--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: she’d neglected to make choices for her…" description: "\"“she’d neglected to make choices for her inner self as well. She’d given away too much.”\" — Mary Alice Monroe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/mary-alice-monroe-17431_choices_she-d-neglected-to-make-choices-for-her_809565.jpg" --- # she’d neglected to make choices for her inner self as… ![“she’d neglected to make choices for her inner self as well. She’d given away too much.” quote by Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/mary-alice-monroe-17431_choices_she-d-neglected-to-make-choices-for-her_809565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/mary-alice-monroe-17431_choices_she-d-neglected-to-make-choices-for-her_809565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bc/mary-alice-monroe-17431_choices_she-d-neglected-to-make-choices-for-her_809565.jpg) > ““she’d neglected to make choices for her inner self as well. She’d given away too much.”” [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting personal needs for others leads to loss of self and over‑giving. **In simple terms:** She gave too much and forgot herself. Key Takeaway Balance self‑care with generosity. Themes self‑care boundaries identity Mood thoughtful empathetic Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - family caregiving - volunteering - career advancement Key Concepts personal growth self‑neglect relationships Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when you’re over‑giving? - What boundaries protect your inner self? A Different Perspective Over‑giving can cause burnout and resentment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Inner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-inner-238503/) [Inner self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-self/) [Neglected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglected/) [Self Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-given-238502/) ## Related quotes > [“It's the choices not the inner voices that make us who we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/said-by-a-wise-man-in-a-top-hat/it-s-the-choices-not-the-inner-voices-that-make-us-who-we-are/) [Said by a Wise Man in a Top Hat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/said-by-a-wise-man-in-a-top-hat/) > [The self is made, not given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-myerhoff/the-self-is-made-not-given/) [Barbara Myerhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-myerhoff/) > [From the idea that the self is not given to us, I think there is only one practical consequence: we have to create ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/from-the-idea-that-the-self-is-not-given-to-us-i-think-there-is-only/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/talent-is-god-given-be-humble-fame-is-man-given-be-grateful-conceit-2/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you give yourself away you find that a new and more real self has somehow been given to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/when-you-give-yourself-away-you-find-that-a-new-and-more-real-self/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [The gift of self cannot be given to us. It is an incomparable gift that has already been given. We have possessed it from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-gift-of-self-cannot-be-given-to-us-it-is-an-incomparable-gift/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [He who, having lost his parents or being abandoned, by them without ,just cause, gives himself to a ,man , is called a son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/he-who-having-lost-his-parents-or-being-abandoned-by-them-without/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/talent-is-god-given-be-humble-fame-is-man-given-be-grateful-conceit/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is as simple as the absence of self given to another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-as-simple-as-the-absence-of-self-given-to-another/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“People in great need were quick to find blame in themselves, quick to assume the burden of guilt for things they in truth had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/people-in-great-need-were-quick-to-find-blame-in-themselves-quick-to/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [If you can't forgive your inner self, know that you are in great danger of being the victim of your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/if-you-can-t-forgive-your-inner-self-know-that-you-are-in-great/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The greatest tales, well told, awaken the fears and longings of the listeners. Each man hears a different story. Each is touched by it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-marillier/the-greatest-tales-well-told-awaken-the-fears-and-longings-of-the/) [Juliet Marillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-marillier/) > [“Only the balance of the scale, bedded love in the shells, teaches us to find the inner self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/only-the-balance-of-the-scale-bedded-love-in-the-shells-teaches-us-to/) [Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/) > [“The journey towards your inner self is Solitude!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farheen-viquas/the-journey-towards-your-inner-self-is-solitude/) [Farheen Viquas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farheen-viquas/) ## More by Mary Alice Monroe > [“Oh, if only I were young again, I would travel! There's so much of the world I would like to have seen. But I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/oh-if-only-i-were-young-again-i-would-travel-there-s-so-much-of-the/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“All stories come to an end. That moment when we sigh and close the book, perhaps sit back in our chair and rest our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/all-stories-come-to-an-end-that-moment-when-we-sigh-and-close-the/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“A woman’s life has so many demands because she is the axis around which so many little planets spin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/a-woman-s-life-has-so-many-demands-because-she-is-the-axis-around/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“Dawn tore at the seam of night, pulling the blackness back a little farther with each passing minute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/dawn-tore-at-the-seam-of-night-pulling-the-blackness-back-a-little/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“Rather than feel small, however, in this arena she felt part of something much bigger than herself. This gave her both a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/rather-than-feel-small-however-in-this-arena-she-felt-part-of/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“Age is real life is short. It's foolhardy to deny it. We grow up, our bodies grow frail, death is coming. There's so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/age-is-real-life-is-short-it-s-foolhardy-to-deny-it-we-grow-up-our/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“Luz felt as though all the millions of butterflies that were flying on this same journey south were fluttering in her stomach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/luz-felt-as-though-all-the-millions-of-butterflies-that-were-flying/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“not so heartbreaking. So it was with me after Tom’s death. In retrospect, I look at myself and my friends and I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/not-so-heartbreaking-so-it-was-with-me-after-tom-s-death-in/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [To me, the glass is half-empty some days and half-full on others. Sometimes it's bone-dry. Or overflowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/to-me-the-glass-is-half-empty-some-days-and-half-full-on-others/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [Privacy is something that we maintain for the good of ourselves and others. Secrecy we keep to separate ourselves from others, even those we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/privacy-is-something-that-we-maintain-for-the-good-of-ourselves-and/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“And quickly. If you let it, grief could swallow you whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/and-quickly-if-you-let-it-grief-could-swallow-you-whole/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“The secret to happiness is to embrace the humility to accept what comes and the courage to continue on your life's path with an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/the-secret-to-happiness-is-to-embrace-the-humility-to-accept-what/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“Sometimes she's so stuck up she'd drown in a rainstorm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/sometimes-she-s-so-stuck-up-she-d-drown-in-a-rainstorm/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [“See how people smile when they see a butterfly? They can't help themselves. Butterflies are joy with wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/see-how-people-smile-when-they-see-a-butterfly-they-can-t-help/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) > [I always begin with a source of inspiration that comes from nature. The story comes from my research, volunteering, and meeting the people involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice-monroe/i-always-begin-with-a-source-of-inspiration-that-comes-from-nature/) [Mary Alice Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) [Explore all 37 Mary Alice Monroe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice-monroe/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [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/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [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/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“she’d neglected to make choices for her inner self as well. 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