--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there’s one thing I’ve learned over…" description: "\"“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you’ve got no say in what other people do with their lives. Everyone makes their own choic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/francine-rivers-4154_choices_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-t_1546090.png" --- # If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s… ![“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you’ve got no say in what other people do with their lives. Everyone makes their own choices, good or bad.” quote by Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/francine-rivers-4154_choices_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-t_1546090.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/francine-rivers-4154_choices_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-t_1546090.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/francine-rivers-4154_choices_if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-t_1546090.png) > ““If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you’ve got no say in what other people do with their lives. Everyone makes their own choices, good or bad.”” [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People control their own lives; you cannot dictate their choices. **In simple terms:** Everyone makes their own choices. Key Takeaway Accept others' autonomy. Themes responsibility autonomy acceptance Mood empathetic thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - relationships - family decisions - career paths Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to others' bad decisions? - What boundaries protect you? A Different Perspective It can be hard to accept harmful choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-good-543744/) [Makes Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes-choices-372182/) [People Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-lives/) [Ve Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-learned/) ## Related quotes > [“Death makes its own choices. Has reasoning an order has a taste…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelo-tsanatelis/death-makes-its-own-choices-has-reasoning-an-order-has-a-taste/) [Angelo Tsanatelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelo-tsanatelis/) > [You make choices and sometimes they're good and sometimes they backfire. The most important thing is to be brave, forgive yourself when you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersey-clemons/you-make-choices-and-sometimes-they-re-good-and-sometimes-they/) [Kiersey Clemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersey-clemons/) > [One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-s-philosophy-is-not-best-expressed-in-words-it-is-expressed-in-2/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [The skin you're in makes choices for you...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/the-skin-you-re-in-makes-choices-for-you/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [“It makes choices for you. It demands you obey it, not taking no for an answer. And it’s usually right. It knows you better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-bailey/it-makes-choices-for-you-it-demands-you-obey-it-not-taking-no-for-an/) [Tessa Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-bailey/) > [“Everyone makes choices, and no one knows what may be the end of any of them. If my own was to blame for many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/everyone-makes-choices-and-no-one-knows-what-may-be-the-end-of-any-of/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Roose is a very cold, pragmatic guy, and he's a survivor. He makes choices based on that, and friendship goes out the window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mcelhatton/roose-is-a-very-cold-pragmatic-guy-and-he-s-a-survivor-he-makes/) [Michael McElhatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mcelhatton/) > [You are the one who makes the choices that control your fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/you-are-the-one-who-makes-the-choices-that-control-your-fate/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [The heart makes its choices without weighing the consequences. It doesn't look ahead to the lonely nights that follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-heart-makes-its-choices-without-weighing-the-consequences-it/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [When God makes choices for you don't question just embrace it... It's divinity. No need to resist its all written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/when-god-makes-choices-for-you-don-t-question-just-embrace-it-it-s/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [“A man of wisdom faces it all and makes his choices that actually can change a lot of things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kateryna-kei/a-man-of-wisdom-faces-it-all-and-makes-his-choices-that-actually-can/) [Kateryna Kei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kateryna-kei/) > [Any actor who tells you that he makes choices, absolutely, is wrong. You find work and work finds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/any-actor-who-tells-you-that-he-makes-choices-absolutely-is-wrong-you/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [Everyone makes choices in life. Some bad, some good. It's called living, and if you want to bow out, then go right ahead. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/everyone-makes-choices-in-life-some-bad-some-good-it-s-called-living/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [“The tree of which we are branches on, makes choices yesterday, by the choices we make today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-edward-hall/the-tree-of-which-we-are-branches-on-makes-choices-yesterday-by-the/) [Matthew Edward Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-edward-hall/) > [“This is what evil does; it makes choices for others in the name of religion, in the name of government, in the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kramer/this-is-what-evil-does-it-makes-choices-for-others-in-the-name-of/) [John Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kramer/) ## More by Francine Rivers > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [I used to believe the purpose in life is to find happiness. I don’t believe that anymore. I believe we are all given gifts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/i-used-to-believe-the-purpose-in-life-is-to-find-happiness-i-don-t/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [I'm going to give you God's truth, little girl. All men want to do is hurt you. Once you give them your heart, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/i-m-going-to-give-you-god-s-truth-little-girl-all-men-want-to-do-is/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [And if it (life) were easier, would i have given my heart so fully to God? Put your hope in Him, and you won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/and-if-it-life-were-easier-would-i-have-given-my-heart-so-fully-to/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [“The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heaven. MILTON”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/the-mind-is-its-own-place-and-in-itself-can-make-a-heav-n-of-hell-a/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [The Lord will provide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/the-lord-will-provide/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Maybe it's only those who've made such chaos of their lives who can understand the heights and depths of God's mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/maybe-it-s-only-those-who-ve-made-such-chaos-of-their-lives-who-can/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [“Word of the Lord,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/word-of-the-lord/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [“It's not easy for me either, but if we allow anger to reside in us, we're more guilty than they are because we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-s-not-easy-for-me-either-but-if-we-allow-anger-to-reside-in-us-we/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [That is one of the reasons I write: to feel the Presence of God and know He is speaking to me in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/that-is-one-of-the-reasons-i-write-to-feel-the-presence-of-god-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Lord, you are God! You made us. Who better to know how to fix us when we've gone wrong? who better to set us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/lord-you-are-god-you-made-us-who-better-to-know-how-to-fix-us-when-we/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Never doubt God in the darkness what he has given us in the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/never-doubt-god-in-the-darkness-what-he-has-given-us-in-the-light/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [“Concerns buzzed like flies in her head, and she swatted them with prayers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/concerns-buzzed-like-flies-in-her-head-and-she-swatted-them-with/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [“Other birds fly in groups, only eagles fly alone”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/other-birds-fly-in-groups-only-eagles-fly-alone/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [The battle would not take place in the mountains, valleys, or plains of Israel. It would take place in the wilderness of the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/the-battle-would-not-take-place-in-the-mountains-valleys-or-plains-of/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) [Explore all 114 Francine Rivers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [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/) > [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": "“If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that you’ve got no say in what other people do with their lives. 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