--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Always there is the one choice to be…" description: "\"“Always there is the one choice to be made: which road to take? which duty to accept? which item, amidst a store's displays, to purchase as our own? Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/joan-w-blos-63232_choice_always-there-is-the-one-choice-to-be-mad_3169409.jpg" --- # Always there is the one choice to be made: which road to… ![“Always there is the one choice to be made: which road to take? which duty to accept? which item, amidst a store's displays, to purchase as our own? The paths of the past parts of our lives are strewn with things not chosen. One believes, nay, one is taught , that choice provides fulfillment of…” quote by Joan W. Blos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/joan-w-blos-63232_choice_always-there-is-the-one-choice-to-be-mad_3169409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/joan-w-blos-63232_choice_always-there-is-the-one-choice-to-be-mad_3169409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f0c/joan-w-blos-63232_choice_always-there-is-the-one-choice-to-be-mad_3169409.jpg) > ““Always there is the one choice to be made: which road to take? which duty to accept? which item, amidst a store's displays, to purchase as our own? The paths of the past parts of our lives are strewn with things not chosen. One believes, nay, one is taught , that choice provides fulfillment of desire. In truth, however, relinquishment and loss enter in to the bargain every single time. Loss looks over the shoulders of fair choice. For every thing one chooses, some thing is left behind.”” [Joan W. Blos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-w-blos/) ## 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 involves trade‑offs: choosing one path means leaving another behind, and loss accompanies even the best choices. **In simple terms:** Choosing means giving up something else. Key Takeaway Accept loss as part of decision‑making. Themes choice trade‑offs loss fulfillment Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationship choices - consumer purchases - personal growth - reflective journaling Key Concepts opportunity cost regret acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What have you sacrificed for a recent decision? - How does acknowledging loss change your view of choice? A Different Perspective Choosing never eliminates loss, only reshapes it. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Left behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-behind/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) ## Related quotes > [“Historians pick and choose and every one of them picks and chooses the same thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/historians-pick-and-choose-and-every-one-of-them-picks-and-chooses/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [One of the principle things life has taught me is that we always have a choice. When we say we "can't," we usually mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/one-of-the-principle-things-life-has-taught-me-is-that-we-always-have/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [“Because adoption is a lifelong journey, we have a future filled with the potential to learn invaluable lessons. But many of us haven't been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrie-eldridge/because-adoption-is-a-lifelong-journey-we-have-a-future-filled-with/) [Sherrie Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrie-eldridge/) > [Like many works of literature, Hollywood chooses for its villains people who strive for social dominance through the pursuit of wealth, prestige, and power.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/like-many-works-of-literature-hollywood-chooses-for-its-villains/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [America's addiction to violence is partly evident in the heroes it chooses to glorify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/america-s-addiction-to-violence-is-partly-evident-in-the-heroes-it/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-choose-him-over-and-over-again-and-he-chooses-me/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [It is the woman who chooses the man who will choose her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-woman-who-chooses-the-man-who-will-choose-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You got two chooses 1 take me as me 2 LEAVE THERE THE DOOR if you want me for me BYE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luna-rj/you-got-two-chooses-1-take-me-as-me-2-leave-there-the-door-if-you/) Luna\_Rj > [Hope for the best, get ready for the worst, and then take what God chooses to send.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/hope-for-the-best-get-ready-for-the-worst-and-then-take-what-god/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“ We all choose things, and we also all choose against things. I want to be the kind of person who chooses for more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/we-all-choose-things-and-we-also-all-choose-against-things-i-want-to/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [What the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-the-heart-loves-the-will-chooses-and-the-mind-justifies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What sort of philosophy one chooses depends on what sort of person one is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-gottlieb-fichte/what-sort-of-philosophy-one-chooses-depends-on-what-sort-of-person/) [Johann Gottlieb Fichte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-gottlieb-fichte/) > [You do not want to talk to me on the phone. How do I know? Because I don't want to talk to you on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/you-do-not-want-to-talk-to-me-on-the-phone-how-do-i-know-because-i/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [“Who flies high, easily chooses his target.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/who-flies-high-easily-chooses-his-target/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) ## More by Joan W. Blos > [“She lived among us for a while And brought joy where she went. We thought she was a gift of God But learned she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-w-blos/she-lived-among-us-for-a-while-and-brought-joy-where-she-went-we/) [Joan W. Blos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-w-blos/) > [“Kindness must be the highest virtue--don't let me forget that ever. Were I to strive for one thing only 'twould be to be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-w-blos/kindness-must-be-the-highest-virtue-don-t-let-me-forget-that-ever/) [Joan W. Blos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-w-blos/) > [“For are we not, all of us, wand'rers and strangers; and do we not, all of us, travel in danger or voyage uncharted seas?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-w-blos/for-are-we-not-all-of-us-wand-rers-and-strangers-and-do-we-not-all-of/) [Joan W. Blos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-w-blos/) > [“Well, I am going on 83 now but not about to quit. There are too many things I know about where I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-w-blos/well-i-am-going-on-83-now-but-not-about-to-quit-there-are-too-many/) [Joan W. Blos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-w-blos/) [Explore all 5 Joan W. Blos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-w-blos/) ## 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": "“Always there is the one choice to be made: which road to take? which duty to accept? which item, amidst a store's displays, to purchase as our own? 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