--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I may appear to be an eccentric old…" description: "\"I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a free choice.\" — Jose Mujica" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/jose-mujica-9597_choice_i-may-appear-to-be-an-eccentric-old-man_1332878.png" --- # I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a… ![“I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a free choice.” quote by Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/jose-mujica-9597_choice_i-may-appear-to-be-an-eccentric-old-man_1332878.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/jose-mujica-9597_choice_i-may-appear-to-be-an-eccentric-old-man_1332878.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d35/jose-mujica-9597_choice_i-may-appear-to-be-an-eccentric-old-man_1332878.png) > “I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a free choice.” [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing eccentricity is a deliberate act of freedom, not a forced condition. **In simple terms:** Eccentricity is a conscious choice. Key Takeaway Embrace individuality intentionally. Themes freedom individuality choice nonconformity Mood conversational inspirational Type interview philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - leadership - personal branding Key Concepts political philosophy personal identity Questions to Reflect On - What freedoms does eccentricity grant you? - How do you balance uniqueness with social responsibility? A Different Perspective Eccentricity can alienate others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Eccentric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eccentric/) [Free choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-choice/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) ## Related quotes > [“She felt like she’d done so much work to appear as eccentric as possible, and still, when it came down to it, she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/she-felt-like-she-d-done-so-much-work-to-appear-as-eccentric-as/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Longevity-and sanity. Eccentric old ladies on Harleys I can deal with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-larkin/longevity-and-sanity-eccentric-old-ladies-on-harleys-i-can-deal-with/) Alison Larkin > [Man has free choice, or otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands, prohibitions, rewards and punishments would be in vain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/man-has-free-choice-or-otherwise-counsels-exhortations-commands/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [The dignity of man is in free choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/the-dignity-of-man-is-in-free-choice/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) > [Whatever does not spring from a man's free choice, or is only the result of instruction and guidance, does not enter into his very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/whatever-does-not-spring-from-a-man-s-free-choice-or-is-only-the/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/a-man-has-free-choice-to-the-extent-that-he-is-rational/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [man is free, in so far as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature. Man is free even from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-is-free-in-so-far-as-he-has-the-power-of-contradicting-himself/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [There are some who praise a man free from disease; to me no man who is poor seems free from disease but to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/there-are-some-who-praise-a-man-free-from-disease-to-me-no-man-who-is/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [As precious as life itself is our heritage of individual freedom, for man's free agency is a God-given gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/as-precious-as-life-itself-is-our-heritage-of-individual-freedom-for/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [ Man is free; but not unless he believes he is\[.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/man-is-free-but-not-unless-he-believes-he-is/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Let me be a free man - free to travel, free to stop, free to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/let-me-be-a-free-man-free-to-travel-free-to-stop-free-to-work/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [Man is free; yet we must not suppose that he is at liberty to do everything he pleases, for he becomes a slave the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/man-is-free-yet-we-must-not-suppose-that-he-is-at-liberty-to-do/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/without-self-knowledge-without-understanding-the-working-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every virtuous man is free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philo/every-virtuous-man-is-free/) [Philo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philo/) > [Only when he voluntarily chooses that which he inexorably must do, has man any free will at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-when-he-voluntarily-chooses-that-which-he-inexorably-must-do-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jose Mujica > [“I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-m-called-the-poorest-president-but-i-don-t-feel-poor-poor-people/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [No country can solve climate change alone, we have to take global measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/no-country-can-solve-climate-change-alone-we-have-to-take-global/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I think the ideal way of living is to live like the vast majority of people whom we attempt to serve and represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-think-the-ideal-way-of-living-is-to-live-like-the-vast-majority-of/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [What's sad is that an 80-year-old grandpa has to be the open-minded one. Old people aren't old because of their age, but because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/what-s-sad-is-that-an-80-year-old-grandpa-has-to-be-the-open-minded/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I know prisons from the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-know-prisons-from-the-inside/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [My years in jail were a bit like a workshop for my - that actually forged my way of thinking and my values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/my-years-in-jail-were-a-bit-like-a-workshop-for-my-that-actually/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [If I asked people to live as I live, they would kill me,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/if-i-asked-people-to-live-as-i-live-they-would-kill-me/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I'm not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live. My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-m-not-the-poorest-president-the-poorest-is-the-one-who-needs-a-lot/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [We applied a very simple principle: Recognize the facts. Abortion is old as the world. Gay marriage, please - it's older than the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/we-applied-a-very-simple-principle-recognize-the-facts-abortion-is/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [If we lived within our means - by being prudent - the 7 billion people in the world could have everything they needed. Global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/if-we-lived-within-our-means-by-being-prudent-the-7-billion-people-in/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I was no assassin. I got out during the amnesty because I had not committed any violent crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-was-no-assassin-i-got-out-during-the-amnesty-because-i-had-not/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I am an austere president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-am-an-austere-president/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [We have sacrificed the old immaterial gods, and now we are occupying the temple of the Market-God. He organizes our economy, our politics, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/we-have-sacrificed-the-old-immaterial-gods-and-now-we-are-occupying/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [Help does not mean to intervene. I will not meddle if I am not invited to do so. But if I can serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/help-does-not-mean-to-intervene-i-will-not-meddle-if-i-am-not-invited/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [A president is a high-level official who is elected to carry out a function. He is not a king, not a god. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/a-president-is-a-high-level-official-who-is-elected-to-carry-out-a/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) [Explore all 71 Jose Mujica quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) ## 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 may appear to be an eccentric old man... 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