--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot can be determined by the choices we…" description: "\"“A lot can be determined by the choices we make, even if the action is initiated by self-preservation. Many ... no, most ... of our choices are driven ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/michael-j-sullivan-3113_character-building_a-lot-can-be-determined-by-the-choices-w_274932.png" --- # A lot can be determined by the choices we make, even if… ![“A lot can be determined by the choices we make, even if the action is initiated by self-preservation. Many ... no, most ... of our choices are driven by fear: fear of death, fear of humiliation, fear of loneliness. But it's how we respond to fear that matters. It's what defines us. What makes us…” quote by Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/michael-j-sullivan-3113_character-building_a-lot-can-be-determined-by-the-choices-w_274932.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/michael-j-sullivan-3113_character-building_a-lot-can-be-determined-by-the-choices-w_274932.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/697/michael-j-sullivan-3113_character-building_a-lot-can-be-determined-by-the-choices-w_274932.png) > ““A lot can be determined by the choices we make, even if the action is initiated by self-preservation. Many ... no, most ... of our choices are driven by fear: fear of death, fear of humiliation, fear of loneliness. But it's how we respond to fear that matters. It's what defines us. What makes us who we are. So maybe in your mind you acted selfishly, but I'm alive because of the choice you made. So I'll remember it as an act of kindness and yes, even bravery.”” [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our decisions are often driven by fear, yet how we react to that fear shapes our identity and can become acts of kindness or bravery. **In simple terms:** Fear drives choices; our response defines us. Key Takeaway Respond to fear with courage and compassion. Themes fear choice identity compassion bravery Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - leadership decisions - relationships - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology ethics human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn fear into a positive choice? - When have you seen fear become kindness? A Different Perspective Fear may limit perspective, leading to overly defensive actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Of Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-of-kindness/) [Character building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-building/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear of death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-death/) [Self preservation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-preservation/) ## Related quotes > [People need each other to help each other up. But we can't stand near each other because we fear each other. 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Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Michael J. Sullivan > [“Bah!” Magnus scoffed. “Humans always blame dwarves. A baby goes missing and it was a dwarf that stole it. A princess runs off with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/bah-magnus-scoffed-humans-always-blame-dwarves-a-baby-goes-missing/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“Hands could be such expressive things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/hands-could-be-such-expressive-things/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Stealing swords,” Royce muttered mostly to himself. “Okay, let’s take a look at this tower. The sooner I see it, the sooner I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/stealing-swords-royce-muttered-mostly-to-himself-okay-let-s-take-a/) [Michael J. 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Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Another last-minute, good-deed job,” Royce grumbled as he stuffed supplies into his saddlebag. “True,” Hadrian said, slinging his sword belt over his shoulder, “but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/another-last-minute-good-deed-job-royce-grumbled-as-he-stuffed/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [If this hast been done to language, I fear to know the fate of all else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/if-this-hast-been-done-to-language-i-fear-to-know-the-fate-of-all-else/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“When going forward doesn't get you where you need to be, going back will at least keep you moving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/when-going-forward-doesn-t-get-you-where-you-need-to-be-going-back/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Hadrian leapt to his feet. Royce was already up. “Don’t bother,” Esrahaddon told them. “She’s dead, and there’s nothing you can do. The monster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/hadrian-leapt-to-his-feet-royce-was-already-up-don-t-bother/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [Royce cast a harsh and anxious look at the prince. “What?” Alric asked. “I thought we discussed the importance of keeping a low profile.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/royce-cast-a-harsh-and-anxious-look-at-the-prince-what-alric-asked-i/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) > [“Wait a minute,” Hadrian said. “Was it a beat-up brown leather notebook? About this big?” He gestured with his hands. “Yes,” the Patriarch said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-sullivan/wait-a-minute-hadrian-said-was-it-a-beat-up-brown-leather-notebook/) [Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) [Explore all 138 Michael J. Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-sullivan/) ## More Character building quotes > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/people-reveal-themselves-completely-only-when-they-are-thrown-out-of/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“The only measure of judging a human being is through that person’s character, because character is not determined by race, religion, gender or social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-only-measure-of-judging-a-human-being-is-through-that-person-s/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Never miss an opportunity to be truly and deeply humiliated! The shame will carve you down to an individual of exquisite layering, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/never-miss-an-opportunity-to-be-truly-and-deeply-humiliated-the-shame/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) > [Character contributes to beauty. It fortifies a woman as her youth fades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-bisset/character-contributes-to-beauty-it-fortifies-a-woman-as-her-youth/) [Jacqueline Bisset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-bisset/) > [Depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/depth-and-strength-of-a-human-character-are-defined-by-its-moral/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“More than Captain America your kids need Amelia Earhart – more than Ant Man, they need Abraham Lincoln - more than Green Arrow they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/more-than-captain-america-your-kids-need-amelia-earhart-more-than-ant/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [It's been said that astronomy is a humbling and, I might add, a character-building experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-s-been-said-that-astronomy-is-a-humbling-and-i-might-add-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“A relationship built on lies and trickery will not last; only truthfulness can uphold a relationship”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idowu-koyenikan/a-relationship-built-on-lies-and-trickery-will-not-last-only/) [idowu koyenikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idowu-koyenikan/) > [Poverty's potential for character building is far overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/poverty-s-potential-for-character-building-is-far-overrated/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [Highly educated young people are tutored, taught and monitored in all aspects of their lives, except the most important, which is character building. 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