--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only things standing between you and…" description: "\"The only things standing between you and the compassionate, wise, and creative person you want to be are matters of choice. Your choice. No one can occ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/gary-zukav-714_choice_the-only-things-standing-between-you-and_2613908.png" --- # The only things standing between you and the… ![“The only things standing between you and the compassionate, wise, and creative person you want to be are matters of choice. Your choice. No one can occupy your generosity except you.” quote by Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/gary-zukav-714_choice_the-only-things-standing-between-you-and_2613908.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/gary-zukav-714_choice_the-only-things-standing-between-you-and_2613908.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/682/gary-zukav-714_choice_the-only-things-standing-between-you-and_2613908.png) > “The only things standing between you and the compassionate, wise, and creative person you want to be are matters of choice. Your choice. No one can occupy your generosity except you.” [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth depends on conscious choices; generosity and wisdom are self‑generated, not granted by others. **In simple terms:** Your choices shape your compassionate self. Key Takeaway Make intentional, generous choices. Themes self‑development choice generosity wisdom Mood inspirational empowering reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily decision making - volunteering - mindfulness practice - creative projects Key Concepts free will personal responsibility inner growth Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your desired self? - How can you cultivate generosity despite constraints? A Different Perspective External circumstances can limit options, making choices harder. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Compassionate Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate-wise-2051047/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-person/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Standing Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing-compassionate-2051048/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Your generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-generosity/) ## Related quotes > [... I know for sure, that the universe is wise and compassionate. The question then becomes: How can there be such brutality and pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/i-know-for-sure-that-the-universe-is-wise-and-compassionate-the/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Wounds are the means through which we enter the hearts of other people. They are meant to teach us to become compassionate and wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/wounds-are-the-means-through-which-we-enter-the-hearts-of-other/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [The point of meditation is not merely to be an honest or good person in the conventional sense, trying only to maintain our security.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/the-point-of-meditation-is-not-merely-to-be-an-honest-or-good-person/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [But I liked you from the moment I first heard your voice,” he said, “when I had no idea what you looked like. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/but-i-liked-you-from-the-moment-i-first-heard-your-voice-he-said-when/) [Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/) > [Control your generosity when dealing with a chronic borrower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/control-your-generosity-when-dealing-with-a-chronic-borrower/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do all the good you can, by all the means you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [Give what you have. To some one, it may be better than you dare to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/give-what-you-have-to-some-one-it-may-be-better-than-you-dare-to-think/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“Writing is the place where I can be as bold and compassionate and wise as I choose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bowes/writing-is-the-place-where-i-can-be-as-bold-and-compassionate-and/) [Richard Bowes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bowes/) > [If you're looking at the Bible for a guide to living a compassionate, wise and humane life, well, frankly you've got more chance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-condell/if-you-re-looking-at-the-bible-for-a-guide-to-living-a-compassionate/) [Pat Condell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-condell/) > [You cannot do a kindness too soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/you-cannot-do-a-kindness-too-soon/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The Church needs your faith, your idealism and your generosity, so that she can always be young in the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-church-needs-your-faith-your-idealism-and-your-generosity-so-that/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The measure of your success will be the measure of your generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-measure-of-your-success-will-be-the-measure-of-your-generosity/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [This is for you,' he (the Alchemist) said, holding one of the parts (of gold) out to the monk. 'It's for your generosity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/this-is-for-you-he-the-alchemist-said-holding-one-of-the-parts-of/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Dear young people, the Church expects great things of you and your generosity. Don’t be afraid to aim high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/dear-young-people-the-church-expects-great-things-of-you-and-your/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never measure your generosity by what you give, but rather by what you have left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/never-measure-your-generosity-by-what-you-give-but-rather-by-what-you/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More by Gary Zukav > [If you are not conscious of all of the different parts of yourself, the part of yourself that is the strongest will win out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/if-you-are-not-conscious-of-all-of-the-different-parts-of-yourself/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [When fear ceases to scare you, it cannot stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-fear-ceases-to-scare-you-it-cannot-stay/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Emotions are classes in the Earth school. Some classes are about fear, and some are about love. The Universe is your tutor, and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/emotions-are-classes-in-the-earth-school-some-classes-are-about-fear/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Reverence is an attitude of honoring life. Reverence automatically brings forth patience. Reverence permits non-judgemental justice. Reverence is a perception of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/reverence-is-an-attitude-of-honoring-life-reverence-automatically/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Being harmless means being so strong, so empowered, that the idea of showing power through harm is not even a part of your consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/being-harmless-means-being-so-strong-so-empowered-that-the-idea-of/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [I see the potential for a new world being born in front of me and all around me, and I feel the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/i-see-the-potential-for-a-new-world-being-born-in-front-of-me-and-all/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The challenge to each human is creation. Will you create with reverence, or with neglect?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-challenge-to-each-human-is-creation-will-you-create-with/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the springtimes, summers, autumns, and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-coming-and-going-of-the-seasons-give-us-more-than-the-springtimes/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Spiritual partnership is the partnership between equals for the purpose of spiritual growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/spiritual-partnership-is-the-partnership-between-equals-for-the/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The requirements for our evolution have changed. Survival is no longer sufficient. Our evolution now requires us to develop spiritually-to become emotionally aware and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-requirements-for-our-evolution-have-changed-survival-is-no-longer/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Please... tell me who you are and what you want. And if you think those are simple questions, keep in mind that most people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/please-tell-me-who-you-are-and-what-you-want-and-if-you-think-those/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [The number of teachers and guides that a soul has depends upon what it seeks to accomplish and its level of awareness. Souls that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-number-of-teachers-and-guides-that-a-soul-has-depends-upon-what/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [“Pot do duše je skozi srce.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/pot-do-du-e-je-skozi-srce/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Its not possible to do the wrong thing. You do what you do and you experience the consequences of what you do. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/its-not-possible-to-do-the-wrong-thing-you-do-what-you-do-and-you/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Perfectionism is a perpetual flight into an illusory future that cannot be attained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/perfectionism-is-a-perpetual-flight-into-an-illusory-future-that/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) [Explore all 365 Gary Zukav quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) ## 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": "The only things standing between you and the compassionate, wise, and creative person you want to be are matters of choice. 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