--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We often think of choice as a thing. But…" description: "\"We often think of choice as a thing. But a choice is not a thing. Our options may be things, but a choice—a choice is an action. It is not just somethi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/greg-mckeown-8740_action_we-often-think-of-choice-as-a-thing-but_2471265.jpg" --- # We often think of choice as a thing. But a choice is not a… ![“We often think of choice as a thing. But a choice is not a thing. Our options may be things, but a choice—a choice is an action. It is not just something we have but something we do.” quote by Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/greg-mckeown-8740_action_we-often-think-of-choice-as-a-thing-but_2471265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/greg-mckeown-8740_action_we-often-think-of-choice-as-a-thing-but_2471265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/773/greg-mckeown-8740_action_we-often-think-of-choice-as-a-thing-but_2471265.jpg) > “We often think of choice as a thing. But a choice is not a thing. Our options may be things, but a choice—a choice is an action. It is not just something we have but something we do.” [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes choice as an active decision rather than a static option, urging intentional action. **In simple terms:** Choices are actions, not things. Key Takeaway Act on decisions, don’t just consider options. Themes decision‑making agency action Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career moves - daily routines - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts philosophy psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What recent choice did you treat as a thing? - How can you turn an option into decisive action? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex situations where options are limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Are you going to be able to shave your legs? Are you going to be able to get married? 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We cannot avoid these two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-robert-anthony/everything-in-your-life-is-a-matter-of-choice-there-are-only-two/) [Dr. Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-robert-anthony/) > [There is no such thing as no choice. There is always a choice. The only question is whether it's a bearable one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/there-is-no-such-thing-as-no-choice-there-is-always-a-choice-the-only/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [But a knife ain't just a thing, is it? It's a choice, it's something you do. A knife says yes or no, cut or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/but-a-knife-ain-t-just-a-thing-is-it-it-s-a-choice-it-s-something-you/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [The propensity to do good things is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-cassidy/the-propensity-to-do-good-things-is-a-choice/) [Shaun Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-cassidy/) > [I do my things not because I had no other choice but because I really want to...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jegede-abiodun/i-do-my-things-not-because-i-had-no-other-choice-but-because-i-really/) [Jegede Abiodun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jegede-abiodun/) > [The true essence of happiness lies in the way the one takes the choice of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-true-essence-of-happiness-lies-in-the-way-the-one-takes-the/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [The self is not something ready-made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-self-is-not-something-ready-made-but-something-in-continuous/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [He loved her, of course, but better than that, he chose her, day after day. 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