--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The course of our lives is not determined…" description: "\"The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/gordon-b-hinckley-331_choice_the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determine_805982.png" --- # The course of our lives is not determined by great… ![“The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on which we run.” quote by Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/gordon-b-hinckley-331_choice_the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determine_805982.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/gordon-b-hinckley-331_choice_the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determine_805982.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/gordon-b-hinckley-331_choice_the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determine_805982.png) > “The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on which we run.” [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Everyday small choices shape our life's direction more than occasional big decisions. **In simple terms:** Small daily choices guide life. Key Takeaway Focus on consistent habits. Themes habit choice direction consistency Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - budgeting - nutrition - relationship building - time management Key Concepts behavioral economics habit formation decision making Questions to Reflect On - What tiny habit could you improve today? - How do daily choices reflect your values? A Different Perspective Large decisions still matter for pivotal moments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awesome Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awesome-decisions-6157691/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Chart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-chart-6157692/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Day Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-choices-1622897/) [Day to day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-to-day/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-direction-6157690/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Track](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/track/) ## Related quotes > [“Your destiny lies in your hands and can be molded with each passing day by the choices you make”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/your-destiny-lies-in-your-hands-and-can-be-molded-with-each-passing/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [This fork in the road happens over a hundred times a day, and it's the choices that you make that will determine the shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-murray/this-fork-in-the-road-happens-over-a-hundred-times-a-day-and-it-s-the/) [Liz Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-murray/) > [Every day I have many choices to make about who I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lindhout/every-day-i-have-many-choices-to-make-about-who-i-want-to-be/) [Amanda Lindhout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lindhout/) > [On every new day you have two choices,either continue sleep for dreams,or wake up & chase your dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/on-every-new-day-you-have-two-choices-either-continue-sleep-for/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“It might sound fantastic, but when we bother to look, it’s hard to deny that our day-to-day choices shape the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/it-might-sound-fantastic-but-when-we-bother-to-look-it-s-hard-to-deny/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [At the end of the day it's the choices you make that count.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-scott/at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-the-choices-you-make-that-count/) [Lucas Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-scott/) > [For this purpose I determined to keep an account of the voyage, and to write down punctually every thing we performed or saw from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-this-purpose-i-determined-to-keep-an-account-of-the-voyage-and-to/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [You have as great an opportunity for satisfaction in the performance of your duty as I do in mine. The progress of this work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-have-as-great-an-opportunity-for-satisfaction-in-the-performance/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [As a child, I certainly wanted to have hair that I could grow long and flip around. I no longer want that. My own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-okonedo/as-a-child-i-certainly-wanted-to-have-hair-that-i-could-grow-long-and/) [Sophie Okonedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-okonedo/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [I regret that there aren't more short stories in other magazines. But in a certain way, I think the disappearance of the short-story template…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorin-stein/i-regret-that-there-aren-t-more-short-stories-in-other-magazines-but/) [Lorin Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorin-stein/) > [Put not off from day to day and from cycle to cycle, is the belief that ye will succeed in obtaining the mysteries when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/put-not-off-from-day-to-day-and-from-cycle-to-cycle-is-the-belief/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I try not to look too far ahead. I'm more about living day to day and working hard. I think it's great to visualize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/i-try-not-to-look-too-far-ahead-i-m-more-about-living-day-to-day-and/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“There is a powerful difference between picturing an image that does not relate to you, and recalling something specific that you are connected with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-houge/there-is-a-powerful-difference-between-picturing-an-image-that-does/) [Adam Houge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-houge/) ## More by Gordon B. Hinckley > [“Now we are at war. Great forces have been mobilized and will continue to be. Political alliances are being forged. We do not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/now-we-are-at-war-great-forces-have-been-mobilized-and-will-continue/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Do not trade your birthright as a mother for some bauble of passing value. Let your first interest be in your home. The baby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/do-not-trade-your-birthright-as-a-mother-for-some-bauble-of-passing/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Some husbands regard it as their prerogative to compel their wives to fit their standards of what they think to be the ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/some-husbands-regard-it-as-their-prerogative-to-compel-their-wives-to/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [There have been times when a particularly heavy dose of such cynicism has caused me to reflect that surely this is the age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-have-been-times-when-a-particularly-heavy-dose-of-such-cynicism/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of tolerance, with forbearance one for another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-must-work-harder-to-build-mutual-respect-an-attitude-of-tolerance/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Who can calculate the wounds inflicted, their depth and pain, by harsh and mean words spoken in anger? How pitiful a sight is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/who-can-calculate-the-wounds-inflicted-their-depth-and-pain-by-harsh/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [If you will make your first concern the comfort, the well-being, and the happiness of your companion, sublimating any personal concern to that loftier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/if-you-will-make-your-first-concern-the-comfort-the-well-being-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/get-on-your-knees-and-pray-then-get-on-your-feet-and-work/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [I have now been an officer in this Church for a very long time. I am an old man who cannot deny the calendar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-have-now-been-an-officer-in-this-church-for-a-very-long-time-i-am/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Books represent the accumulated workings of the human mind, the endless treasures of man's thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/books-represent-the-accumulated-workings-of-the-human-mind-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [The Voice of Heaven is a still small voice. The voice of peace in the home is a quiet voice. There is need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-voice-of-heaven-is-a-still-small-voice-the-voice-of-peace-in-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [We wear on our faces the results of what we believe and how we behave, and such behavior is most evident in the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/we-wear-on-our-faces-the-results-of-what-we-believe-and-how-we-behave/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [You are great young people. I have said again and again, we have the finest generation of young people ever in the history of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/you-are-great-young-people-i-have-said-again-and-again-we-have-the/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Work without vision is drudgery. Vision without work is dreaming. Work plus vision-this is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/work-without-vision-is-drudgery-vision-without-work-is-dreaming-work/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [There is no association richer than the companionship of husband and wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-is-no-association-richer-than-the-companionship-of-husband-and/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) [Explore all 669 Gordon B. Hinckley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) ## 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 course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little day-to-day choices which chart the track on which we run.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gordon B. Hinckley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determined-by-great-awesome-decisions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determined-by-great-awesome-decisions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/gordon-b-hinckley-331_choice_the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determine_805982.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/gordon-b-hinckley-331_choice_the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determine_805982.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/gordon-b-hinckley-331_choice_the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determine_805982.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The course of our lives is not determined by great, awesome decisions. Our direction is set by the little…” — Gordon B. Hinckley", "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": "Gordon B. Hinckley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The course of our lives is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determined-by-great-awesome-decisions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/the-course-of-our-lives-is-not-determined-by-great-awesome-decisions/#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 } } ] } ```