--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are some choices you can only make…" description: "\"There are some choices you can only make once. You can't go back to where you made a choice and then take the other one.\" — Mary Hoffman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/mary-hoffman-48991_choice_there-are-some-choices-you-can-only-make_2148521.jpg" --- # There are some choices you can only make once. You can't… ![“There are some choices you can only make once. You can't go back to where you made a choice and then take the other one.” quote by Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/mary-hoffman-48991_choice_there-are-some-choices-you-can-only-make_2148521.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/mary-hoffman-48991_choice_there-are-some-choices-you-can-only-make_2148521.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/mary-hoffman-48991_choice_there-are-some-choices-you-can-only-make_2148521.jpg) > “There are some choices you can only make once. You can't go back to where you made a choice and then take the other one.” [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Some decisions are irreversible; once made, you cannot revert and choose the alternative path. **In simple terms:** Some choices can only be made once. Key Takeaway Consider the long‑term impact before deciding. Themes decision‑making irreversibility responsibility Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career moves - relationship commitments - financial investments Key Concepts choice theory future planning Questions to Reflect On - What decisions in your life felt irreversible? - How do you balance risk and certainty? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on finality can cause paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-make/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-choice/) ## Related quotes > [You can't be said to make a choice when you only have one option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henci-goer/you-can-t-be-said-to-make-a-choice-when-you-only-have-one-option/) [Henci Goer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henci-goer/) > [Every decision I make is a choice between a grievance and a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/every-decision-i-make-is-a-choice-between-a-grievance-and-a-miracle/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Our destiny becomes the accumulation of the choices that we make; the choices of which paths we took in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/our-destiny-becomes-the-accumulation-of-the-choices-that-we-make-the/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [And I may often question choices I make as a producer. But I've never questioned the choices I make as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/and-i-may-often-question-choices-i-make-as-a-producer-but-i-ve-never/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [We are both burdened and blessed by the great responsibility of the will - the power of choice. Our future is determined, in large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/we-are-both-burdened-and-blessed-by-the-great-responsibility-of-the/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [We, as individuals, are defined by the choices we make. Some of our decisions can have very significant consequences and totally change the courses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cage/we-as-individuals-are-defined-by-the-choices-we-make-some-of-our/) [David Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cage/) > [“People say we are defined by the choices that we make;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-greenwood/people-say-we-are-defined-by-the-choices-that-we-make/) [T. Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-greenwood/) > [“Having choice is nothing but a big illusion created by those who have power to make choices and make another if it goes wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crestless-wave/having-choice-is-nothing-but-a-big-illusion-created-by-those-who-have/) [Crestless Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crestless-wave/) > [People who achieve great things are people who make choices. Far too many people today let life dictate their future instead of the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-cooke/people-who-achieve-great-things-are-people-who-make-choices-far-too/) [Phil Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-cooke/) > [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/) > [You make choice's about your life if you want to life or die sometimes I think I feel like dying because know one care's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skrillex/you-make-choice-s-about-your-life-if-you-want-to-life-or-die/) [Skrillex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skrillex/) > [You must make a choice to take a chance or your life will never change...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-make-a-choice-to-take-a-chance-or-your-life-will-never-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is simple, you make a choice and dont look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-simple-you-make-a-choice-and-dont-look-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Make a choice. Everyday prepare for your chance to find opportunity and never fear change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/make-a-choice-everyday-prepare-for-your-chance-to-find-opportunity/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I'm used to the fact that the world views movie actors as personalities. I'm in the extremely fortunate position of making a living at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-bratt/i-m-used-to-the-fact-that-the-world-views-movie-actors-as/) [Benjamin Bratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-bratt/) ## More by Mary Hoffman > [I often think how unadventurous my life must seem from the outside, though I do like my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/i-often-think-how-unadventurous-my-life-must-seem-from-the-outside/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [We are in a tight corner, now, I agree. But we have been in tight corners before and come out of them. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/we-are-in-a-tight-corner-now-i-agree-but-we-have-been-in-tight/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [My guard will run you through if he catches you looking at my face," said Arianna. "I don't think so. I think it might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/my-guard-will-run-you-through-if-he-catches-you-looking-at-my-face/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [“Study your prey, learn her habits, accustom her to your presence by seeming harmless and kind. And then, when she is tame and off-guard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/study-your-prey-learn-her-habits-accustom-her-to-your-presence-by/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [I hardly think a girl is much of a threat. I presume you searched her for weapons? But if she attempts to suffocate me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/i-hardly-think-a-girl-is-much-of-a-threat-i-presume-you-searched-her/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [How can you tell when a piece is finished?'I asked. 'You can't,' he said flatly. 'All you can tell is when you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/how-can-you-tell-when-a-piece-is-finished-i-asked-you-can-t-he-said/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [If I had known, do you think I should have let her get away with this mad plan? That I should have let her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/if-i-had-known-do-you-think-i-should-have-let-her-get-away-with-this/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) [Explore all 8 Mary Hoffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) ## 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": "There are some choices you can only make once. 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