--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our own freewill, to choose the paths we…" description: "\"Our own freewill, to choose the paths we take, no greater deed could ever be done than for another's sake.\" — Dolly Parton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/dolly-parton-366_adages_our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we_2372885.jpg" --- # Our own freewill, to choose the paths we take, no greater… ![“Our own freewill, to choose the paths we take, no greater deed could ever be done than for another's sake.” quote by Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/dolly-parton-366_adages_our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we_2372885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/dolly-parton-366_adages_our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we_2372885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/dolly-parton-366_adages_our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we_2372885.jpg) > “Our own freewill, to choose the paths we take, no greater deed could ever be done than for another's sake.” [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing selflessly for others is the highest moral act, surpassing personal ambition. **In simple terms:** Self‑less choices are noble. Key Takeaway Prioritize others’ needs over self‑interest. Themes altruism ethics purpose humanity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - mentoring - family decisions Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What motivates you to help others? - How do you balance self‑care with altruism? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adages/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Freewill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freewill/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) ## Related quotes > [“Happiness is a choice, To make a choice is utilizing your freewill to choose. Courage is getting out of your own way to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sereda-aleta-dailey/happiness-is-a-choice-to-make-a-choice-is-utilizing-your-freewill-to/) [Sereda Aleta Dailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sereda-aleta-dailey/) > [“The more you say true things, the more you will be respected; the more you will respected, the more you shall feel to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-more-you-say-true-things-the-more-you-will-be-respected-the-more/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [For the less even as for the greater there is some deed that he may accomplish but once only; and in that deed his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-the-less-even-as-for-the-greater-there-is-some-deed-that-he-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Our deeds in life echo down the corridors of time. The greater the deed, the mightier the resonance." --Alex George, author of Under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-george/our-deeds-in-life-echo-down-the-corridors-of-time-the-greater-the/) [Alex George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-george/) > [The freewill you have given, we have made a mockery of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/the-freewill-you-have-given-we-have-made-a-mockery-of/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." The adage is true as long as you don't really believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-never-hurt-me-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“, civilization is an ever-changing tacit agreement, culturally inherited, not chosen at birth. Civilization is the invention of man, my big friend. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jelen/civilization-is-an-ever-changing-tacit-agreement-culturally-inherited/) Peter Jelen > [“All preordained A prisoner in chains A victim of venomous fate Kicked in the face You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/all-preordained-a-prisoner-in-chains-a-victim-of-venomous-fate-kicked/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [“Freewill does not impune the sovereignty of God, it in fact affirms it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/freewill-does-not-impune-the-sovereignty-of-god-it-in-fact-affirms-it/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“Though I cannot tell why it was exactly that those stage managers, the Fates, put me down for this shabby part of a whaling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/though-i-cannot-tell-why-it-was-exactly-that-those-stage-managers-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Be yourself, give your freewill a chance. You've got to want to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yes-band/be-yourself-give-your-freewill-a-chance-you-ve-got-to-want-to-succeed/) [Yes (Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yes-band/) > [“Freewill. Some have called it the greatest gift bestowed on humanity. It is our ability to control what happens to us and exactly how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/freewill-some-have-called-it-the-greatest-gift-bestowed-on-humanity/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [ The word "freewill" (as also "self-determining power" \[autexousiou\] used by the Greek Fathers) does not occur in Scripture ... I Cor 7:37 does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-turretin/the-word-freewill-as-also-self-determining-power-autexousiou-used-by/) Francis Turretin > [“I don't believe in fate, though, because fate isn't as much fun as freewill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bosworth/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-though-because-fate-isn-t-as-much-fun-as/) Mel Bosworth > [God created a system which gave us freewill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/god-created-a-system-which-gave-us-freewill/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) ## More by Dolly Parton > [Got those moods a swinging, tears a slinging, nothing fits me, when it hits me, ranting, raving, misbehaving, PMS blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/got-those-moods-a-swinging-tears-a-slinging-nothing-fits-me-when-it/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-great-smile-is-a-wonderful-asset-but-a-good-heart-is-pure-gold/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [No matter how beautiful a woman might be, you're always threatened by certain... You're always threatened by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/no-matter-how-beautiful-a-woman-might-be-you-re-always-threatened-by/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Music is my personal addiction. So much of everything I've done has only been to open more doors for the music itself. It all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/music-is-my-personal-addiction-so-much-of-everything-i-ve-done-has/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [If you don't like the road youre walking, start paving another one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/if-you-don-t-like-the-road-youre-walking-start-paving-another-one/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [After you reach a certain age, they think you’re over. Well, I will never be over. I’ll be making records if I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/after-you-reach-a-certain-age-they-think-you-re-over-well-i-will/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [ I think \[music and acting\], they are connected, all that stuff. It's your emotional self, is pretty much how you do it, I think,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-think-music-and-acting-they-are-connected-all-that-stuff-it-s-your/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Understanding isn't learned from punishment and anger. An iron has no gentle touch, and love ain't learned from hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/understanding-isn-t-learned-from-punishment-and-anger-an-iron-has-no/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [You'll pay the highest price on back roads and in back seats and in a cheap highway motel. But what's a few more strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/you-ll-pay-the-highest-price-on-back-roads-and-in-back-seats-and-in-a/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I went to bed hungry many nights as a child. It was a Dream that dressed me up when I was ragged, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-went-to-bed-hungry-many-nights-as-a-child-it-was-a-dream-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I know it's corny - but I love 'Jingle Bells!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-it-s-corny-but-i-love-jingle-bells/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I figure if I keep my health, I have no intention of retiring. I love to work. I want to be like Bob Hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-figure-if-i-keep-my-health-i-have-no-intention-of-retiring-i-love/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [There are some people who physically are not beautiful. But the way they are, the way they treat people, they become beautiful, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/there-are-some-people-who-physically-are-not-beautiful-but-the-way/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) [Explore all 638 Dolly Parton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) ## More Adages quotes > [It’s not just the adage ‘write what you know,’ it’s about gathering up all of the knowledge and experience you’ve collected up to now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-kay/it-s-not-just-the-adage-write-what-you-know-it-s-about-gathering-up/) [Sarah Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-kay/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Wise is the tongue, wet of perfect thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-francis/wise-is-the-tongue-wet-of-perfect-thought/) [Black Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-francis/) > [Another lesson about a naive fool who came to Babylon, and found out that the pie don't taste so sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-yoakam/another-lesson-about-a-naive-fool-who-came-to-babylon-and-found-out/) [Dwight Yoakam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-yoakam/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If you need somebody you can trust, trust yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/if-you-need-somebody-you-can-trust-trust-yourself/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Something happens when your subconscious goes to work... That's why 'Sleep on it' is an adage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-voight/something-happens-when-your-subconscious-goes-to-work-that-s-why/) [Jon Voight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-voight/) > [There's an adage that a lot of coaches have, that I completely disagree with, is if you make the Olympic team too early you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-coughlin/there-s-an-adage-that-a-lot-of-coaches-have-that-i-completely/) [Natalie Coughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-coughlin/) > [An ancient adage warns, "Never go to sea with two chronometers; take one or three."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-brooks/an-ancient-adage-warns-never-go-to-sea-with-two-chronometers-take-one/) [Fred Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-brooks/) > [Don't judge the picture by the frame, every man is not the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/don-t-judge-the-picture-by-the-frame-every-man-is-not-the-same/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [Failure isn't failure if a lesson from it's learned. I guess love would not be love without a risk of being burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/failure-isn-t-failure-if-a-lesson-from-it-s-learned-i-guess-love/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [When you have everything, you have everything to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-harper/when-you-have-everything-you-have-everything-to-lose/) [Ben Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-harper/) > [As the old African adage says, 'everybody skin to me ain't kin to me'. So you can't exclusively make that the criteria of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/as-the-old-african-adage-says-everybody-skin-to-me-ain-t-kin-to-me-so/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [Fool you once, you are forgiven. Fool you twice, you're just a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/fool-you-once-you-are-forgiven-fool-you-twice-you-re-just-a-fool/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) [Browse all 340 Adages quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adages/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our own freewill, to choose the paths we take, no greater deed could ever be done than for another's sake.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dolly Parton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we-take-no-greater-deed-could/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adages" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we-take-no-greater-deed-could/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/dolly-parton-366_adages_our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we_2372885.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/dolly-parton-366_adages_our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we_2372885.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/795/dolly-parton-366_adages_our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we_2372885.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our own freewill, to choose the paths we take, no greater deed could ever be done than for another's sake.” — Dolly Parton", "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": "Dolly Parton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our own freewill, to choose the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we-take-no-greater-deed-could/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/our-own-freewill-to-choose-the-paths-we-take-no-greater-deed-could/#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 } } ] } ```