---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I choose totally by instinct. And the…"
description: "\"I choose totally by instinct. And the only time I've ever gone against my instincts, I've regretted it.\" — Julia Roberts"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/julia-roberts-2214_against_i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-onl_225370.jpg"
---

#  I choose totally by instinct. And the only time I've ever…

![“I choose totally by instinct. And the only time I've ever gone against my instincts, I've regretted it.” quote by Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/julia-roberts-2214_against_i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-onl_225370.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/julia-roberts-2214_against_i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-onl_225370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/julia-roberts-2214_against_i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-onl_225370.jpg)

> “I choose totally by instinct. And the only time I've ever gone against my instincts, I've regretted it.”

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

I trust instinct; going against it leads to regret.

**In simple terms:** Instinct guides decisions.

Key Takeaway

Follow your gut.

Themes

intuition regret decision making

Mood

thoughtful confident

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career choices
- personal relationships
- investment decisions

Key Concepts

psychology of intuition risk assessment

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you doubt instinct?
- How to balance instinct and analysis?

A Different Perspective

Instinct can be wrong in complex data.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Instincts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instincts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [The only time I've ever gone against my instincts, I've regretted it. It was only really one time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/the-only-time-i-ve-ever-gone-against-my-instincts-i-ve-regretted-it/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [I've never regretted anything I've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-ve-never-regretted-anything-i-ve-ever-done/)

[Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/)

> [I've never regretted anything I've done. Only things that I haven't done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/i-ve-never-regretted-anything-i-ve-done-only-things-that-i-haven-t/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [I've never regretted not having kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/i-ve-never-regretted-not-having-kids/)

[Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/)

> [I didn't go to the Bob Marley and the Wailers show twice in my life, and I've regretted it every day since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-de-blasio/i-didn-t-go-to-the-bob-marley-and-the-wailers-show-twice-in-my-life/)

[Bill de Blasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-de-blasio/)

> [I've never regretted a swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murray/i-ve-never-regretted-a-swim/)

[Joseph Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murray/)

> [I've had some pretty good arguments with people, but I've never regretted it. I've had people come up where it's all emotion and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patton-oswalt/i-ve-had-some-pretty-good-arguments-with-people-but-i-ve-never/)

[Patton Oswalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patton-oswalt/)

> [“I’ve found the things I’ve regretted most in my life are the things I wanted to do but never had the courage to try.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-kage/i-ve-found-the-things-i-ve-regretted-most-in-my-life-are-the-things-i/)

[Linda Kage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-kage/)

> [I've always regretted the fact that I've never formally studied and learned the mechanics of writing music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/i-ve-always-regretted-the-fact-that-i-ve-never-formally-studied-and/)

[Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/)

> [...but I've never regretted it. You can't regret experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-ve-never-regretted-it-you-can-t-regret-experience/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Many times in life I've regretted the things I've said without thinking. But I've never regretted the things I said nearly as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/many-times-in-life-i-ve-regretted-the-things-i-ve-said-without/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [I've never made something I've regretted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-humble/i-ve-never-made-something-i-ve-regretted/)

Rod Humble

> [I've regretted things in my past, but when I think of all the things that made me me, the past is the reason and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-regretted-things-in-my-past-but-when-i-think-of-all-the-things/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Every time I've built character, I've regretted it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/every-time-i-ve-built-character-i-ve-regretted-it/)

[Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/)

> [I regret things all the time. I've never regretted not saying something. I've only regretted saying something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-teigen/i-regret-things-all-the-time-i-ve-never-regretted-not-saying/)

[Chrissy Teigen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-teigen/)

## More by Julia Roberts

> [If you're at the sink washing the cup, wash the cup. Don't worry about everything else. ... We forget to appreciate the simplest moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/if-you-re-at-the-sink-washing-the-cup-wash-the-cup-don-t-worry-about/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [I've sort of grown into my cuteness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-ve-sort-of-grown-into-my-cuteness/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [Real emotion transcends language. You dont have to understand their words to feel their pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/real-emotion-transcends-language-you-dont-have-to-understand-their/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [“I wish i were a little girl again, because skinned knees are easier to fix than broken heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-wish-i-were-a-little-girl-again-because-skinned-knees-are-easier-to/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [ \[On refusing to do nude movie scenes:\] There are certain people who should know what you look like naked. I just don't think your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/on-refusing-to-do-nude-movie-scenes-there-are-certain-people-who/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [I am completely happy with my life. I love everything about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-am-completely-happy-with-my-life-i-love-everything-about-it/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [People came up: 'I thought you were 6 ft tall.' I'm average height - 5 ft 8 ins, skinny blonde. One guy says to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/people-came-up-i-thought-you-were-6-ft-tall-i-m-average-height-5-ft-8/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [That is the great joy: to go to work with people that you love, whether they be people that you are in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/that-is-the-great-joy-to-go-to-work-with-people-that-you-love-whether/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [Something that's such a joy in my life every day - cooking - is this incredible, horrific danger to women around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/something-that-s-such-a-joy-in-my-life-every-day-cooking-is-this/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [I never really did years of movie-after-movie-after-movie but when you've got three toddlers in the house you're performing all day long, anyway, with puppet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-never-really-did-years-of-movie-after-movie-after-movie-but-when/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [I believe that two people are connected at the heart, and it doesn't matter what you do, or who you are or where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-believe-that-two-people-are-connected-at-the-heart-and-it-doesn-t/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [ \[Never underestimate\] the power of dinner. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/never-underestimate-the-power-of-dinner/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [In case I forget to tell you later, I had a really good time tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/in-case-i-forget-to-tell-you-later-i-had-a-really-good-time-tonight/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [I didn't know the odds were so stacked against me. I went for TV shows and never got them. But I kept glued to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-didn-t-know-the-odds-were-so-stacked-against-me-i-went-for-tv-shows/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

> [Some great friendships can be formed because you see one another at your best and worst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/some-great-friendships-can-be-formed-because-you-see-one-another-at/)

[Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

[Explore all 179 Julia Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/)

## More Against quotes

> [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/)

[David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/)

[Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/)

> [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/)

[Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/)

> [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/)

[Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/)

> [In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/in-france-they-spend-six-months-training-policemen-then-they-give/)

[Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/)

> [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/)

[Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/)

> [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [I don't have any regrets or hold any grudge against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-or-hold-any-grudge-against-anyone/)

[Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/)

> [Ronaldo will always score against everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/ronaldo-will-always-score-against-everyone/)

[Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/)

> [Well, just that there would be somebody in the office and the voters - it was more or less an understanding in the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/well-just-that-there-would-be-somebody-in-the-office-and-the-voters/)

[Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/)

> [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/)

Joe Pitts

> [It goes way, way back when we were under Sweden's rule. We always think they are better than us. We played against them so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saku-koivu/it-goes-way-way-back-when-we-were-under-sweden-s-rule-we-always-think/)

[Saku Koivu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saku-koivu/)

> [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/)

[Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/)

> [I'm an Indian and I shall not do anything that goes against my ethos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherlyn-chopra/i-m-an-indian-and-i-shall-not-do-anything-that-goes-against-my-ethos/)

[Sherlyn Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherlyn-chopra/)

Browse all 2,190 Against quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I choose totally by instinct. And the only time I've ever gone against my instincts, I've regretted it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Julia Roberts"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-only-time-i-ve-ever-gone-against/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Against"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-only-time-i-ve-ever-gone-against/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/julia-roberts-2214_against_i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-onl_225370.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/julia-roberts-2214_against_i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-onl_225370.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d17/julia-roberts-2214_against_i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-onl_225370.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I choose totally by instinct. And the only time I've ever gone against my instincts, I've regretted it.” — Julia Roberts",
                "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": "Julia Roberts",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I choose totally by instinct. And...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-only-time-i-ve-ever-gone-against/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-only-time-i-ve-ever-gone-against/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
