--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have choice. You can select joy over…" description: "\"You have choice. You can select joy over despair. You can select happiness over tears. You can select action over apathy. You can select growth over st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/leo-buscaglia-1308_action_you-have-choice-you-can-select-joy-over_1452162.png" --- # You have choice. You can select joy over despair. You can… ![“You have choice. You can select joy over despair. You can select happiness over tears. You can select action over apathy. You can select growth over stagnation. You can select you. And you can select life. And it's time that people tell you you're not at the mercy of forces greater than yourself…” quote by Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/leo-buscaglia-1308_action_you-have-choice-you-can-select-joy-over_1452162.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/leo-buscaglia-1308_action_you-have-choice-you-can-select-joy-over_1452162.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4dc/leo-buscaglia-1308_action_you-have-choice-you-can-select-joy-over_1452162.png) > “You have choice. You can select joy over despair. You can select happiness over tears. You can select action over apathy. You can select growth over stagnation. You can select you. And you can select life. And it's time that people tell you you're not at the mercy of forces greater than yourself. You are, indeed, the greatest force for you.” [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People can choose positive emotions and actions, realizing they control their own destiny rather than being victims of external forces **In simple terms:** You can pick joy, happiness, action, growth, yourself, and life Key Takeaway Choose positivity and personal agency Themes choice empowerment mindset self‑determination Mood hopeful inspirational encouraging Type speech affirmation self‑help When to use this quote - daily decisions - mental health - career planning - relationships Key Concepts psychology philosophy motivation Questions to Reflect On - What choices can you make today to improve your mood? - How does recognizing personal power affect your goals? A Different Perspective Counterpoint: Not all circumstances allow easy choice of mindset ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Apathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apathy/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Stagnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stagnation/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) ## Related quotes > [You have the choice. You can choose joy over despair, happiness over tears, action over apathy, growth over stagnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/you-have-the-choice-you-can-choose-joy-over-despair-happiness-over/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [As long as you are free, you are free to select and choose alternatives, provided that you are willing to accept the responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/as-long-as-you-are-free-you-are-free-to-select-and-choose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Are we interested in treating the symptoms of poverty and economic stagnation through income redistribution and class warfare, or do we want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/are-we-interested-in-treating-the-symptoms-of-poverty-and-economic/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [Anything is better than stagnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/anything-is-better-than-stagnation/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [I think the socialist movement, by removing many, many people from grinding stagnation and poverty and overwork, does enable people not just to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-think-the-socialist-movement-by-removing-many-many-people-from/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Globalization is a reality. 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There's been a record six straight years of job growth, and new census numbers show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-holt/there-are-two-economic-realities-in-america-in-2016-there-s-been-a/) [Lester Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-holt/) > [August depresses me a little. I don't even feel like eating. And when I don't eat, that's a sure sign of stagnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-scott/august-depresses-me-a-little-i-don-t-even-feel-like-eating-and-when-i/) [Willard Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-scott/) > [Happiness, to some, is elation; to others it is mere stagnation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-lowell/happiness-to-some-is-elation-to-others-it-is-mere-stagnation/) [Amy Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-lowell/) > [Intuitive guidance means having the self-esteem to recognize that the discomfort or confusion that a person feels is actually directing him to take charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/intuitive-guidance-means-having-the-self-esteem-to-recognize-that-the/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [“My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-he-said-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“Don't you see? It's Galaxy-wide. It's a worship of the past. It's a deterioration - a stagnation!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/don-t-you-see-it-s-galaxy-wide-it-s-a-worship-of-the-past-it-s-a/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [For me, it is clear that we are currently in a period of structural crisis of capitalism going back to the 1970s, but deepening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bellamy-foster/for-me-it-is-clear-that-we-are-currently-in-a-period-of-structural/) [John Bellamy Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bellamy-foster/) > [My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/my-mind-rebels-at-stagnation-give-me-problems-give-me-work-give-me/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More by Leo Buscaglia > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/relish-love-in-your-old-age-aged-love-is-like-aged-wine-it-becomes/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/life-is-a-great-and-wondrous-mystery-and-the-only-thing-we-know-that/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love creates an "us" without destroying the "me".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-creates-an-us-without-destroying-the-me/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love always creates, it never destroys. In this lie's man's only promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-always-creates-it-never-destroys-in-this-lie-s-man-s-only-promise/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/life-lived-for-tomorrow-will-always-be-just-a-day-away-from-being/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love revels in and grows in the moment and the joy of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-revels-in-and-grows-in-the-moment-and-the-joy-of-the-moment/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [In life and in love, there is only that moment, the NOW. The only reality we know is what we experience this very second.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/in-life-and-in-love-there-is-only-that-moment-the-now-the-only/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Biologically and physiologically, we are not equal. Some of us learn better at different times of day. Some learn best visually, some auditorially, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/biologically-and-physiologically-we-are-not-equal-some-of-us-learn/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [There is nothing wrong with making mistakes and not having all the answers, so long as we are willing to admit this and strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-making-mistakes-and-not-having-all-the/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Food is celebratory. People who don't cook don't know how much fun they're missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/food-is-celebratory-people-who-don-t-cook-don-t-know-how-much-fun/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Based on a string of bad breakups, I was forced to examine my choice of partners. Surely, that must have abolished me from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/based-on-a-string-of-bad-breakups-i-was-forced-to-examine-my-choice/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/everybody-needs-a-hug-it-changes-your-metabolism/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Hugs make you feel psychologically more secure and together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/hugs-make-you-feel-psychologically-more-secure-and-together/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [I will love you if you are stupid, if you slip and fall on your face, if you do the wrong thing, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/i-will-love-you-if-you-are-stupid-if-you-slip-and-fall-on-your-face/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) [Explore all 258 Leo Buscaglia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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