--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can drift along with general opinion…" description: "\"We can drift along with general opinion and tradition, or we can throw ourselves upon the guidance of the soul within and steer courageously toward tru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/helen-keller-429_choice_we-can-drift-along-with-general-opinion_1761997.png" --- # We can drift along with general opinion and tradition, or… ![“We can drift along with general opinion and tradition, or we can throw ourselves upon the guidance of the soul within and steer courageously toward truth... We have a choice in every event and every limitation and…to choose is to create.” quote by Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/helen-keller-429_choice_we-can-drift-along-with-general-opinion_1761997.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/helen-keller-429_choice_we-can-drift-along-with-general-opinion_1761997.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2c/helen-keller-429_choice_we-can-drift-along-with-general-opinion_1761997.png) > “We can drift along with general opinion and tradition, or we can throw ourselves upon the guidance of the soul within and steer courageously toward truth... We have a choice in every event and every limitation and…to choose is to create.” [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing to follow inner guidance over societal expectations is an act of creating one's own truth. **In simple terms:** Follow your inner voice, not the crowd. Key Takeaway Choose inner truth. Themes self‑discovery courage truth Mood determined hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - personal values - creative projects - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts existential choice inner guidance Questions to Reflect On - What inner truth are you avoiding? - How can you act courageously amid tradition? A Different Perspective Societal pressure can make inner listening difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Guidance Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance-soul-1123281/) [Limitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limitation/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Steer Courageously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steer-courageously-1699620/) [Steers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steers/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-choice-319506/) ## Related quotes > [“The Religious person follows the teachings of their Church, The Spiritual person follows the Guidance of their Soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/non-nomen/the-religious-person-follows-the-teachings-of-their-church-the/) [Non Nomen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/non-nomen/) > [Sometimes You Have To Accept The Truth That Your Choice About Your Future Life-Partner Was Immature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-accept-the-truth-that-your-choice-about-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is always there. The choice is yours, whether to face it or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-always-there-the-choice-is-yours-whether-to-face-it-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “\[THE DAILY BREATH\] Blaise Pascal, the famous mathematician, once said: "To those who wish to see, God gives them sufficient light. To those who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/the-daily-breath-blaise-pascal-the-famous-mathematician-once-said-to/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I try to make the things that I say be based in reality, based in facts, and truthful. And if that's the case, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-bauer/i-try-to-make-the-things-that-i-say-be-based-in-reality-based-in/) [Trevor Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-bauer/) > [The power of the Internet is also its limitation - it provides access to large amounts of information without providing guidance on how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/the-power-of-the-internet-is-also-its-limitation-it-provides-access/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [If we have to continue to live under sequestration, it will have a maximum impact on our ability to fulfill the president's strategic guidance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-hagel/if-we-have-to-continue-to-live-under-sequestration-it-will-have-a/) [Chuck Hagel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-hagel/) > [I am conscious of a soul-sense that lifts me above the narrow, cramping circumstances of my life. My physical limitations are forgotten- my world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-am-conscious-of-a-soul-sense-that-lifts-me-above-the-narrow/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I have never believed that my limitations were in any sense punishments or accidents. If I had held such a view, I could never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-never-believed-that-my-limitations-were-in-any-sense/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If a man is crossing the river and an empty boat collides with his skiff, even though he is a bad tempered man he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/if-a-man-is-crossing-the-river-and-an-empty-boat-collides-with-his/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [Mothers ... would do anything to steer their daughter the right way. It is frustrating beyond measure for them when a daughter screams, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-flanagan/mothers-would-do-anything-to-steer-their-daughter-the-right-way-it-is/) [Caitlin Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-flanagan/) > [I think you have to sort of accept that nobody really knows where it's going so there has to be a lot of impulsive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/i-think-you-have-to-sort-of-accept-that-nobody-really-knows-where-it/) [Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/) > [Once I got a guitar that was relatively user-friendly, but not super-duper easy, I really came on as a guitarist, at that point. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/once-i-got-a-guitar-that-was-relatively-user-friendly-but-not-super/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Every flyer who ventures across oceans to distant lands is a potential explorer; in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-batten/every-flyer-who-ventures-across-oceans-to-distant-lands-is-a/) [Jean Batten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-batten/) ## More by Helen Keller > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The clatter of a changing world is not pleasant, and those who have enjoyed the comforts and protection of the old order may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-clatter-of-a-changing-world-is-not-pleasant-and-those-who-have/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body? Until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/when-indeed-shall-we-learn-that-we-are-all-related-one-to-the-other/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I have visited sweatshops, factories, and crowded slums. If I could not see it, I could smell it. The foundation of society is laid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-have-visited-sweatshops-factories-and-crowded-slums-if-i-could-not/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [If we do not like our work, and do not try to get happiness out of it, we are a menace to our profession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/if-we-do-not-like-our-work-and-do-not-try-to-get-happiness-out-of-it/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/alone-we-can-do-so-little-together-we-can-do-so-much/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-do-not-want-the-peace-which-passeth-understanding-i-want-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/although-the-world-is-full-of-suffering-it-is-also-full-of-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Love? Why ... it is what everybody feels for everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/love-why-it-is-what-everybody-feels-for-everybody-else/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/blindness-separates-us-from-things-but-deafness-separates-us-from/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [A simple, childlike faith in a Divine Friend solves all the problems that come to us by land or sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-simple-childlike-faith-in-a-divine-friend-solves-all-the-problems/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“A beam from the everlasting sun of God. Rude and unresponsive are the stones; Yet in them divine things lie concealed; I hear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/a-beam-from-the-everlasting-sun-of-god-rude-and-unresponsive-are-the/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I can see in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-can-see-in-what-you-call-the-dark-but-which-to-me-is-golden/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) [Explore all 568 Helen Keller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) ## 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": "We can drift along with general opinion and tradition, or we can throw ourselves upon the guidance of the soul within and steer courageously toward truth... 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