--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mankind's greatest gift... is that we…" description: "\"Mankind's greatest gift... is that we have free choice.\" — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_choice_mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have_949960.png" --- # Mankind's greatest gift... is that we have free choice. ![“Mankind's greatest gift... is that we have free choice.” quote by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_choice_mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have_949960.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_choice_mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have_949960.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_choice_mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have_949960.png) > “Mankind's greatest gift... is that we have free choice.” [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Free choice is humanity's most valuable gift, enabling moral responsibility and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Free will is our greatest gift. Key Takeaway Exercise your choices wisely. Themes freedom ethics humanity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - decision making - leadership - education - personal development Key Concepts agency responsibility existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you use your freedom responsibly? - What limits affect your choices? A Different Perspective Free choice can be constrained by societal pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-choice/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Greatest gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gift/) [Greatest gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gifts/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Greatest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-greatest-963369/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [Free choice is the greatest gift God gives to his children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/free-choice-is-the-greatest-gift-god-gives-to-his-children/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [We need to teach the next generation of children from day one that they are responsible for their lives. Mankind's greatest gift, also its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-need-to-teach-the-next-generation-of-children-from-day-one-that/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [I truly want what you truly want-nothing different and nothing more. Don't you see that is My greatest gift to you? If I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/i-truly-want-what-you-truly-want-nothing-different-and-nothing-more/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [“If we could raise one generation with unconditional love, there would be no Hitlers. We need to teach the next generation of children from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-could-raise-one-generation-with-unconditional-love-there-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And the price of love, is the free choice to reject it. God did not create us to be robots. He created us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-e-creasy/and-the-price-of-love-is-the-free-choice-to-reject-it-god-did-not/) [Paul E. Creasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-e-creasy/) > [The greatest gifts you can give someone are your time, your attention, your love, and your concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-gifts-you-can-give-someone-are-your-time-your-attention/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-someone-is-the-gift-of-inspiration/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-dog-is-the-most-faithful-of-animals-and-would-be-much-esteemed/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I think the greatest gift we can give our children is the experience of deep quiet. If we don’t help our children cultivate contemplation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-think-the-greatest-gift-we-can-give-our-children-is-the-experience/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [I always appreciated my teachers. When I was 16, I gave them the greatest gift I could think of. I dropped out of school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-always-appreciated-my-teachers-when-i-was-16-i-gave-them-the/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [knowledge of our own mortality is the greatest gift God ever gives us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/knowledge-of-our-own-mortality-is-the-greatest-gift-god-ever-gives-us/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [I think that's one of the greatest gifts that I have: that I can get someone to open up, and all you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-that-i-have-that-i-can-get/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [“I often think that the ability to earn a living by doing the thing one loves must be one of life's greatest gifts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-often-think-that-the-ability-to-earn-a-living-by-doing-the-thing/) [Jojo Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [The least grace is a better security for heaven than the greatest gifts or privileges whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-least-grace-is-a-better-security-for-heaven-than-the-greatest/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [My relationship with my parents is among the greatest gifts of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-castellani/my-relationship-with-my-parents-is-among-the-greatest-gifts-of-my-life/) [Christopher Castellani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-castellani/) ## More by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross > [Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/watching-a-peaceful-death-of-a-human-being-reminds-us-of-a-falling/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Death is staring too long into the burning sun and the relief of entering a cool, dark room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/death-is-staring-too-long-into-the-burning-sun-and-the-relief-of/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [There is not much sense in suffering, since drugs can be given for pain, itching, and other discomforts. The belief has long died that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/there-is-not-much-sense-in-suffering-since-drugs-can-be-given-for/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [When I came to this country in 1958, to be a dying patient in a medical hospital was a nightmare. You were put in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/when-i-came-to-this-country-in-1958-to-be-a-dying-patient-in-a/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“La única finalidad de la vida es crecer. La lección última es aprender a amar y a ser amados incondicionalmente.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/la-nica-finalidad-de-la-vida-es-crecer-la-lecci-n-ltima-es-aprender-a/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“We need time to move through the pain of loss. We need to step into it, really to get to know it, in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-need-time-to-move-through-the-pain-of-loss-we-need-to-step-into-it/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [We have to ask ourselves whether medicine is to remain a humanitarian and respected profession or a new but depersonalized science in the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-have-to-ask-ourselves-whether-medicine-is-to-remain-a-humanitarian/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“The reality is people have always died in large numbers in natural disasters such as avalanches, earthquakes, and tornadoes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/the-reality-is-people-have-always-died-in-large-numbers-in-natural/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [Everything in this life has a purpose, there are no mistakes, no coincidences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/everything-in-this-life-has-a-purpose-there-are-no-mistakes-no/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [We run after values that, at death, become zero. At the end of your life, nobody asks you how many degrees you have, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/we-run-after-values-that-at-death-become-zero-at-the-end-of-your-life/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [In the so-called civilized world, children are physically, sexually and/or emotionally abused; they are the leaders of our future. When children are raised in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/in-the-so-called-civilized-world-children-are-physically-sexually-and/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [I look for mystery and try to decipher it while knowing it is an impossible task. I look for memory, where Mystery lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/i-look-for-mystery-and-try-to-decipher-it-while-knowing-it-is-an/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“Are we all destined to die as failures? Just”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/are-we-all-destined-to-die-as-failures-just/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“You can become a channel and a source of great inner strength. But you must give up everything in order to gain everything. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/you-can-become-a-channel-and-a-source-of-great-inner-strength-but-you/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [You have to temper the iron. Every hardship is an opportunity that you are given, an opportunity to grow. To grow is the sole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/you-have-to-temper-the-iron-every-hardship-is-an-opportunity-that-you/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) [Explore all 176 Elisabeth Kubler-Ross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) ## 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](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/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Mankind's greatest gift... is that we have free choice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elisabeth Kubler-Ross" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have-free-choice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have-free-choice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_choice_mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have_949960.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_choice_mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have_949960.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/63e/elisabeth-kubler-ross-1892_choice_mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have_949960.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mankind's greatest gift... is that we have free choice.” — Elisabeth Kubler-Ross", "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": "Elisabeth Kubler-Ross", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mankind's greatest gift... is that we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have-free-choice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/mankind-s-greatest-gift-is-that-we-have-free-choice/#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 } } ] } ```