--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are doomed to choose, and every choice…" description: "\"We are doomed to choose, and every choice may entail an irreparable loss.\" — Isaiah Berlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/isaiah-berlin-10150_choice_we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice_1727414.jpg" --- # We are doomed to choose, and every choice may entail an… ![“We are doomed to choose, and every choice may entail an irreparable loss.” quote by Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/isaiah-berlin-10150_choice_we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice_1727414.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/isaiah-berlin-10150_choice_we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice_1727414.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/isaiah-berlin-10150_choice_we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice_1727414.jpg) > “We are doomed to choose, and every choice may entail an irreparable loss.” [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Every decision carries the risk of losing something valuable beyond repair. **In simple terms:** Choices can cause irreversible loss. Key Takeaway Consider consequences before deciding. Themes ethics choice loss Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - political policy - career moves - financial investments Key Concepts philosophy decision theory Questions to Reflect On - What loss are you willing to accept? - How do you weigh irreversible outcomes? A Different Perspective Irreversible loss is not always avoidable; sometimes choices are forced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choose Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-choice-337183/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Doomed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doomed/) [Doomed Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doomed-choose-1397544/) [Irreparable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irreparable/) [Irreparable Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irreparable-loss-1397545/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) ## Related quotes > [We are doomed to chose and every choice may entail an irreparable loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-doomed-to-chose-and-every-choice-may-entail-an-irreparable-loss/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The notion of the perfect whole, the ultimate solution in which all good things coexist, seems to me not merely unobtainable--that is a truism--but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/the-notion-of-the-perfect-whole-the-ultimate-solution-in-which-all/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [“I choose because I can.. I have options in life and the ability to choose, but that choice determines my future, the next. However…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantel-smith/i-choose-because-i-can-i-have-options-in-life-and-the-ability-to/) [Chantel Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantel-smith/) > [If you don't do the choosing, life will choose for you, and it may not be the choice you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anthony/if-you-don-t-do-the-choosing-life-will-choose-for-you-and-it-may-not/) [Robert Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anthony/) > [“It is only when you start to choose . . . do you have a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc-2/it-is-only-when-you-start-to-choose-do-you-have-a-choice/) [David W Earle LPC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc-2/) > [“When faced with two equally tough choices, most people choose the third choice: to not choose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-faced-with-two-equally-tough-choices-most-people-choose-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [So I would choose to be with you, That's if the choice were mine to make, But you can make decisions too, And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-joel/so-i-would-choose-to-be-with-you-that-s-if-the-choice-were-mine-to/) [Billy Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-joel/) > [Whatever you choose, your choice will mean there are two new worlds. And perhaps sometimes, on the edge of sleep, we will see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/whatever-you-choose-your-choice-will-mean-there-are-two-new-worlds/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Some decisions are hard, some are easy, but either way it's our choices that matter. Who we chose to align with. What we choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-whitney/some-decisions-are-hard-some-are-easy-but-either-way-it-s-our-choices/) [Daisy Whitney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-whitney/) > [A person's looking for a simple truth to live by, there it is. CHOICE. To refuse to passively accept what we've been handed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-person-s-looking-for-a-simple-truth-to-live-by-there-it-is-choice/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Choose well. Your choice is brief, and yet endless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/choose-well-your-choice-is-brief-and-yet-endless/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“To choose not to choose is still a choice for which you alone are responsible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cox/to-choose-not-to-choose-is-still-a-choice-for-which-you-alone-are/) [Gary Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cox/) > [“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/) > [“You’re not asking me to choose you. There’s no choice about it. It’s always been you. Your father once told me that we always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/you-re-not-asking-me-to-choose-you-there-s-no-choice-about-it-it-s/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [Anywhere, anytime ordinary people are given the chance to choose, the choice is the same: freedom, not tyranny; democracy, not dictatorship; the rule of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/anywhere-anytime-ordinary-people-are-given-the-chance-to-choose-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) ## More by Isaiah Berlin > [Those who have ever valued liberty for its own sake believed that to be free to choose, and not to be chosen for, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/those-who-have-ever-valued-liberty-for-its-own-sake-believed-that-to/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Liberty is liberty, not equality or fairness or justice or human happiness or a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/liberty-is-liberty-not-equality-or-fairness-or-justice-or-human/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [“The world that we encounter in ordinary experience is one in which we are faced by choices equally absolute, the realisation of some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/the-world-that-we-encounter-in-ordinary-experience-is-one-in-which-we/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Philosophers are adults who persist in asking childish questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/philosophers-are-adults-who-persist-in-asking-childish-questions/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [The history of society is the history of the inventive labors that man alter man, alter his desires, habits, outlook, relationships both to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/the-history-of-society-is-the-history-of-the-inventive-labors-that/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Out of the crooked timber of humanity, nothing completely straight was ever made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/out-of-the-crooked-timber-of-humanity-nothing-completely-straight-was/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Utopias have their value -- nothing so wonderfully expands the imaginative horizons of human potentialities -- but as guides to conduct they can prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/utopias-have-their-value-nothing-so-wonderfully-expands-the/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Both liberty and equality are among the primary goals pursued by human beings throughout many centuries; but total liberty for wolves is death to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/both-liberty-and-equality-are-among-the-primary-goals-pursued-by/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [All forms of tampering with human beings, getting at them, shaping them against their will to your own pattern, all thought control and conditioning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/all-forms-of-tampering-with-human-beings-getting-at-them-shaping-them/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [The case against the notion of historical objectivity is like the case against international law, or international morality; that it does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/the-case-against-the-notion-of-historical-objectivity-is-like-the/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [“True pluralism, as Berlin understands it, is much more tough-minded and intellectually bold: it rejects the view that all conflicts of values can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/true-pluralism-as-berlin-understands-it-is-much-more-tough-minded-and/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [Liberty and equality, spontaneity and security, happiness and knowledge, mercy and justice - all these are ultimate human values, sought for themselves alone; yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/liberty-and-equality-spontaneity-and-security-happiness-and-knowledge/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [To understand is to perceive patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/to-understand-is-to-perceive-patterns/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [“The view that the truth is one and undivided, and the same for all men everywhere at all times, whether one finds it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/the-view-that-the-truth-is-one-and-undivided-and-the-same-for-all-men/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) > [The most passionate, consistent, extreme and implacable enemy of the Enlightenment and ... all forms of rationalism ... was Johann Georg Hamann. His influence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/the-most-passionate-consistent-extreme-and-implacable-enemy-of-the/) [Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) [Explore all 64 Isaiah Berlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/) ## 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 are doomed to choose, and every choice may entail an irreparable loss.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Isaiah Berlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice-may-entail-an-irreparable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice-may-entail-an-irreparable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/isaiah-berlin-10150_choice_we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice_1727414.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/isaiah-berlin-10150_choice_we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice_1727414.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a15/isaiah-berlin-10150_choice_we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice_1727414.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are doomed to choose, and every choice may entail an irreparable loss.” — Isaiah Berlin", "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": "Isaiah Berlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We are doomed to choose, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice-may-entail-an-irreparable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/we-are-doomed-to-choose-and-every-choice-may-entail-an-irreparable/#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 } } ] } ```