Birth Quote by Joseph Epstein
“All men and women are born, live, suffer and die; what distinguishes us one from another is our dreams, whether they be dreams about worldly or unworldly things, and what we do to make them come about... We do not choose to be born. We do not choose our parents. We do not choose our historical epoch, the country of our birth, or the immediate circumstances of our upbringing. We do not, most of us, choose to die; nor do we choose the time and conditions of our death. But within this realm of choicelessness, we do choose how we live.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Dream of Life (published in The American Scholar, 2005)
Contemplates that while many life conditions are beyond our control, we can choose how to live and pursue our dreams.
In simple terms: We control our actions despite uncontrollable circumstances.
Key Takeaway
Focus on purposeful living.
Themes
choice
existence
dreams
agency
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- career planning
- personal development
- overcoming adversity
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- What dreams guide your choices?
- How do you act within constraints?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify systemic constraints on individuals.
