--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is only one reality: the act of…" description: "\"There is only one reality: the act of feeling ourselves in the process of making choices.\" — Erich Fromm" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/erich-fromm-367_choices_there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-fee_1020317.jpg" --- # There is only one reality: the act of feeling ourselves in… ![“There is only one reality: the act of feeling ourselves in the process of making choices.” quote by Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/erich-fromm-367_choices_there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-fee_1020317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/erich-fromm-367_choices_there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-fee_1020317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/erich-fromm-367_choices_there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-fee_1020317.jpg) > “There is only one reality: the act of feeling ourselves in the process of making choices.” [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only reality is the feeling we experience while making choices. **In simple terms:** Reality is felt through the act of choosing. Key Takeaway Embrace conscious decision‑making. Themes existentialism choice reality feeling psychology Mood reflective philosophical Type existential psychological When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - ethical dilemmas - creative projects Key Concepts subjective experience free will Questions to Reflect On - How do your choices shape your sense of reality? - What limits your freedom to choose? A Different Perspective Choices can be constrained by external forces. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Making choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-choices/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [I think at this point, safety isn't a feeling, it's a process. Starting with trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-think-at-this-point-safety-isn-t-a-feeling-it-s-a-process-starting/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“Of course it was painful, and there were times when, emotionally, I just wanted to chuck it all. But pain seems to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/of-course-it-was-painful-and-there-were-times-when-emotionally-i-just/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [It’s precisely because of the pain, the we can get the feeling, through this process, of really being alive—or at least a partial sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-s-precisely-because-of-the-pain-the-we-can-get-the-feeling-through/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Its precisely because of the pain, the we can get the feeling, through this process, of really being alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-precisely-because-of-the-pain-the-we-can-get-the-feeling-through/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A man’s emotions are what define him, and control is the hallmark of true strength. To lack feeling is to be dead, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/a-man-s-emotions-are-what-define-him-and-control-is-the-hallmark-of/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“One of the first things you learn as a Borderline is that the only way to keep any friends is to act as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishell-baker/one-of-the-first-things-you-learn-as-a-borderline-is-that-the-only/) Mishell Baker > [To lack feeling is to be dead, but to act on every feeling is to be a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/to-lack-feeling-is-to-be-dead-but-to-act-on-every-feeling-is-to-be-a/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“I feel each of the things you mention, Sadeas,” Dalinar said, eyes forward. “But I don’t always let them out. A man’s emotions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/i-feel-each-of-the-things-you-mention-sadeas-dalinar-said-eyes/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [Passion, like discriminating taste, grows on its use. You more likely act yourself into feeling than feel yourself into action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bruner/passion-like-discriminating-taste-grows-on-its-use-you-more-likely/) [Jerome Bruner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bruner/) > [“To Want and To Dare! Never hesitate to act when the feeling of injustice revolts us. To give one's measure with all good faith,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doria-shafik/to-want-and-to-dare-never-hesitate-to-act-when-the-feeling-of/) Doria Shafik > [You're more likely to act yourself into feeling than feel yourself into action. So act! Whatever it is you know you should do, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/you-re-more-likely-to-act-yourself-into-feeling-than-feel-yourself/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [“Freedom is not a constant attribute which we either "have" or "have not." In fact, there is no such thing as "freedom" except as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-is-not-a-constant-attribute-which-we-either-have-or-have-not/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Take a moment to think about the context in which your next decision will occur: You did not pick your parents or the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/take-a-moment-to-think-about-the-context-in-which-your-next-decision/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Life is all about Making Choices, we get to choose one among the many, and the one we choose defines our Future and Destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/life-is-all-about-making-choices-we-get-to-choose-one-among-the-many/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I don't think taste is about money. As your career develops, you're able to decide what to spend your money on. I live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-finch/i-don-t-think-taste-is-about-money-as-your-career-develops-you-re/) [Charles Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-finch/) ## More by Erich Fromm > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Only when man succeeds in developing his reason and love further than he has done so far, only when he can build a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/only-when-man-succeeds-in-developing-his-reason-and-love-further-than/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Freedom does not mean license.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/freedom-does-not-mean-license/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“It is hardly necessary to stress the fact that the ability to love as an act of giving depends on the character development of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/it-is-hardly-necessary-to-stress-the-fact-that-the-ability-to-love-as/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Exploitation and manipulation produce boredom and triviality; they cripple man, and all factors that make man into a psychic cripple turn him also into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/exploitation-and-manipulation-produce-boredom-and-triviality-they/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Well-being is possible to the degree to which one has overcome one's narcissism; to the degree to which one is open, responsive, sensitive, awake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/well-being-is-possible-to-the-degree-to-which-one-has-overcome-one-s/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“The wealth of data to be found in social and political life. The belief that people do not want to make sacrifices is notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-wealth-of-data-to-be-found-in-social-and-political-life-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [By equality, one once understood equality in the very same sense in which the Bible speaks of equality: that we are all equal, inasmuch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/by-equality-one-once-understood-equality-in-the-very-same-sense-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Human beings had two basic orientations: HAVING and BEING HAVING: seeks to acquire, posses things even people BEING: focuses on the experience; exchanging, engaging,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/human-beings-had-two-basic-orientations-having-and-being-having-seeks/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Most people are not even aware of their need to conform. They live under the illusion that they follow their own ideas and inclinations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/most-people-are-not-even-aware-of-their-need-to-conform-they-live/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Just as modern mass production requires the standardization of commodities, so the social process requires standardization of man, and this standardization is called equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/just-as-modern-mass-production-requires-the-standardization-of/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [To respect a person is not possible without knowing him; care and responsibility would be blind if they were not guided by knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/to-respect-a-person-is-not-possible-without-knowing-him-care-and/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Love is an active power in man; a power which breaks through the walls which separate man from his fellow men, which unite him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/love-is-an-active-power-in-man-a-power-which-breaks-through-the-walls/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [“Perhaps most trivial talk is a need to talk about oneself; hence, the never-ending subject of health and sickness, children, travel, successes, what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/perhaps-most-trivial-talk-is-a-need-to-talk-about-oneself-hence-the/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) [Explore all 558 Erich Fromm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [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/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is only one reality: the act of feeling ourselves in the process of making choices.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erich Fromm" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-feeling-ourselves-in-the-process/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-feeling-ourselves-in-the-process/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/erich-fromm-367_choices_there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-fee_1020317.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/erich-fromm-367_choices_there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-fee_1020317.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd2/erich-fromm-367_choices_there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-fee_1020317.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is only one reality: the act of feeling ourselves in the process of making choices.” — Erich Fromm", "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": "Erich Fromm", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is only one reality: the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-feeling-ourselves-in-the-process/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/there-is-only-one-reality-the-act-of-feeling-ourselves-in-the-process/#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 } } ] } ```