--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to make your own choices and…" description: "\"“You have to make your own choices and live every agonizing day with the consequences of those choices.”\" — Max Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/max-brooks-2735_choice_you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-li_2751067.jpg" --- # You have to make your own choices and live every agonizing… ![“You have to make your own choices and live every agonizing day with the consequences of those choices.” quote by Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/max-brooks-2735_choice_you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-li_2751067.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/max-brooks-2735_choice_you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-li_2751067.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/max-brooks-2735_choice_you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-li_2751067.jpg) > ““You have to make your own choices and live every agonizing day with the consequences of those choices.”” [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal responsibility means choosing and accepting daily consequences. **In simple terms:** Own choices, accept outcomes. Key Takeaway Embrace accountability. Themes responsibility choice consequences Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - health choices - financial planning Key Concepts ethics autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance freedom with duty? - What consequences are you willing to face? A Different Perspective Choices may be constrained by external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agonizing Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agonizing-day-3099729/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-live-698290/) [Live Agonizing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-agonizing-3099728/) [Make Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-choices/) ## Related quotes > [You can't blame anyone else, ... , no one but yourself. You have to make your own choices and live every agonizing day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/you-can-t-blame-anyone-else-no-one-but-yourself-you-have-to-make-your/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [No matter what you do, someone will always talk about you. Someone will always question your judgement. So just smile and make choices you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/no-matter-what-you-do-someone-will-always-talk-about-you-someone-will/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“The point is, we all come to forks in the road, and we all make our choices and live with them, for good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-robards/the-point-is-we-all-come-to-forks-in-the-road-and-we-all-make-our/) [Karen Robards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-robards/) > [“We all make choices. We all have to live with them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/we-all-make-choices-we-all-have-to-live-with-them/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [We do the best we can," she said softly, looking inward. "And punish ourselves for it. I've tried to make my choices with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/we-do-the-best-we-can-she-said-softly-looking-inward-and-punish/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“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/) > [For the are times in life where we need to make choices choices that will hurt us presently but make us smile in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/for-the-are-times-in-life-where-we-need-to-make-choices-choices-that/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [Never blame another person for your personal choices - you are still the one who must live out the consequences of your choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/never-blame-another-person-for-your-personal-choices-you-are-still/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Some choices we live not only once but a thousand times over, remembering them for the rest of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/some-choices-we-live-not-only-once-but-a-thousand-times-over/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“Our past offers us two choices ... live IN it or live FROM it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-burgunder/our-past-offers-us-two-choices-live-in-it-or-live-from-it/) [Brittany Burgunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-burgunder/) > [You have resources yet to be unleashed. Make bold, courageous choices. Live as though you have the power to change the world - because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/you-have-resources-yet-to-be-unleashed-make-bold-courageous-choices/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [More choice doesn't make us happy, and we understand that no one has infinite choices about how to live life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-alderman/more-choice-doesn-t-make-us-happy-and-we-understand-that-no-one-has/) [Naomi Alderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-alderman/) > [“Life is full of choices . . . live it well . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-sands/life-is-full-of-choices-live-it-well/) [Patricia Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-sands/) ## More by Max Brooks > [When I believe in my ability to do something, there is no such word as no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/when-i-believe-in-my-ability-to-do-something-there-is-no-such-word-as/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Fear is the most valuable commodity in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/fear-is-the-most-valuable-commodity-in-the-universe/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I think the general anxiety of the 1960s - '70s spawned our interest in the living dead. When people worry about the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-think-the-general-anxiety-of-the-1960s-70s-spawned-our-interest-in/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Sometimes you find your path, sometimes it finds you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/sometimes-you-find-your-path-sometimes-it-finds-you/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I wanted to serve. It was Desert Storm. I thought, 'I was a rich kid, and America's been good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-wanted-to-serve-it-was-desert-storm-i-thought-i-was-a-rich-kid-and/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [ \[...\]you don’t have to be Sun freakin Tzu to know that real fighting isn’t about killing or even hurting the other guy, it’s about… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/you-don-t-have-to-be-sun-freakin-tzu-to-know-that-real-fighting-isn-t/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“rank warehouses among your most attractive hideouts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/rank-warehouses-among-your-most-attractive-hideouts/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [I think Americans are at our best when we recover from a crisis. We've suffered some blows that other countries would have never recovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/i-think-americans-are-at-our-best-when-we-recover-from-a-crisis-we-ve/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“The living dead had taken more from us than land and loved ones. They'd robbed us of our confidence as the planet's dominant life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/the-living-dead-had-taken-more-from-us-than-land-and-loved-ones-they/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“PARNELL AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, TENNESSEE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/parnell-air-national-guard-base-tennessee/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Often, a school is your best bet-perhaps not for education but certainly for protection from an undead attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/often-a-school-is-your-best-bet-perhaps-not-for-education-but/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [Any survival guide will tell you, don't buy a pair of combat boots before any disaster. They'll tear your feet up. Or water -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/any-survival-guide-will-tell-you-don-t-buy-a-pair-of-combat-boots/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [When I read Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns', I think it's a wonderful record of the Reagan era. I think it's amazing. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/when-i-read-frank-miller-s-the-dark-knight-returns-i-think-it-s-a/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [The dead walk among us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/the-dead-walk-among-us/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [“What we did, what every president since Washington has done, was provide a measured, appropriate response, in direct relation to a realistic threat assessment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/what-we-did-what-every-president-since-washington-has-done-was/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) [Explore all 142 Max Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) ## 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": "“You have to make your own choices and live every agonizing day with the consequences of those choices.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Max Brooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-live-every-agonizing-day-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-live-every-agonizing-day-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/max-brooks-2735_choice_you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-li_2751067.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/max-brooks-2735_choice_you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-li_2751067.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a87/max-brooks-2735_choice_you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-li_2751067.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You have to make your own choices and live every agonizing day with the consequences of those choices.” — Max Brooks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Max Brooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You have to make your own...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-live-every-agonizing-day-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/you-have-to-make-your-own-choices-and-live-every-agonizing-day-with/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```