--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You want to make your own decisions, but…" description: "\"You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective.\" — James E. Faust" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/james-e-faust-1274_decision_you-want-to-make-your-own-decisions-but_77215.png" --- # You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make… ![“You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective.” quote by James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/james-e-faust-1274_decision_you-want-to-make-your-own-decisions-but_77215.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/james-e-faust-1274_decision_you-want-to-make-your-own-decisions-but_77215.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08c/james-e-faust-1274_decision_you-want-to-make-your-own-decisions-but_77215.png) > “You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective.” [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages decisions that consider long‑term impact rather than short‑term gain. **In simple terms:** Think beyond the moment. Key Takeaway Prioritize lasting value. Themes long‑term thinking ethical decision‑making personal responsibility visionary planning Mood thoughtful inspired Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - investment choices - relationship commitments - environmental actions Key Concepts temporal perspective moral philosophy Practical Applications - strategic goal setting - sustainable policy design Questions to Reflect On - How would your choices change if you imagined a 100‑year horizon? - What values guide your long‑term view? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-eternal-994890/) [Decisions Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-ought-994893/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eternal Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-perspective/) [Make Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decisions/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [The court makes an amazing amount of decisions that ought to be made by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/the-court-makes-an-amazing-amount-of-decisions-that-ought-to-be-made/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [“What is the next thing you need for leadership? It is the ability to make up your mind to make a decision and accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-manekshaw/what-is-the-next-thing-you-need-for-leadership-it-is-the-ability-to/) [Sam Manekshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-manekshaw/) > [I'm strongly for a patient Bill of Rights. Decisions ought to be made by doctors, not accountants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-strongly-for-a-patient-bill-of-rights-decisions-ought-to-be-made/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“From His eternal perspective, it's tolerable to allow our temporary dreams to fall apart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-allen/from-his-eternal-perspective-it-s-tolerable-to-allow-our-temporary/) [Jennie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-allen/) > [“In our Heavenly Father’s great priesthood-endowed plan, men have the unique responsibility to administer the priesthood, but they are not the priesthood. Men and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/in-our-heavenly-father-s-great-priesthood-endowed-plan-men-have-the/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [From an eternal perspective, the only death that is truly premature is the death of one who is not prepared to meet God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/from-an-eternal-perspective-the-only-death-that-is-truly-premature-is/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [Seeing life from an eternal perspective helps us focus our limited mortal energies on the things that matter most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/seeing-life-from-an-eternal-perspective-helps-us-focus-our-limited/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“I began asking myself questions like these: Am I listening for the still, small voice? Is my work still the center of my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-p-buford/i-began-asking-myself-questions-like-these-am-i-listening-for-the/) [Bob P. Buford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-p-buford/) > [“To accept the lively, the messy, and the unexpected things in our days, knowing that God sees them and has an eternal perspective, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-p-freeman/to-accept-the-lively-the-messy-and-the-unexpected-things-in-our-days/) [Emily P. Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-p-freeman/) > [Endurance in ministry is rooted in the eternal perspective. The absence of an eternal perspective makes you vulnerable to losing heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/endurance-in-ministry-is-rooted-in-the-eternal-perspective-the/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [“Christians do not restrict their moral horizons to immediate results; they make their ethical decisions from an eternal perspective (p. 52).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/christians-do-not-restrict-their-moral-horizons-to-immediate-results/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) > [“God may sometimes laugh at our plans. But if they are based on a Heavenly and eternal perspective, He will always support us. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-turk/god-may-sometimes-laugh-at-our-plans-but-if-they-are-based-on-a/) [Paul Turk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-turk/) > [That’s the interesting thing about the philosophy — to accomplish the grand, you have to focus on the small. To exist in the eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-carroll/that-s-the-interesting-thing-about-the-philosophy-to-accomplish-the/) [Pete Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-carroll/) > [As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understnd the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/as-we-look-for-humor-seek-for-the-eternal-perspective-understnd-the/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“Beloved, it helps to have an eternal perspective. If your life on earth were all there is, it might be reasonable to run from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/beloved-it-helps-to-have-an-eternal-perspective-if-your-life-on-earth/) [Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/) ## More by James E. Faust > [Leadership is about three-fourths show-the-way and about one-fourth follow-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/leadership-is-about-three-fourths-show-the-way-and-about-one-fourth/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [The Holy Ghost is the greatest guarantor of inward peace in our unstable world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-holy-ghost-is-the-greatest-guarantor-of-inward-peace-in-our/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [I hope that each of you girls will become an individual of significant worth and a person of virtue so that your contributions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-hope-that-each-of-you-girls-will-become-an-individual-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [For women, the important ingredients for happiness are to forge an identity, serve the Lord, get an education, develop your talents, serve your family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/for-women-the-important-ingredients-for-happiness-are-to-forge-an/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [ Satan had two conditions \[to his plan\]: the first was the denial of agency, and the second, that he would have the honor. In… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/satan-had-two-conditions-to-his-plan-the-first-was-the-denial-of/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Just as order gave life and beauty to the earth when it was dark and void, so it does to us. Obedience helps us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/just-as-order-gave-life-and-beauty-to-the-earth-when-it-was-dark-and/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Integrity is the value we set on ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/integrity-is-the-value-we-set-on-ourselves/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [Your criticism may be worse than the conduct you are trying to correct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/your-criticism-may-be-worse-than-the-conduct-you-are-trying-to-correct/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [You cannot convert people beyond your own conversion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/you-cannot-convert-people-beyond-your-own-conversion/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [In order to do well, missionary work has to be totally positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/in-order-to-do-well-missionary-work-has-to-be-totally-positive/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [We were called, male and female, to do great works with separate approaches and separate assignments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/we-were-called-male-and-female-to-do-great-works-with-separate/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [It is not good practice to become intrigued by Satan and his mysteries. No good can come from getting close to evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/it-is-not-good-practice-to-become-intrigued-by-satan-and-his/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [As children of the Lord we should strive every day to rise to a higher level of personal righteousness in all of our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/as-children-of-the-lord-we-should-strive-every-day-to-rise-to-a/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [The saving principles and doctrines of the Church are established, fixed, and unchangeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/the-saving-principles-and-doctrines-of-the-church-are-established/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) [Explore all 263 James E. Faust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) ## More Decision 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/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You want to make your own decisions, but you ought to make those decisions with an eternal perspective.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James E. 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