--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Given any binary, it's fun to look for…" description: "\"“Given any binary, it's fun to look for some hidden third, and the reason why the third was hidden says a lot about culture. The choice between two of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/kate-bornstein-11426_choice_given-any-binary-it-s-fun-to-look-for-so_2003565.jpg" --- # Given any binary, it's fun to look for some hidden third… ![“Given any binary, it's fun to look for some hidden third, and the reason why the third was hidden says a lot about culture. The choice between two of something is not a choice at all, but rather the opportunity to subscribe to the value system which holds the two presented choices as mutually…” quote by Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/kate-bornstein-11426_choice_given-any-binary-it-s-fun-to-look-for-so_2003565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/kate-bornstein-11426_choice_given-any-binary-it-s-fun-to-look-for-so_2003565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f4/kate-bornstein-11426_choice_given-any-binary-it-s-fun-to-look-for-so_2003565.jpg) > ““Given any binary, it's fun to look for some hidden third, and the reason why the third was hidden says a lot about culture. The choice between two of something is not a choice at all, but rather the opportunity to subscribe to the value system which holds the two presented choices as mutually exclusive alternatives. Once we choose one or the other, we've bought into the system that perpetuates the binary.”” [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Binary choices hide deeper cultural values; recognizing the hidden third reveals those values. **In simple terms:** Binary choices mask cultural values. Key Takeaway Question hidden assumptions. Themes culture identity choice Mood thoughtful provocative Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - political debate - personal identity work - creative problem solving Key Concepts critical theory social constructs binary logic Questions to Reflect On - What hidden third might exist in your current dilemma? - How do cultural values shape your choices? A Different Perspective Not all situations fit a binary framework. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Binary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/binary/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-choice/) [Choices Mutually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-mutually-3538923/) [Perpetuates Binary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perpetuates-binary-3538924/) [Value system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-system/) ## Related quotes > [The choice between two of something is not a choice at all, but rather the opportunity to subscribe to the value system which holds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/the-choice-between-two-of-something-is-not-a-choice-at-all-but-rather/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“There is always a choice to be had, you even have the choice to choose it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-besecker/there-is-always-a-choice-to-be-had-you-even-have-the-choice-to-choose/) [Travis Besecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-besecker/) > [“She cried, 'No choice! No choice!' She doesn't know. If she doesn't speak, she is making a choice. If she doesn't try, she can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/she-cried-no-choice-no-choice-she-doesn-t-know-if-she-doesn-t-speak/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [There is no such thing as no choice. There is always a choice. The only question is whether it's a bearable one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/there-is-no-such-thing-as-no-choice-there-is-always-a-choice-the-only/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Every time you're making a choice, one choice is the safe/comfortable choice - and one choice is the risky/uncomfortable choice. the risky/uncomfortable choice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/every-time-you-re-making-a-choice-one-choice-is-the-safe-comfortable/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [“We all have choices. What are you choosing to believe about yourself, and about your life Believing you don't have a choice is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/we-all-have-choices-what-are-you-choosing-to-believe-about-yourself/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [“I don’t!” I said. “I don’t care what she thinks!” “Of course you do. Why else would you be angry?” I couldn’t think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-m-wilson/i-don-t-i-said-i-don-t-care-what-she-thinks-of-course-you-do-why-else/) [Catherine M. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-m-wilson/) > [“That is what love is. A possibility that becomes a choice. A choice you keep making, over and over. Day after day. Year after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dokey/that-is-what-love-is-a-possibility-that-becomes-a-choice-a-choice-you/) [Cameron Dokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dokey/) > [I've made mistakes, and I know why I made them, but I made that choice. Nobody's ever made a choice for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-ve-made-mistakes-and-i-know-why-i-made-them-but-i-made-that-choice/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [Marriage should not be a goal; it should be a choice. One choice available out of many recognized as valid by society. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mcgee/marriage-should-not-be-a-goal-it-should-be-a-choice-one-choice/) [David McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcgee/) > [We often feel paralyzed by choice and make no choice. But the thing is, no choice is a choice. If you’re not doing something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/we-often-feel-paralyzed-by-choice-and-make-no-choice-but-the-thing-is/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [But now I wonder--what if everyone is pretty much the same and it's just a thousand small choices that add up to the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/but-now-i-wonder-what-if-everyone-is-pretty-much-the-same-and-it-s/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“You can walk on the shady side of a mountain or on the sunny side! The choice is yours! And the same choice applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-can-walk-on-the-shady-side-of-a-mountain-or-on-the-sunny-side-the/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [To be free, the workers must have choice. To have choice they must retain in their own hands the right to determine under what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gompers/to-be-free-the-workers-must-have-choice-to-have-choice-they-must/) [Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gompers/) ## More by Kate Bornstein > [My own take on the word "transgender" is that it's an umbrella term for anyone who breaks any rules, laws, guidelines or protocol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/my-own-take-on-the-word-transgender-is-that-it-s-an-umbrella-term-for/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [Is it a boy or a girl ?”. There is a great answer to that one going around : “We don’t know ; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/is-it-a-boy-or-a-girl-there-is-a-great-answer-to-that-one-going/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [“It doesn't really matter what a person decides to do, or how radically a person plays with gender. What matters, I think, is how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/it-doesn-t-really-matter-what-a-person-decides-to-do-or-how-radically/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [We grew up creating this whole world view for ourselves because it's not there in the culture. What am I? And I have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/we-grew-up-creating-this-whole-world-view-for-ourselves-because-it-s/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [Sex is f-king, everything else is gender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/sex-is-f-king-everything-else-is-gender/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [The transgender movement even divides itself up by gender, as many folks stick with their same trans-genders (female-to-male or male-to-female). Additionally, the movement gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/the-transgender-movement-even-divides-itself-up-by-gender-as-many/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [“When we talk about my gender as though it were a performance, we let the audience - with all their expectations, prejudices, and presumptions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/when-we-talk-about-my-gender-as-though-it-were-a-performance-we-let/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [“You can have great autonomy in the things you choose to learn and pursue on your own time. When you're learning things that interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/you-can-have-great-autonomy-in-the-things-you-choose-to-learn-and/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [Gender is used as a control mechanism that's just wrong. Gender is never anything to struggle with; gender is something to play with. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/gender-is-used-as-a-control-mechanism-that-s-just-wrong-gender-is/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [“We are entitled to our anger in response to this oppression: our anger is a message to ourselves that we need to get active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/we-are-entitled-to-our-anger-in-response-to-this-oppression-our-anger/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [I know and know of more than a few MTF's (male-to-female trannies) who've developed strange cancers. Myself, I've got a nice little case of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/i-know-and-know-of-more-than-a-few-mtf-s-male-to-female-trannies-who/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [“There are more and more visibly weird and freaky people in the world these days, and it’s high time we stop carrying forward the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/there-are-more-and-more-visibly-weird-and-freaky-people-in-the-world/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [The current transgender movement is composed of a great number of factions, divided by those old favorites of class, race, age, language, region, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/the-current-transgender-movement-is-composed-of-a-great-number-of/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > […gender is not sane. It's not sane to call a rainbow black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/gender-is-not-sane-it-s-not-sane-to-call-a-rainbow-black-and-white/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) > [When you're a Scientologist it's like the movie Goodfellas, where the gangsters hang out with only other gangsters. We only hung out with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bornstein/when-you-re-a-scientologist-it-s-like-the-movie-goodfellas-where-the/) [Kate Bornstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) [Explore all 60 Kate Bornstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bornstein/) ## More Binary quotes > [I don't think there's anything unique about human intellience. All the nuerons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-unique-about-human-intellience-all-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Any sufficiently crisp question can be answered by a single binary digit-0 or 1, yes or no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/any-sufficiently-crisp-question-can-be-answered-by-a-single-binary/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“I live in a binary star system, my two suns being my two sons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrado-ghinamo/i-live-in-a-binary-star-system-my-two-suns-being-my-two-sons/) [Corrado Ghinamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrado-ghinamo/) > [The simplest kind of decision is binary: that is, the question can be answered, in principle at least, by either yes or no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-w-barber/the-simplest-kind-of-decision-is-binary-that-is-the-question-can-be/) [E. J. W. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-w-barber/) > [Today, we've got what seems to me to be binary-choice politics: black and white, ones and zeros, either you are with me or against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-hoffman/today-we-ve-got-what-seems-to-me-to-be-binary-choice-politics-black/) [David E. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-hoffman/) > [ Object-oriented programming aficionados think that everything is an object… this \[isn't\] so. There are things that are objects. Things that have state and change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stepanov/object-oriented-programming-aficionados-think-that-everything-is-an/) [Alexander Stepanov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stepanov/) > [A lot of people still have the idea that drag goes from one end of the gender spectrum to the other end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-velour/a-lot-of-people-still-have-the-idea-that-drag-goes-from-one-end-of/) [Sasha Velour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-velour/) > [When I first started going out to lesbian clubs, I felt a very binary recreation of hetero culture. There are butches and femmes, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/when-i-first-started-going-out-to-lesbian-clubs-i-felt-a-very-binary/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [I'm someone that likes to not think too binary about human qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-thompson/i-m-someone-that-likes-to-not-think-too-binary-about-human-qualities/) [Tessa Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-thompson/) > [Coming out as non-binary has honestly been the best thing ever for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-flip/coming-out-as-non-binary-has-honestly-been-the-best-thing-ever-for-me/) [G Flip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-flip/) > [For too long, history has imposed a binary condition on its black citizens: either nameless or renowned, menial or exceptional, passive recipients of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-lee-shetterly/for-too-long-history-has-imposed-a-binary-condition-on-its-black/) [Margot Lee Shetterly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-lee-shetterly/) > [I've never regretted not making Linux shareware: I really don't like the pay for use binary shareware programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-ve-never-regretted-not-making-linux-shareware-i-really-don-t-like/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [“Belonging is one of the things that makes life bearable, and it can be tough to look at a binary world and choose against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/belonging-is-one-of-the-things-that-makes-life-bearable-and-it-can-be/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > ['Crazy Rich Asians' has been compared to 'Black Panther,' but I feel like that's a false equivalency. The idea that there's only this film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonoya-mizuno/crazy-rich-asians-has-been-compared-to-black-panther-but-i-feel-like/) [Sonoya Mizuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonoya-mizuno/) > [Not all bodies are born in male or female. There is a continuum of bodies and it seems to me that trying to persuade…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/not-all-bodies-are-born-in-male-or-female-there-is-a-continuum-of/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) [Browse all 135 Binary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/binary/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Given any binary, it's fun to look for some hidden third, and the reason why the third was hidden says a lot about culture. 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