--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People still have a choice, but, if they…" description: "\"People still have a choice, but, if they find it all too confusing, or they just want someone else to make a choice for them, there's a default that wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/esther-dyson-8125_choice_people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-f_2489520.jpg" --- # People still have a choice, but, if they find it all too… ![“People still have a choice, but, if they find it all too confusing, or they just want someone else to make a choice for them, there's a default that works pretty well. That's this concept of libertarian paternalism. And it's handy.” quote by Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/esther-dyson-8125_choice_people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-f_2489520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/esther-dyson-8125_choice_people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-f_2489520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/esther-dyson-8125_choice_people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-f_2489520.jpg) > “People still have a choice, but, if they find it all too confusing, or they just want someone else to make a choice for them, there's a default that works pretty well. That's this concept of libertarian paternalism. And it's handy.” [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People can delegate decisions to a well‑designed default when overwhelmed, preserving freedom while guiding outcomes. **In simple terms:** Defaults help when choices are confusing. Key Takeaway Use thoughtful defaults to simplify decisions. Themes choice freedom behavioral economics decision making Mood thoughtful pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - health choices - policy design - consumer behavior Key Concepts libertarian paternalism choice architecture Questions to Reflect On - When might you rely on a default versus making your own choice? - How can defaults be designed ethically? A Different Perspective Defaults may limit exploration of better alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Concept Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concept-libertarian-692079/) [Concepts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concepts/) [Confusing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusing/) [Default](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/default/) [Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handy/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Libertarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian/) [Libertarian Paternalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/libertarian-paternalism-950061/) [Paternalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paternalism/) [Paternalism Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paternalism-handy-950062/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [“Libertarian paternalism is a relatively weak, soft, and nonintrusive type of paternalism because choices are not blocked, fenced off, or significantly burdened. If people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/libertarian-paternalism-is-a-relatively-weak-soft-and-nonintrusive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Libertarian paternalism is a relatively weak, soft, and nonintrusive type of paternalism because choices are not blocked, fenced off, or significantly burdened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/libertarian-paternalism-is-a-relatively-weak-soft-and-nonintrusive-2/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [“The first is that seemingly small features of social situations can have massive effects on people’s behavior; nudges are everywhere, even if we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/the-first-is-that-seemingly-small-features-of-social-situations-can/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [ “The sceptical attack \[on free will philosophy’s concept of libertarian freedom\] amounts simply to a dogmatic determination to describe the world only in terms… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pink/the-sceptical-attack-on-free-will-philosophy-s-concept-of-libertarian/) [Thomas Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pink/) > [“Self-reliance and independence can transform into selfishness and license, ambition into greed and a frantic desire to succeed at any cost. More than once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/self-reliance-and-independence-can-transform-into-selfishness-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The question is whether NGOs that bring protection or aid or reparation therapies are furthering the possibility of self-determination or extending a form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/the-question-is-whether-ngos-that-bring-protection-or-aid-or/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [“But then it is easy, too easy, to sermonize about the dangers of paternalism and the need to take responsibility for our own lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-v-banerjee/but-then-it-is-easy-too-easy-to-sermonize-about-the-dangers-of/) [Abhijit V. Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-v-banerjee/) > [The paternalism of the Conservative party is breathtaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-fox/the-paternalism-of-the-conservative-party-is-breathtaking/) [Claire Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-fox/) > [Paternalism is everywhere in our lives. We have to immunise our children unless we are upset about it. In India, it is the opposite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-duflo/paternalism-is-everywhere-in-our-lives-we-have-to-immunise-our/) [Esther Duflo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-duflo/) > [We should know why paternalism, collectivism, or unnecessary federal supervision will hold our standard of living down and reduce productivity just as it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/we-should-know-why-paternalism-collectivism-or-unnecessary-federal/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [A Progressive is one who is in favor of more taxes instead of less, more bureaus and jobholders, more paternalism and meddling, more regulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-progressive-is-one-who-is-in-favor-of-more-taxes-instead-of-less/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [We may as well face the fact, and face it squarely, that we are too much governed. The agencies of government have multiplied, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-h-hartley/we-may-as-well-face-the-fact-and-face-it-squarely-that-we-are-too/) [Roland H. Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-h-hartley/) > [The lessons of paternalism ought to be unlearned and the better lesson taught that while people should patriotically and cheerfully support their Government its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-cleveland/the-lessons-of-paternalism-ought-to-be-unlearned-and-the-better/) [Grover Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-cleveland/) > [“Selective paternalism, for those on low incomes or for other groups needing state assistance, is perhaps even worse than general paternalism, since the minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-standing/selective-paternalism-for-those-on-low-incomes-or-for-other-groups/) [Guy Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-standing/) > [Libya is a war of the womb. A product of the romantic minds of women who fantasize about an Arab awakening. It is estrogen-driven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/libya-is-a-war-of-the-womb-a-product-of-the-romantic-minds-of-women/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) ## More by Esther Dyson > [Since I became chairman, I've tried to turn EFF into civil liberties and responsibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/since-i-became-chairman-i-ve-tried-to-turn-eff-into-civil-liberties/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Owning the intellectual property is like owning land: You need to keep investing in it again and again to get a payoff; you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/owning-the-intellectual-property-is-like-owning-land-you-need-to-keep/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Don't leave hold of your common sense. Think about what you're doing and how the technology can enhance it. Don't think about technology first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/don-t-leave-hold-of-your-common-sense-think-about-what-you-re-doing/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [People need to understand that the technology is for them. It's not to them. It's not over them. People still sometimes want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/people-need-to-understand-that-the-technology-is-for-them-it-s-not-to/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The challenge of ensuring adequate, nutrient-rich food for an expanding global population is a daunting one, especially given constraints on key resources like water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-challenge-of-ensuring-adequate-nutrient-rich-food-for-an/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [What I'm thinking about more and more these days is simply the importance of transparency, and Jefferson's saying that he'd rather have a free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/what-i-m-thinking-about-more-and-more-these-days-is-simply-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Anyone will tell you if you want to run a business, you need to monitor costs and revenues. In the same manner, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/anyone-will-tell-you-if-you-want-to-run-a-business-you-need-to/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [It may not always be profitable at first for businesses to be online, but it is certainly going to be unprofitable not to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/it-may-not-always-be-profitable-at-first-for-businesses-to-be-online/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [There's almost no way of doing importing honestly, because if you do you're at such a disadvantage competitively. So people spend huge amounts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/there-s-almost-no-way-of-doing-importing-honestly-because-if-you-do/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The definition of the problem, rather than its solution, will be the scarce resource in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-definition-of-the-problem-rather-than-its-solution-will-be-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [Few influential people involved with the Internet claim that it is a good in and of itself. It is a powerful tool for solving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/few-influential-people-involved-with-the-internet-claim-that-it-is-a/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [The great thing is, Internet allows you to create your own job, not just look for jobs other people are going to give you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/the-great-thing-is-internet-allows-you-to-create-your-own-job-not/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [“Listen more than you talk. Whatever the context, people will think you’re smarter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/listen-more-than-you-talk-whatever-the-context-people-will-think-you/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [I am not in favor of immortality. I believe death for humans is the way of getting rid of accumulated errors - as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/i-am-not-in-favor-of-immortality-i-believe-death-for-humans-is-the/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [We had made a - sort of a national decision that we wanted to be this intellectual property country, where we would have things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/we-had-made-a-sort-of-a-national-decision-that-we-wanted-to-be-this/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) [Explore all 84 Esther Dyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) ## 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": "People still have a choice, but, if they find it all too confusing, or they just want someone else to make a choice for them, there's a default that works pretty well. That's this concept of libertarian paternalism. And it's handy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Esther Dyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-find-it-all-too-confusing-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-find-it-all-too-confusing-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/esther-dyson-8125_choice_people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-f_2489520.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/esther-dyson-8125_choice_people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-f_2489520.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e4/esther-dyson-8125_choice_people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-f_2489520.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People still have a choice, but, if they find it all too confusing, or they just want someone else to make a…” — Esther Dyson", "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": "Esther Dyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People still have a choice, but,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-find-it-all-too-confusing-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/people-still-have-a-choice-but-if-they-find-it-all-too-confusing-or/#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 } } ] } ```