--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our society can only become one of two…" description: "\"Our society can only become one of two things, it can be become what we let it become or it can become what we make it, and I choose the latter.\" — Dar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/daryl-davis-7572_choose_our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-t_392070.jpg" --- # Our society can only become one of two things, it can be… ![“Our society can only become one of two things, it can be become what we let it become or it can become what we make it, and I choose the latter.” quote by Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/daryl-davis-7572_choose_our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-t_392070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/daryl-davis-7572_choose_our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-t_392070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/daryl-davis-7572_choose_our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-t_392070.jpg) > “Our society can only become one of two things, it can be become what we let it become or it can become what we make it, and I choose the latter.” [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society's future depends on collective choice; we can either accept the status quo or actively shape a better world. **In simple terms:** Choice determines society's path. Key Takeaway Choose proactive change. Themes social change agency choice Mood determined optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - civic activism - policy reform - education initiatives Key Concepts political science ethics community organizing Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to influence change? - How do you stay hopeful? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted systems is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Let Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-make-283369/) [Make Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-choose-774710/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-things-2397037/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-let-424200/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [No movie can change society, but there are things that can be achieved by a film. For example, we are sitting in a room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/no-movie-can-change-society-but-there-are-things-that-can-be-achieved/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [“in this society, things you’d think could only be bad jokes actually happen all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/in-this-society-things-you-d-think-could-only-be-bad-jokes-actually/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [“I love you enough to never make you choose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/i-love-you-enough-to-never-make-you-choose/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [Build confidence and momentum with each good decision you make from here on out and choose to be inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/build-confidence-and-momentum-with-each-good-decision-you-make-from/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [Freedom is the source for everything that is good, and the best choice you can ever make is choose to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/freedom-is-the-source-for-everything-that-is-good-and-the-best-choice/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [You can achieve whatever you aspire to AND die trying. Dont let the haters make you choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-achieve-whatever-you-aspire-to-and-die-trying-dont-let-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you ever want to see a man cry..Put a beer in one hand and a naked woman in the other..And..MAKE HIM CHOOSE!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/if-you-ever-want-to-see-a-man-cry-put-a-beer-in-one-hand-and-a-naked/) [Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/) > [“It is not those things that have been done to us that make us who we are; it is what we choose to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-gayle/it-is-not-those-things-that-have-been-done-to-us-that-make-us-who-we/) [Catherine Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-gayle/) > [Don't make me have to choose between what I want and what you think I need. 'Cause I'll always be your little girl, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/don-t-make-me-have-to-choose-between-what-i-want-and-what-you-think-i/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [If you make me choose thats just proof that you cant accept me for who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-make-me-choose-thats-just-proof-that-you-cant-accept-me-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In walking through the world there is a choice for a man to make. He can choose the fair and open path, the path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/in-walking-through-the-world-there-is-a-choice-for-a-man-to-make-he/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [I'm probably the worst person in the world when it comes to decision making. I hate when people make me choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-probably-the-worst-person-in-the-world-when-it-comes-to-decision/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It’s me and you, or me and knitting. Don’t make me choose. Ugh, #love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/it-s-me-and-you-or-me-and-knitting-don-t-make-me-choose-ugh-love/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Hollywood is what you make it; you have to choose company with care because you become what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hunt/hollywood-is-what-you-make-it-you-have-to-choose-company-with-care/) [Bonnie Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hunt/) > [Who you are and the choices you make - how you choose to use your skills, how you put your values into practice, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/who-you-are-and-the-choices-you-make-how-you-choose-to-use-your/) [Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/) ## More by Daryl Davis > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [They've changed the name from white supremacy to white separatists, to white nationalists, to alt-right. It's the same thing. A rose by any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/they-ve-changed-the-name-from-white-supremacy-to-white-separatists-to/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [I have been attacked and mistreated for my skin colour since I was a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/i-have-been-attacked-and-mistreated-for-my-skin-colour-since-i-was-a/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [If you have an adversary, an opponent with an opposing point of view, give that person a platform, regardless of how extreme it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/if-you-have-an-adversary-an-opponent-with-an-opposing-point-of-view/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [At the end, ignorance is the source of biases. If we cure that, there's nothing to fear and hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/at-the-end-ignorance-is-the-source-of-biases-if-we-cure-that-there-s/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [There's a difference between being ignorant and being stupid... For me, an ignorant person is someone who makes the wrong decision or a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/there-s-a-difference-between-being-ignorant-and-being-stupid-for-me/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Find someone who disagrees and invite them to your table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/find-someone-who-disagrees-and-invite-them-to-your-table/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [If you were to talk to somebody from Georgia you would understand what he's saying, he wouldn't sound like your next-door neighbor in Montana,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/if-you-were-to-talk-to-somebody-from-georgia-you-would-understand/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Every racist that I know - and I know a lot of racists - every racist that I know voted for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/every-racist-that-i-know-and-i-know-a-lot-of-racists-every-racist/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [It was incomprehensible to me that someone who had never seen me before, someone who knew absolutely nothing about me, would want to inflict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/it-was-incomprehensible-to-me-that-someone-who-had-never-seen-me/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [The most important thing I learned is that when you are actively learning about someone else you are passively teaching them about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/the-most-important-thing-i-learned-is-that-when-you-are-actively/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [You're not going to beat the meanness out of a mean dog. You start beating a mean dog, it's gonna become more mean. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/you-re-not-going-to-beat-the-meanness-out-of-a-mean-dog-you-start/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [He spoke nine languages. You know some people can just pick up an instrument and play. My father was like that with languages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/he-spoke-nine-languages-you-know-some-people-can-just-pick-up-an/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Music absolutely played a massive role in bridging many gaps in the racial divides I would encounter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/music-absolutely-played-a-massive-role-in-bridging-many-gaps-in-the/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [We've simply been putting Band-Aids on the wounds of racism. We haven't drilled down to the bone to get to its source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/we-ve-simply-been-putting-band-aids-on-the-wounds-of-racism-we-haven/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) [Explore all 90 Daryl Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) ## More Choose quotes > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [If somebody asks me to choose a biopic, it would be Narain Karthikeyan because I love racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-somebody-asks-me-to-choose-a-biopic-it-would-be-narain-karthikeyan/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...so you gotta choose who is good for you! Be wise, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-so-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Having too many options is bad. I want one person, just one. Not a whole bunch to choose from,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderickthefirst/having-too-many-options-is-bad-i-want-one-person-just-one-not-a-whole/) [RoderickTheFirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roderickthefirst/) > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) [Browse all 3,851 Choose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our society can only become one of two things, it can be become what we let it become or it can become what we make it, and I choose the latter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daryl Davis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-things-it-can-be-become-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-things-it-can-be-become-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/daryl-davis-7572_choose_our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-t_392070.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/daryl-davis-7572_choose_our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-t_392070.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/222/daryl-davis-7572_choose_our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-t_392070.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our society can only become one of two things, it can be become what we let it become or it can become what…” — Daryl Davis", "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": "Daryl Davis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our society can only become one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-things-it-can-be-become-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/our-society-can-only-become-one-of-two-things-it-can-be-become-what/#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 } } ] } ```