery - respect - freedom - discipline - sacrifice - godliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/thanksgiving-speaks-in-clear-crisp-tones-of-forgotten-terms-like/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [All he asks is that we trust Him, that we stand before Him in integrity and faith. God is just waiting for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/all-he-asks-is-that-we-trust-him-that-we-stand-before-him-in/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [Adversity is a good test of our resiliency, our ability to cope, to stand back up, to recover from misfortune. Adversity is a painful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/adversity-is-a-good-test-of-our-resiliency-our-ability-to-cope-to/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I am a preacher. I'm involved in many other things, but, mainly, I preach. And I love it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/i-am-a-preacher-i-m-involved-in-many-other-things-but-mainly-i-preach/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) [Explore all 343 Charles R. Swindoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) ## 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": "Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles R. 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