--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Accept or change; bitter or better, love…" description: "\"Accept or change; bitter or better, love or selfishness. These are the options in life that will define our character.\" — Geraldine Vermaak" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/geraldine-vermaak-8787_acceptance_accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-o_945714.jpg" --- # Accept or change; bitter or better, love or selfishness… ![“Accept or change; bitter or better, love or selfishness. These are the options in life that will define our character.” quote by Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/geraldine-vermaak-8787_acceptance_accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-o_945714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/geraldine-vermaak-8787_acceptance_accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-o_945714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/geraldine-vermaak-8787_acceptance_accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-o_945714.jpg) > “Accept or change; bitter or better, love or selfishness. These are the options in life that will define our character.” [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote presents a binary view of life choices, suggesting that each decision shapes one's moral character. **In simple terms:** Life choices define character. Key Takeaway Choose actions that build integrity. Themes morality choice character Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - financial planning - health habits Key Concepts ethical dilemmas personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Which decision today reflects your true values? - How do you handle gray areas? A Different Perspective It oversimplifies complex situations into false dichotomies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) ## Related quotes > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [Three solutions to every problem: Accept it, change it or leave it. If you can't accept it, change it. If you can't change it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/three-solutions-to-every-problem-accept-it-change-it-or-leave-it-if/) [Rajat DOGRA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/) > [People can't accept when you change sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-gardot/people-can-t-accept-when-you-change-sometimes/) [Melody Gardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-gardot/) > [You Have Only Two Options In Life... 1. CHANGE Or 2. ACCEPT So, Try To Change What You Can't Accept And Accept What You Can't Change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/you-have-only-two-options-in-life-1-change-or-2-accept-so-try-to/) Pacifiersucker > [Accept what you cannot change and change what you cannot accept this is one of the simplest ways to be happy in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/accept-what-you-cannot-change-and-change-what-you-cannot-accept-this/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Suppose you feel you cannot accept some fact about yourself. Then own your refusal to accept. Own the block. Embrace it fully. And watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/suppose-you-feel-you-cannot-accept-some-fact-about-yourself-then-own/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Go without a coat when it's cold; find out what cold is. Go hungry; keep your existence lean. Wear away the fat, get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/go-without-a-coat-when-it-s-cold-find-out-what-cold-is-go-hungry-keep/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Anything you put in a play -- any speech -- has got to do one of two things: either define character or push the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/anything-you-put-in-a-play-any-speech-has-got-to-do-one-of-two-things/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [It is not the events in our life that define our character, but how we deal with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/it-is-not-the-events-in-our-life-that-define-our-character-but-how-we/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [“Social Roles Do Not Define Character; Character Defines Social Roles”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monk-of-yhvh/social-roles-do-not-define-character-character-defines-social-roles/) [monk of YHVH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monk-of-yhvh/) > [Your opinions don't define my character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xeru-tamoyo-ryuko/your-opinions-don-t-define-my-character/) Xeru Tamoyo Ryuko > [Your actions define your character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-actions-define-your-character/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I can't immediately define the character, and there's an element of mystery to it and still a lot to be explored, that's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/when-i-can-t-immediately-define-the-character-and-there-s-an-element/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Life may burn us, it's how we rise out of the ashes that define our character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-may-burn-us-it-s-how-we-rise-out-of-the-ashes-that-define-our/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Hard times define one's character.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-poirot/hard-times-define-one-s-character/) [Ken Poirot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-poirot/) ## More by Geraldine Vermaak > [In trying not to disappoint others; we disappoint ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/in-trying-not-to-disappoint-others-we-disappoint-ourselves/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Everything that you ever wanted or dreamed about has always been inside of you. You just need to release your faith and believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/everything-that-you-ever-wanted-or-dreamed-about-has-always-been/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [The only reason why things don't change, is because we are still stuck in our old rigid mind sets. Change your thoughts and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/the-only-reason-why-things-don-t-change-is-because-we-are-still-stuck/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Love; joy; peace; longsuffering; kindness; goodness; gentleness; self-control; faith; hope; forgiveness; joy; patience; brotherly love is the prime currency of the universe - God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/love-joy-peace-longsuffering-kindness-goodness-gentleness-self/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; found our hearts worthy enough to save, and to entrust us to spread the Gospel. Including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/god-through-jesus-christ-our-lord-and-savior-found-our-hearts-worthy/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [If only people wouldn't base their love on feelings and emotions the world would suffer a lot less of much needless pain. Ask yourself;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/if-only-people-wouldn-t-base-their-love-on-feelings-and-emotions-the/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Put God first and everything else will follow; things will add up too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/put-god-first-and-everything-else-will-follow-things-will-add-up-too/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Obstacles are the pressures for all diamonds in the rough; no way around them only through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/obstacles-are-the-pressures-for-all-diamonds-in-the-rough-no-way/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [I don't believe in making mistakes. I just see them as an opportunity presented to me, to do something the right way; or better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/i-don-t-believe-in-making-mistakes-i-just-see-them-as-an-opportunity/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [It's not about what you are looking for in love, but what love is looking for in you, to heal you and complete you;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/it-s-not-about-what-you-are-looking-for-in-love-but-what-love-is/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Change : the only thing that needs to is our way of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/change-the-only-thing-that-needs-to-is-our-way-of-thinking/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Karma is the most bitter pill to swallow. And the unpleasant after taste it leaves in your mouth is the receipt - to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/karma-is-the-most-bitter-pill-to-swallow-and-the-unpleasant-after/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [You will never find true love until the day you bring no one else but your authentic true self to the table; and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/you-will-never-find-true-love-until-the-day-you-bring-no-one-else-but/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [It is lawless not to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/it-is-lawless-not-to-be-yourself/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Without trust, there can be no love. It requires a lot of trust to love, because this is the foundation of any successful relationship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/without-trust-there-can-be-no-love-it-requires-a-lot-of-trust-to-love/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) [Explore all 78 Geraldine Vermaak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) Chan Heng Chee > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Accept or change; bitter or better, love or selfishness. These are the options in life that will define our character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geraldine Vermaak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-or-selfishness-these-are-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accept" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-or-selfishness-these-are-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/geraldine-vermaak-8787_acceptance_accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-o_945714.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/geraldine-vermaak-8787_acceptance_accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-o_945714.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f68/geraldine-vermaak-8787_acceptance_accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-o_945714.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Accept or change; bitter or better, love or selfishness. These are the options in life that will define our…” — Geraldine Vermaak", "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": "Geraldine Vermaak", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Accept or change; bitter or better,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-or-selfishness-these-are-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/accept-or-change-bitter-or-better-love-or-selfishness-these-are-the/#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 } } ] } ```