--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was just that this was real life and…" description: "\"“It was just that this was real life and no decision was clearly sign-posted. It's not like you take the right turning and you get everlasting happines..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/marian-keyes-1999_decision_it-was-just-that-this-was-real-life-and_653150.jpg" --- # It was just that this was real life and no decision was… ![“It was just that this was real life and no decision was clearly sign-posted. It's not like you take the right turning and you get everlasting happiness and you take the wrong one and you're life's a disaster. In real life it's often almost impossible to tell which decision is the one you should…” quote by Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/marian-keyes-1999_decision_it-was-just-that-this-was-real-life-and_653150.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/marian-keyes-1999_decision_it-was-just-that-this-was-real-life-and_653150.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/marian-keyes-1999_decision_it-was-just-that-this-was-real-life-and_653150.jpg) > ““It was just that this was real life and no decision was clearly sign-posted. It's not like you take the right turning and you get everlasting happiness and you take the wrong one and you're life's a disaster. In real life it's often almost impossible to tell which decision is the one you should make because what you stand to gain and what you stand to lose are sometimes--often--neck and neck.”” [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life presents ambiguous choices where outcomes are uncertain, making it hard to know the optimal path. **In simple terms:** Decisions are often unclear and risky. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and weigh pros and cons. Themes decision-making uncertainty risk life choices Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - career moves - relationships - financial investments - personal growth Key Concepts probability psychology values Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle indecision? - What criteria help you evaluate risky choices? A Different Perspective Overanalysis can lead to paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision Clearly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-clearly-5218630/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-decision/) [Real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-life/) [Tell Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-decision-652068/) ## Related quotes > [It's not like you take the right turning and you get everlasting happiness and you take the wrong one and your life's a disaster.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/it-s-not-like-you-take-the-right-turning-and-you-get-everlasting/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Outside advice can only tell you how a decision looks. Only you can know how it feels. The best decisions look and feel right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/outside-advice-can-only-tell-you-how-a-decision-looks-only-you-can/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm going to live my life. It's nobody else's decision, but mine. I think there are a lot worse things I could be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-stewart/i-m-going-to-live-my-life-it-s-nobody-else-s-decision-but-mine-i/) [Tony Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-stewart/) > [It was a life decision, deciding which path to take in my career. I needed time to get together with my family and closest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kepa-arrizabalaga/it-was-a-life-decision-deciding-which-path-to-take-in-my-career-i/) [Kepa Arrizabalaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kepa-arrizabalaga/) > [With every choice you risk the life you would have had; with every decision, you lose it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-every-choice-you-risk-the-life-you-would-have-had-with-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you're a background singer, you're there to support the artist. The transition is up to the person. You have to follow your heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hill/when-you-re-a-background-singer-you-re-there-to-support-the-artist/) [Judith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-hill/) > [Each person has a literature inside them. But when people lose language, when they have to experiment with putting their thoughts together on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/each-person-has-a-literature-inside-them-but-when-people-lose/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Without absolute certainty, what do we do? We do the best we can. Injustice is happening now; suffering is happening now. We have choices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/without-absolute-certainty-what-do-we-do-we-do-the-best-we-can/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [If you think about the long term then you can really make good life decisions that you won’t regret later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/if-you-think-about-the-long-term-then-you-can-really-make-good-life/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [You come across a person that you dont know and they change your whole life but its your decision on if its going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-dorsey/you-come-across-a-person-that-you-dont-know-and-they-change-your/) [Eli Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-dorsey/) > [“For me, it was a Gold Star day. I'd identified an enemy, and I'd made a life decision: I might come home tore up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-turnage/for-me-it-was-a-gold-star-day-i-d-identified-an-enemy-and-i-d-made-a/) [Sheila Turnage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-turnage/) > [I always take everything serious when it comes to my career and my life, but this decision to go back to the cage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-del-rio/i-always-take-everything-serious-when-it-comes-to-my-career-and-my/) [Alberto Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-del-rio/) > [“I need a minute to think,” she said. I automatically started the timer on my watch. Suddenly Rosie started laughing. I looked at her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/i-need-a-minute-to-think-she-said-i-automatically-started-the-timer/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [I also remember the moment my life changed, the moment I finally said, "I've had it!" I know I'm much more than I'm demonstrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-also-remember-the-moment-my-life-changed-the-moment-i-finally-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Marian Keyes > [“As they say in New York, Get over it and, if you can't get over it, Get over talking about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-they-say-in-new-york-get-over-it-and-if-you-can-t-get-over-it-get/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I rang my mother to thank her for giving birth to me and she said, "What choice had I? You were in there, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-rang-my-mother-to-thank-her-for-giving-birth-to-me-and-she-said/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I should have learned mindfulness, and it’s too late now because it’s no good learning it when you’re already in crisis: you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-should-have-learned-mindfulness-and-it-s-too-late-now-because-it-s/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“The last time I’d been unwell, suicidally depressed, whatever you want to call it, the reactions of my friends and family had fallen into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/the-last-time-i-d-been-unwell-suicidally-depressed-whatever-you-want/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I'm not looking for pity, I'm really not, but I'm constantly uneasy and every day it is pretty much like getting up and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-m-not-looking-for-pity-i-m-really-not-but-i-m-constantly-uneasy-and/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Some think love can be measured by the amount of butterflies in their tummy. Others think love can be measured in bunches of flowers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/some-think-love-can-be-measured-by-the-amount-of-butterflies-in-their/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“Guilt is a self-indulgence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/guilt-is-a-self-indulgence/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I awake. I don’t mean to but clearly I have not appeased the Sleep Gods with enough offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-awake-i-don-t-mean-to-but-clearly-i-have-not-appeased-the-sleep/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [It was only when the salt water of my tears ran into my cuts and made them sting that I discovered I was crying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/it-was-only-when-the-salt-water-of-my-tears-ran-into-my-cuts-and-made/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I wished there was some kind of switch on my brain. That I could turn it off in the same way that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-wished-there-was-some-kind-of-switch-on-my-brain-that-i-could-turn/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“I click to buy it and I’m furious to discover that it’s not available in Ireland and they won’t post it from abroad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-click-to-buy-it-and-i-m-furious-to-discover-that-it-s-not-available/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [I've never made a secret of the fact that I'd have loved to have children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-ve-never-made-a-secret-of-the-fact-that-i-d-have-loved-to-have/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“As if, within their high-pitched cries and songs, there are coded threats.     ‘Sometimes you get what you want and sometimes you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/as-if-within-their-high-pitched-cries-and-songs-there-are-coded/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [“If it don't come back, it was never yours. If it comes back, it's yours to keep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/if-it-don-t-come-back-it-was-never-yours-if-it-comes-back-it-s-yours/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Failed relationships can be described as so much wasted makeup. Forget the laughs, forget the fights, forget the sex, forget the jealousy. But take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/failed-relationships-can-be-described-as-so-much-wasted-makeup-forget/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) [Explore all 190 Marian Keyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was just that this was real life and no decision was clearly sign-posted. It's not like you take the right turning and you get everlasting happiness and you take the wrong one and you're life's a disaster. 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