--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In walking through the world there is a…" description: "\"In walking through the world there is a choice for a man to make. He can choose the fair and open path, the path which sound ethics, sound democracy, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/ida-tarbell-15988_choice_in-walking-through-the-world-there-is-a_716161.jpg" --- # In walking through the world there is a choice for a man… ![“In walking through the world there is a choice for a man to make. He can choose the fair and open path, the path which sound ethics, sound democracy, and the common law prescribe, or choose the secret way by which he can get the better of his fellow man.” quote by Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/ida-tarbell-15988_choice_in-walking-through-the-world-there-is-a_716161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/ida-tarbell-15988_choice_in-walking-through-the-world-there-is-a_716161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95a/ida-tarbell-15988_choice_in-walking-through-the-world-there-is-a_716161.jpg) > “In walking through the world there is a choice for a man to make. He can choose the fair and open path, the path which sound ethics, sound democracy, and the common law prescribe, or choose the secret way by which he can get the better of his fellow man.” [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She contrasts a transparent, law‑based path with a secretive, manipulative one, urging ethical choices **In simple terms:** Choose openness and fairness over deceit Key Takeaway Prioritize integrity in decision‑making Themes ethics choice integrity Mood thoughtful critical Type ethical philosophical motivational When to use this quote - political leadership - business negotiations - personal dilemmas Key Concepts moral philosophy social contract political theory Questions to Reflect On - What are the hidden costs of secretive actions? - How can societies enforce the fair path? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex ethical situations ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Good and evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-and-evil/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The Battle of Good and Evil Polytheism gave birth not merely to monotheist religions, but also to dualistic ones. Dualistic religions espouse the existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/the-battle-of-good-and-evil-polytheism-gave-birth-not-merely-to/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Wherever the choice has had to be made between the man of reason and the madman, the world has unhesitatingly followed the madman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/wherever-the-choice-has-had-to-be-made-between-the-man-of-reason-and/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Thus, the ultimate choice for a man, inasmuch as he is driven to transcend himself, is to create or to destroy, to love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/thus-the-ultimate-choice-for-a-man-inasmuch-as-he-is-driven-to/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [The man of control lives in choice, and the man of understanding lives in choicelessness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-man-of-control-lives-in-choice-and-the-man-of-understanding-lives/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Men do things. We can't help it. That's all there is to it. As you will discover in time, the primary choice every man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-joseph/men-do-things-we-can-t-help-it-that-s-all-there-is-to-it-as-you-will/) [Manu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-joseph/) > [Violence is never ever a choice that a man should make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/violence-is-never-ever-a-choice-that-a-man-should-make/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [Men make their choice: one man honors one God, and one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/men-make-their-choice-one-man-honors-one-god-and-one-another/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [If you truly believe in being pro-choice then the man should also have that choice and he does not. He is at the mercy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mbm/if-you-truly-believe-in-being-pro-choice-then-the-man-should-also/) Mbm > [“The choice of a man defines is paths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-choice-of-a-man-defines-is-paths/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [If I was in a situation where it wasn't working and I had a choice with another man, I'm gonna assess it like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-stanger/if-i-was-in-a-situation-where-it-wasn-t-working-and-i-had-a-choice/) [Patti Stanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-stanger/) > [Very few live by choice. Every man is placed in his present condition by causes which acted without his foresight, and with which he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/very-few-live-by-choice-every-man-is-placed-in-his-present-condition/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Violence is a choice a man makes and he alone is responsible for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/violence-is-a-choice-a-man-makes-and-he-alone-is-responsible-for-it/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [“It is for you to choose. Choice is man's right, and for that I leave you free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stewart/it-is-for-you-to-choose-choice-is-man-s-right-and-for-that-i-leave/) [Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-stewart/) > [I have thoroughly tried school-keeping, and found that my expenses were in proportion, or rather out of proportion, to my income,for I was obliged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-have-thoroughly-tried-school-keeping-and-found-that-my-expenses/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one's fellow man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/there-is-no-sweeter-sound-than-the-crumbling-of-one-s-fellow-man/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) ## More by Ida Tarbell > [The whole force of the respectable circles to which I belonged, that respectable circle which knew as I did notthe value of security won,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/the-whole-force-of-the-respectable-circles-to-which-i-belonged-that/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [My whole theory for the improvement of society is based on a belief in the discipline and the education of the individual to self-control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/my-whole-theory-for-the-improvement-of-society-is-based-on-a-belief/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Life is but a collection of habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/life-is-but-a-collection-of-habits/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [The surprise of the fight on the long day, of the experiments with the shorter one, has been not only that the business could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/the-surprise-of-the-fight-on-the-long-day-of-the-experiments-with-the/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [A mind which really lays hold of a subject is not easily detached from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/a-mind-which-really-lays-hold-of-a-subject-is-not-easily-detached/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [It's always a revolution, you know, when things occur of which you have never happened to hear!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/it-s-always-a-revolution-you-know-when-things-occur-of-which-you-have/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [There is no more effective medicine to apply to feverish public sentiments than figures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/there-is-no-more-effective-medicine-to-apply-to-feverish-public/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [I have never had illusions about the value of my individual contribution! I realized early that what a man or a woman does is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/i-have-never-had-illusions-about-the-value-of-my-individual/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [ \[John D. Rockefeller\] didn't care about anyone he did anything just to be rich and be the only company standing without any competition. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/john-d-rockefeller-didn-t-care-about-anyone-he-did-anything-just-to/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [I decided to write the book to open the eyes of the people of how corrupt John D. Rockefeller company was and the unfair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/i-decided-to-write-the-book-to-open-the-eyes-of-the-people-of-how/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Now, if the Standard Oil Company were the only concern in the country guilty of the practices which have given it monopolistic power, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/now-if-the-standard-oil-company-were-the-only-concern-in-the-country/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Rockefeller and his associates did not build the Standard Oil Co. in the board rooms of Wall Street banks. They fought their way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/rockefeller-and-his-associates-did-not-build-the-standard-oil-co-in/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Perhaps our national ambition to standardize ourselves has behind it the notion that democracy means standardization. But standardization is the surest way to destroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/perhaps-our-national-ambition-to-standardize-ourselves-has-behind-it/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Speculation in oil stock companies was another great evil ... From the first, oil men had to contend with wild fluctuations in the price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/speculation-in-oil-stock-companies-was-another-great-evil-from-the/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) > [Ripe old age, cheerful, useful, and understanding, is one of the finest influences in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-tarbell/ripe-old-age-cheerful-useful-and-understanding-is-one-of-the-finest/) [Ida Tarbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) [Explore all 41 Ida Tarbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-tarbell/) ## 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 > [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 > [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": "In walking through the world there is a choice for a man to make. 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