--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perhaps our greatest power in life is the…" description: "\"Perhaps our greatest power in life is the power to choose. Without question, choices are the most determining factor in how our lives turn out.\" — John..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/john-c-maxwell-113_choice_perhaps-our-greatest-power-in-life-is-th_3215465.jpg" --- # Perhaps our greatest power in life is the power to choose… ![“Perhaps our greatest power in life is the power to choose. Without question, choices are the most determining factor in how our lives turn out.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/john-c-maxwell-113_choice_perhaps-our-greatest-power-in-life-is-th_3215465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/john-c-maxwell-113_choice_perhaps-our-greatest-power-in-life-is-th_3215465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99b/john-c-maxwell-113_choice_perhaps-our-greatest-power-in-life-is-th_3215465.jpg) > “Perhaps our greatest power in life is the power to choose. Without question, choices are the most determining factor in how our lives turn out.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes that the ability to make choices determines life outcomes, highlighting personal agency as the greatest power. **In simple terms:** Choosing wisely shapes your destiny. Key Takeaway Recognize and exercise your power to choose. Themes personal agency decision making leadership empowerment choice Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - relationship decisions - health choices - financial planning Key Concepts free will responsibility life design Questions to Reflect On - What choices have most defined your path? - How do you balance freedom with responsibility? A Different Perspective Choices can be constrained by external circumstances and biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-polis-schutz/this-life-is-yours-take-the-power-to-choose-what-you-want-to-do-and-3/) [Susan Polis Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-polis-schutz/) > [This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-polis-schutz/this-life-is-yours-take-the-power-to-choose-what-you-want-to-do-and-2/) [Susan Polis Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-polis-schutz/) > [This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/this-life-is-yours-take-the-power-to-choose-what-you-want-to-do-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“The greatest power a person possesses is the power to choose. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-martin-kohe/the-greatest-power-a-person-possesses-is-the-power-to-choose/) [J. Martin Kohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-martin-kohe/) > [The greatest power God gave us is the power to choose. We have the opportunity to choose whether we're going to act or procrastinate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/the-greatest-power-god-gave-us-is-the-power-to-choose-we-have-the/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-martin-kohe/the-greatest-power-that-a-person-possesses-is-the-power-to-choose/) [J. Martin Kohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-martin-kohe/) > [Welcome to the free world. We give people the power to choose. They can even choose the wrong thing. Beautiful, isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/welcome-to-the-free-world-we-give-people-the-power-to-choose-they-can/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-the-power-to-choose-what-you-want-to-do-and-do-it-well-take-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to power is to choose to limit oneself- to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/relationships-are-never-about-power-and-one-way-to-avoid-the-will-to-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So, I guess we are who we are for a lot of reasons. And maybe we'll never know most of them. But even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/so-i-guess-we-are-who-we-are-for-a-lot-of-reasons-and-maybe-we-ll/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [You have the power to choose who you want to be. Be the grandest, greatest, and the best that you can be. By rN](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul/you-have-the-power-to-choose-who-you-want-to-be-be-the-grandest/) [Rahul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul/) > [“But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-even-if-we-don-t-have-the-power-to-choose-where-we-come-from-we-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You always do what you want to do. This is true with every act. You may say that you had to do something, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-clement-stone/you-always-do-what-you-want-to-do-this-is-true-with-every-act-you-may/) [W. Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/) > [“But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from we can still choose where we go from there. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/but-even-if-we-don-t-have-the-power-to-choose-where-we-come-from-we/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [We start to die when we no longer have the power to choose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavian-paler/we-start-to-die-when-we-no-longer-have-the-power-to-choose/) [Octavian Paler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavian-paler/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## 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": "Perhaps our greatest power in life is the power to choose. 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