--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We each decide whether to make ourselves…" description: "\"We each decide whether to make ourselves learned or ignorant, compassionate or cruel, generous or miserly. No one forces us. No one decides for us, no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/maimonides-2639_compassionate_we-each-decide-whether-to-make-ourselves_3099767.png" --- # We each decide whether to make ourselves learned or… ![“We each decide whether to make ourselves learned or ignorant, compassionate or cruel, generous or miserly. No one forces us. No one decides for us, no one drags us along one path or the other. We are responsible for what we are.” quote by Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/maimonides-2639_compassionate_we-each-decide-whether-to-make-ourselves_3099767.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/maimonides-2639_compassionate_we-each-decide-whether-to-make-ourselves_3099767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/maimonides-2639_compassionate_we-each-decide-whether-to-make-ourselves_3099767.png) > “We each decide whether to make ourselves learned or ignorant, compassionate or cruel, generous or miserly. No one forces us. No one decides for us, no one drags us along one path or the other. We are responsible for what we are.” [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans choose their moral and intellectual paths; responsibility lies with the individual, not external forces. **In simple terms:** We decide our own virtues and knowledge. Key Takeaway Own your choices and act responsibly. Themes ethics free will responsibility Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - education - leadership - personal development Key Concepts moral philosophy autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your character? - How do you balance freedom with accountability? A Different Perspective People may lack resources to make informed choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) ## Related quotes > [“Life is filled with all goods and bads around each one of us,It's our rights to choose the path and we are responsible of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-life/life-is-filled-with-all-goods-and-bads-around-each-one-of-us-it-s-our/) OctavE Life > [When any welfare scheme is being proposed, its political sponsors always dwell on what a generous and compassionate government should pay to Paul; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/when-any-welfare-scheme-is-being-proposed-its-political-sponsors/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [The world doesn't really need more people who can bend their bodies into amazing positions. What it needs are kinder, more compassionate, generous people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-farhi/the-world-doesn-t-really-need-more-people-who-can-bend-their-bodies/) [Donna Farhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-farhi/) > [There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/there-never-was-any-heart-truly-great-and-generous-that-was-not-also/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [People are selfish. But they can also be compassionate and generous, and they care about the country. But not when they feel threatened. That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/people-are-selfish-but-they-can-also-be-compassionate-and-generous/) [Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/) > [He causes huge bodies like sun to proclaim His Majesty through His Names the All-Gracious, Great, reciting: ' O Glorious One, O Great One,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-nursi/he-causes-huge-bodies-like-sun-to-proclaim-his-majesty-through-his/) [Said Nursi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-nursi/) > [I don't have enough knowledge or wisdom to say anything profound to people all over the world. But maybe a simple "I love you,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brancatisano/i-don-t-have-enough-knowledge-or-wisdom-to-say-anything-profound-to/) [Richard Brancatisano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brancatisano/) > [The work of volunteer groups throughout our country represents the very heart and soul of America. They have helped make this the most compassionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-work-of-volunteer-groups-throughout-our-country-represents-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Forcing people to be generous isn't humanitarian, effective, compassionate or moral. Only acts that are truly voluntary for all concerned can be truly compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/forcing-people-to-be-generous-isn-t-humanitarian-effective/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The rarity is the sudden epiphany or single turning point showing you with dramatic clarity that your marriage is over, although that does happen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wasser/the-rarity-is-the-sudden-epiphany-or-single-turning-point-showing-you/) [Laura Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wasser/) > [I do not think psychoanalysis has a scientific basis. If we can't explain why a cockroach decides to turn left, how can we explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-do-not-think-psychoanalysis-has-a-scientific-basis-if-we-can-t/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Live each day like its your last don't take anything for granted because you never know when God decides it's your time. You only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-each-day-like-its-your-last-don-t-take-anything-for-granted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone says you never know what you have till it's gone. You always know what you have, you just choose not to treat it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-says-you-never-know-what-you-have-till-it-s-gone-you-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When a person in a Russian prison decides to start speaking, to start speaking the truth - they start to reject oppression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-alyokhina/when-a-person-in-a-russian-prison-decides-to-start-speaking-to-start/) [Maria Alyokhina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-alyokhina/) > [“Al-Lah alone decides whether we live or die. The rest is vanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-jones/al-lah-alone-decides-whether-we-live-or-die-the-rest-is-vanity/) [Sherry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-jones/) ## More by Maimonides > [The so-called evils are evils only in relation to a certain thing, and that which is evil in relation to a certain existing thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-so-called-evils-are-evils-only-in-relation-to-a-certain-thing-and/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Hear the truth from whomever says it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/hear-the-truth-from-whomever-says-it/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [It is better and more satisfactory to acquit a thousand guilty persons than to put a single innocent one to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/it-is-better-and-more-satisfactory-to-acquit-a-thousand-guilty/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [God cannot be compared to anything. Note this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/god-cannot-be-compared-to-anything-note-this/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Even the existence of this corporeal element, low as it in reality is, because it is the source of death and all evils, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/even-the-existence-of-this-corporeal-element-low-as-it-in-reality-is/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [WHEN reading my present treatise, bear in mind that by "faith" we do not understand merely that which is uttered with the lips, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/when-reading-my-present-treatise-bear-in-mind-that-by-faith-we-do-not/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [The philosophers likewise assume that in Nature there is nothing in vain, so that everything that is not the product of human industry serves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/the-philosophers-likewise-assume-that-in-nature-there-is-nothing-in/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [That which is produced with intention has passed over from non-existence to existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/that-which-is-produced-with-intention-has-passed-over-from-non/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [No form remains permanently in a substance; a constant change takes place, one form is taken off and another is put on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/no-form-remains-permanently-in-a-substance-a-constant-change-takes/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Further, there are things of which the mind understands one part, but remains ignorant of the other; and when man is able to comprehend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/further-there-are-things-of-which-the-mind-understands-one-part-but/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Now, we occupy a lowly position, both in space and rank in comparison with the heavenly sphere, and the Almighty is Most High not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/now-we-occupy-a-lowly-position-both-in-space-and-rank-in-comparison/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-men-possessed-wisdom-which-stands-in-the-same-relation-to-the-form/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Know that the difficulties which lead to confusion in the question what is the purpose of the Universe or of any of its parts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/know-that-the-difficulties-which-lead-to-confusion-in-the-question/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [You will find that there is no other difference of opinion as regards any portions of the Universe, except that the philosophers believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/you-will-find-that-there-is-no-other-difference-of-opinion-as-regards/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) [Explore all 156 Maimonides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) ## More Compassionate quotes > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A hard heart makes for hard judgments; a compassionate heart understands the humanity of the one we presume to judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/a-hard-heart-makes-for-hard-judgments-a-compassionate-heart/) [Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/) > [“Seeing human suffering changes you. It either makes you compassionate or it makes you hard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wilson-howarth/seeing-human-suffering-changes-you-it-either-makes-you-compassionate/) [Jane Wilson-Howarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wilson-howarth/) > [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-enough-to-be-compassionate-we-must-act/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God is compassionate and just, loving and holy, wrathful and forgiving. WE can't sideline His more difficult attributes to make room for the palatable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/god-is-compassionate-and-just-loving-and-holy-wrathful-and-forgiving/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [ \[Chinese\] are a huge empire now, you'll soon be - in a few years two billion people in the world. So, you should be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/chinese-are-a-huge-empire-now-you-ll-soon-be-in-a-few-years-two/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I love the idea of the teachings of Jesus Christ and the beautiful stories about it, which I loved in Sunday school and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/i-love-the-idea-of-the-teachings-of-jesus-christ-and-the-beautiful/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [If the photographer is interested in the people in front of his lens, and if he is compassionate, it's already a lot. The instrument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-arnold/if-the-photographer-is-interested-in-the-people-in-front-of-his-lens/) [Eve Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-arnold/) > [Those who grieve frequently find themselves alone. Missed is the laughter of children, the commotion of teenagers, and the tender, loving concern of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/those-who-grieve-frequently-find-themselves-alone-missed-is-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [The logical conclusion to a compassionate and respectful relationship to sentient animals is that we stop eating them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-balcombe/the-logical-conclusion-to-a-compassionate-and-respectful-relationship/) [Jonathan Balcombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-balcombe/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“The kindness sent from one compassionate soul to another during the time of loss of one held so dear allows the sorrow-filled heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-friedenfeld/the-kindness-sent-from-one-compassionate-soul-to-another-during-the/) [Molly Friedenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-friedenfeld/) > [A strong person is not meant to be insensitive. He might be compassionate and loving. But, he relentlessly fights for the things he thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-strong-person-is-not-meant-to-be-insensitive-he-might-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,064 Compassionate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We each decide whether to make ourselves learned or ignorant, compassionate or cruel, generous or miserly. No one forces us. No one decides for us, no one drags us along one path or the other. 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