--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a choice whether to live or die…" description: "\"I had a choice whether to live or die, and I chose to live.\" — Jason Robards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/jason-robards-17272_choice_i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-an_3227664.jpg" --- # I had a choice whether to live or die, and I chose to live. ![“I had a choice whether to live or die, and I chose to live.” quote by Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/jason-robards-17272_choice_i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-an_3227664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/jason-robards-17272_choice_i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-an_3227664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/jason-robards-17272_choice_i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-an_3227664.jpg) > “I had a choice whether to live or die, and I chose to live.” [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing life over death is an active decision to pursue existence despite hardship. **In simple terms:** Choosing to live is a conscious act. Key Takeaway Embrace life, seek help, and act toward wellbeing. Themes resilience choice survival Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational personal development When to use this quote - recovering from illness - post‑trauma - addiction recovery Key Concepts existential decision mental health hope Questions to Reflect On - What supports help you stay committed to living? - How can you turn this choice into daily actions? A Different Perspective Life’s meaning can shift; choice alone may not solve underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Live or die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-or-die/) ## Related quotes > [“You chose to live here now. You should try to live in the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-marciano/you-chose-to-live-here-now-you-should-try-to-live-in-the-present/) [Francesca Marciano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-marciano/) > [“Here in the bath­room with me are ra­zor blades. Here is io­dine to drink. Here are sleep­ing pills to swal­low. You have a choice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/here-in-the-bath-room-with-me-are-ra-zor-blades-here-is-io-dine-to/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You have a choice. Live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. Every time you don't throw yourself down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-have-a-choice-live-or-die-every-breath-is-a-choice-every-minute-2/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Soon you won't even have the choice to live or die as you wish!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/soon-you-won-t-even-have-the-choice-to-live-or-die-as-you-wish/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [You have a choice. Live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/you-have-a-choice-live-or-die-every-breath-is-a-choice-every-minute/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Here in the bathroom with me are razor blades. Here is iodine to drink. Here are sleeping pills to swallow. You have a choice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/here-in-the-bathroom-with-me-are-razor-blades-here-is-iodine-to-drink/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The color of my skin should not determine whether I live or die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/the-color-of-my-skin-should-not-determine-whether-i-live-or-die/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [A movie will live or die with your casting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/a-movie-will-live-or-die-with-your-casting/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [I live or die by how well I act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-menzies/i-live-or-die-by-how-well-i-act/) [Tobias Menzies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-menzies/) > [People are not ants or bees. We do not reason or love or live or die collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/people-are-not-ants-or-bees-we-do-not-reason-or-love-or-live-or-die/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“When something comes from within, when it is a part of you, you have no choice but to live it, to express it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-ravikant/when-something-comes-from-within-when-it-is-a-part-of-you-you-have-no/) [Kamal Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-ravikant/) > [“You can't always make good choices. Sometimes you have to settle for making a choice you can live with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikki-wakefield/you-can-t-always-make-good-choices-sometimes-you-have-to-settle-for/) [Vikki Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikki-wakefield/) > [Lifes what you make its your choice how you live it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lifes-what-you-make-its-your-choice-how-you-live-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's your choice how you live life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-your-choice-how-you-live-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life's a choice: you can live in black and white, or you can live in colour. I'll take every shade of the rainbow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/life-s-a-choice-you-can-live-in-black-and-white-or-you-can-live-in/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More by Jason Robards > [I've always wanted to be part of a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-part-of-a-family/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [That's what acting is: really make-believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/that-s-what-acting-is-really-make-believe/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [My father has the most tremendous personality and wonderful looks - he looks like Fredric March.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/my-father-has-the-most-tremendous-personality-and-wonderful-looks-he/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [I did a lot of violent junk just because I needed the money - alimony movies, you might call them - and then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-did-a-lot-of-violent-junk-just-because-i-needed-the-money-alimony/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [It doesn't do to eat too much before a performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/it-doesn-t-do-to-eat-too-much-before-a-performance/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [It's part of an actor's equipment to project a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/it-s-part-of-an-actor-s-equipment-to-project-a-voice/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [An actor doesn't change thought, theme, or mood unless the character does, and the character only does it within the words of the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/an-actor-doesn-t-change-thought-theme-or-mood-unless-the-character/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > ['Iceman' covers a bigger scope than 'Long Day's Journey.' But they're both fabulous pieces of work. 'Iceman' is like a symphony. It's got all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/iceman-covers-a-bigger-scope-than-long-day-s-journey-but-they-re-both/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [We grow each day or don't grow. Go the other way. We're a different person all the time. The human being is something happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/we-grow-each-day-or-don-t-grow-go-the-other-way-we-re-a-different/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [I've played all kinds of TV roles, from cowboys to fathers of teenagers. It's helped me a lot. Of course, I was very lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-ve-played-all-kinds-of-tv-roles-from-cowboys-to-fathers-of/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [I have six children, and we neglect our older ones more. Because we were so busy trying to make a living, we just say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-have-six-children-and-we-neglect-our-older-ones-more-because-we/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [I was a radioman first class in the Navy. I put in seven years. I was around a lot of admirals; I served on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-was-a-radioman-first-class-in-the-navy-i-put-in-seven-years-i-was/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [The theater has kept me alive, and it's allowed me to work at my craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/the-theater-has-kept-me-alive-and-it-s-allowed-me-to-work-at-my-craft/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [That's what interests me about film: directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/that-s-what-interests-me-about-film-directing/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) > [Actors usually have a lot in common with kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/actors-usually-have-a-lot-in-common-with-kids/) [Jason Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) [Explore all 37 Jason Robards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/) ## 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": "I had a choice whether to live or die, and I chose to live.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jason Robards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-and-i-chose-to-live/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-and-i-chose-to-live/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/jason-robards-17272_choice_i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-an_3227664.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/jason-robards-17272_choice_i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-an_3227664.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/840/jason-robards-17272_choice_i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-an_3227664.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had a choice whether to live or die, and I chose to live.” — Jason Robards", "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": "Jason Robards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-robards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had a choice whether to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-and-i-chose-to-live/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-robards/i-had-a-choice-whether-to-live-or-die-and-i-chose-to-live/#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 } } ] } ```