--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People have to make their own decisions…" description: "\"People have to make their own decisions about their lives.\" — Meryl Streep" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/meryl-streep-1078_decision_people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions_3146168.jpg" --- # People have to make their own decisions about their lives. ![“People have to make their own decisions about their lives.” quote by Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/meryl-streep-1078_decision_people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions_3146168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/meryl-streep-1078_decision_people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions_3146168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/meryl-streep-1078_decision_people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions_3146168.jpg) > “People have to make their own decisions about their lives.” [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals must take responsibility for shaping their own life paths. **In simple terms:** You decide your own life. Key Takeaway Own your choices. Themes responsibility autonomy self‑determination Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - career planning - relationship choices - health decisions - education paths Key Concepts existentialism agency Questions to Reflect On - What choices are you avoiding? - How do you balance advice with personal values? A Different Perspective External pressures can limit perceived freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“All you can do is make your decisions based on what you know now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malinda-lo/all-you-can-do-is-make-your-decisions-based-on-what-you-know-now/) [Malinda Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malinda-lo/) > [“I learned that once you make a decision, you need to see it through. If you don't, you'll lose faith in yourself, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kacvinsky/i-learned-that-once-you-make-a-decision-you-need-to-see-it-through-if/) [Katie Kacvinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kacvinsky/) > [I like to make decisions based on things I'm interested in doing, not what seems like the next move in my quote-unquote career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-like-to-make-decisions-based-on-things-i-m-interested-in-doing-not/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I make almost all the decisions on set and have to deal with all the financial aspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-make-almost-all-the-decisions-on-set-and-have-to-deal-with-all-the/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [Don't labor forever over the question of how or if you can do it. Studies have shown that the most successful people make decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/don-t-labor-forever-over-the-question-of-how-or-if-you-can-do-it/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Make all your decisions based on how hilarious it would be if you did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/make-all-your-decisions-based-on-how-hilarious-it-would-be-if-you-did/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [I like people to make their own decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-like-people-to-make-their-own-decisions/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [My basic principle is that you don't make decisions because they are easy; you don't make them because they are cheap; you don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-hesburgh/my-basic-principle-is-that-you-don-t-make-decisions-because-they-are/) [Theodore Hesburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-hesburgh/) > [“We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-make-our-decisions-and-then-our-decisions-turn-around-and-make-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do not partner with fear to help you make decisions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-gregory/do-not-partner-with-fear-to-help-you-make-decisions/) Jeannette Gregory > [I'm old enough to make my own decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-m-old-enough-to-make-my-own-decisions/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [My job as a physician is to make sure I have provided my patients with the best options to make the decisions that affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ami-bera/my-job-as-a-physician-is-to-make-sure-i-have-provided-my-patients/) [Ami Bera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ami-bera/) > [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/) > [Especially when you're a leader, you have to do the things that aren't the popular choice. But that's fine, you have to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-anthony-towns/especially-when-you-re-a-leader-you-have-to-do-the-things-that-aren-t/) [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-anthony-towns/) > [“They make decisions; they mold your future. The trick is to find a way to still be you through it all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-raasch/they-make-decisions-they-mold-your-future-the-trick-is-to-find-a-way/) [Sara Raasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-raasch/) ## More by Meryl Streep > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I do honestly think that if women were running the world there would be more investment in peace, because basically as women we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-do-honestly-think-that-if-women-were-running-the-world-there-would/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [My feeling about fears is, if you voice your fears, they may come true. I'm superstitious enough to believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-feeling-about-fears-is-if-you-voice-your-fears-they-may-come-true/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The work itself is the reward, and if I choose challenging work, it'll pay me back with interest. At least I'll be interested, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-work-itself-is-the-reward-and-if-i-choose-challenging-work-it-ll/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [This act of empathy, that women go through from the time we're little girls - we read all of literature, all of history, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/this-act-of-empathy-that-women-go-through-from-the-time-we-re-little/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Some men can maintain cragginess and weary masculinity. Women just get old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/some-men-can-maintain-cragginess-and-weary-masculinity-women-just-get/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Well, I got better after this, and my entire family really did appreciate it. Usually, they're resentful of movies that I go off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/well-i-got-better-after-this-and-my-entire-family-really-did/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-is-not-about-being-someone-different-it-s-finding-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I didn't really like opera. I liked cheerleading and boys and, later, smoking. So my opera career was cut short when I was 15.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-didn-t-really-like-opera-i-liked-cheerleading-and-boys-and-later/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Life is all about making choices and I'm very happy with mine. I have had a wonderful time raising four children and I've also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/life-is-all-about-making-choices-and-i-m-very-happy-with-mine-i-have/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Leave me to the thing I love. I love acting. But being called 'the greatest living actress' - a designation not even my mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/leave-me-to-the-thing-i-love-i-love-acting-but-being-called-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I have a very busy life, and not many people who have a career and four kids go out a lot to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-a-very-busy-life-and-not-many-people-who-have-a-career-and/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I go to a lot of movies where people are all around me laughing, and I feel like I'm from outer space because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-go-to-a-lot-of-movies-where-people-are-all-around-me-laughing-and-i/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [People say, When you have children, everything changes. But maybe things are awakened that were already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-say-when-you-have-children-everything-changes-but-maybe-things/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [You have to embrace getting older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/you-have-to-embrace-getting-older/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) [Explore all 296 Meryl Streep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## 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": "People have to make their own decisions about their lives.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meryl Streep" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions-about-their-lives/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions-about-their-lives/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/meryl-streep-1078_decision_people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions_3146168.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/meryl-streep-1078_decision_people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions_3146168.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b18/meryl-streep-1078_decision_people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions_3146168.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People have to make their own decisions about their lives.” — Meryl Streep", "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": "Meryl Streep", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People have to make their own...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions-about-their-lives/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-have-to-make-their-own-decisions-about-their-lives/#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 } } ] } ```