--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a choice is always a choice among…" description: "\"“For a choice is always a choice among possible alternatives; and it is a rare agent for whom everything is possible. The special agony of this situati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/599/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_choice_for-a-choice-is-always-a-choice-among-po_2211002.jpg" --- # For a choice is always a choice among possible… ![“For a choice is always a choice among possible alternatives; and it is a rare agent for whom everything is possible. The special agony of this situation is that none of the possibilities is even harmless.” quote by Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/599/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_choice_for-a-choice-is-always-a-choice-among-po_2211002.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/599/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_choice_for-a-choice-is-always-a-choice-among-po_2211002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/599/martha-c-nussbaum-11905_choice_for-a-choice-is-always-a-choice-among-po_2211002.jpg) > ““For a choice is always a choice among possible alternatives; and it is a rare agent for whom everything is possible. The special agony of this situation is that none of the possibilities is even harmless.”” [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choices involve selecting among alternatives, yet often all options carry some harm, creating existential distress. **In simple terms:** All choices have costs. Key Takeaway Recognize hidden harms in decisions. Themes ethics existentialism decision-making Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - career choices - medical treatment - policy design Key Concepts agency possibility harm Questions to Reflect On - What hidden harms might you overlook? - Can any choice be truly harmless? A Different Perspective Some options may seem impossible to evaluate fully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternatives Rare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives-rare-4895781/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-choice/) [Choice Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-possible-1425747/) [Possibilities Harmless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibilities-harmless-4895782/) [Rare Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-agent-4895783/) ## Related quotes > [“... freedom of choice is possible. Life is going to unfold however it does: pleasant or unpleasant, disappointing or thrilling, expected or unexpected, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/freedom-of-choice-is-possible-life-is-going-to-unfold-however-it-does/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“I think there is choice possible at any moment to us, as long as we live. But there is no sacrifice. There is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/i-think-there-is-choice-possible-at-any-moment-to-us-as-long-as-we/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [I think there is a choice possible to us at any moment, as long as we live. But there is no sacrifice. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/i-think-there-is-a-choice-possible-to-us-at-any-moment-as-long-as-we/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [“If you limit your choice to only what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself form what you truly want, and all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/if-you-limit-your-choice-to-only-what-seems-possible-or-reasonable/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [When we're surrounded by things that look impossible, making a simple choice to do something that's possible is a powerful thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/when-we-re-surrounded-by-things-that-look-impossible-making-a-simple/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [One should make the best choice possible given the circumstances, and then avoid second-guessing for the sake of one's own sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/one-should-make-the-best-choice-possible-given-the-circumstances-and/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Martha C. Nussbaum > [I think that's what we really need in America, for people to hear each other. And I think philosophy could do a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/i-think-that-s-what-we-really-need-in-america-for-people-to-hear-each/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [If you really do want to increase women's status, you could focus on just that, but you'd probably better focus also on women's education.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/if-you-really-do-want-to-increase-women-s-status-you-could-focus-on/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [We are lucky in the United States to have our liberal arts system. In most countries, if you go to university, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/we-are-lucky-in-the-united-states-to-have-our-liberal-arts-system-in/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Life is about more than earning a living, and if you're not in the habit of thinking about it, you can end up middle-aged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/life-is-about-more-than-earning-a-living-and-if-you-re-not-in-the/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Our emotional life maps our incompleteness: A creature without any needs would never have reasons for fear, or grief, or hope, or anger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/our-emotional-life-maps-our-incompleteness-a-creature-without-any/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [I do think there's a lot of bad writing, and I worry about that in philosophy. I worry about it even more in literary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/i-do-think-there-s-a-lot-of-bad-writing-and-i-worry-about-that-in/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [With the rise of capitalism, it became more obvious that people pursue individual self-interest. The great nationalist in Italy, Giuseppe Mazzini, a wonderful philosopher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/with-the-rise-of-capitalism-it-became-more-obvious-that-people-pursue/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [The EU might have become a large federal nation. But they would have had to do things differently. Number one, they would've had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/the-eu-might-have-become-a-large-federal-nation-but-they-would-have/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [As human beings, we ought to be vulnerable. We shouldn't try to say that we can be self-sufficient or do everything that's necessary for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/as-human-beings-we-ought-to-be-vulnerable-we-shouldn-t-try-to-say/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Disgust relies on moral obtuseness. It is possible to view another human being as a slimy slug or a piece of revolting trash only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/disgust-relies-on-moral-obtuseness-it-is-possible-to-view-another/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [The thing that I find so bad about anger is the desire for payback. Of course, it is very human to wish for revenge.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/the-thing-that-i-find-so-bad-about-anger-is-the-desire-for-payback-of/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [The GDP approach doesn't address many aspects of human life: health, education, political liberty, religious liberty, employment opportunities. And these are not all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/the-gdp-approach-doesn-t-address-many-aspects-of-human-life-health/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Knowledge is no guarantee of good behavior, but ignorance is a virtual guarantee of bad behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/knowledge-is-no-guarantee-of-good-behavior-but-ignorance-is-a-virtual/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [Today, I think, the state of philosophizing about democracy is very healthy. It bridges political science and philosophy, as it should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/today-i-think-the-state-of-philosophizing-about-democracy-is-very/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) > [“We might say that there can be pity in its full-fledged form only where there is also mercy for self: for the self engulfed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-c-nussbaum/we-might-say-that-there-can-be-pity-in-its-full-fledged-form-only/) [Martha C. Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) [Explore all 57 Martha C. Nussbaum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-c-nussbaum/) ## More Choice 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/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“For a choice is always a choice among possible alternatives; and it is a rare agent for whom everything is possible. 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