--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am coming to see that it is not so much…" description: "\"“I am coming to see that it is not so much a question of finding the right place, the right time, the ideal marriage. Neither life nor happiness hinges..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/michael-o-brien-29331_choice_i-am-coming-to-see-that-it-is-not-so-muc_382882.png" --- # I am coming to see that it is not so much a question of… ![“I am coming to see that it is not so much a question of finding the right place, the right time, the ideal marriage. Neither life nor happiness hinges upon such things. It is wholly within. It is response to what is given. It is choice.” quote by Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/michael-o-brien-29331_choice_i-am-coming-to-see-that-it-is-not-so-muc_382882.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/michael-o-brien-29331_choice_i-am-coming-to-see-that-it-is-not-so-muc_382882.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b45/michael-o-brien-29331_choice_i-am-coming-to-see-that-it-is-not-so-muc_382882.png) > ““I am coming to see that it is not so much a question of finding the right place, the right time, the ideal marriage. Neither life nor happiness hinges upon such things. It is wholly within. It is response to what is given. It is choice.”” [Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that fulfillment comes from inner response and choices, not external circumstances like place, time, or marriage. **In simple terms:** Happiness is internal, not dependent on external factors. Key Takeaway Focus on inner choices and responses. Themes inner choice happiness self‑reliance Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal relationships - career decisions - spiritual practice - daily challenges Key Concepts Existentialism agency mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you cultivate inner response to external events? - What choices can you make today to shape your happiness? A Different Perspective External factors can still influence outcomes; ignoring them may be naïve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Finding Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-right/) [Given Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given-choice/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Ideal Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideal-marriage-781904/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Response Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response-given-2441431/) [Right place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-place/) [Right time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-time/) ## Related quotes > [“In the culture to be born there will no doubt be old and new elements. 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Away from home for both, then together, that's much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/i-don-t-know-why-togetherness-was-ever-held-up-as-an-ideal-of/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [“First she would try to kill him, but failing this give him food and her body, breast-feed him back to a state of childishness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-ballard-2/first-she-would-try-to-kill-him-but-failing-this-give-him-food-and/) [J.G. Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard-2/) > [Niall Horan was in the right place at the right time, he's the luckiest guy in the world and he knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-walsh/niall-horan-was-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-he-s-the/) [Louis Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-walsh/) > [I do not believe we are all created equal. 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Nor is truth really truth unless it is integrated with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-brien/love-cannot-long-survive-without-truth-nor-is-truth-really-truth/) [Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-brien/) > [There are indeed 'values' in the Harry Potter series, but they're confused with anti-values. Potterworld is a scrambled moral universe. There are Christian symbols…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-brien/there-are-indeed-values-in-the-harry-potter-series-but-they-re/) [Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-brien/) > [Genuine freedom is possible only where there is genuine love. And genuine love is not possible without truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-brien/genuine-freedom-is-possible-only-where-there-is-genuine-love-and/) [Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-brien/) > [If creators of Christian culture hope to produce work that will bear good fruit, we must draw our life from the true source -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-brien/if-creators-of-christian-culture-hope-to-produce-work-that-will-bear/) [Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-brien/) > [Imagination is a screen onto which the evil spirits can 'project' images, temptations presented as stimulating entertainments, offering us pleasurable rewards if we give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-brien/imagination-is-a-screen-onto-which-the-evil-spirits-can-project/) [Michael O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-brien/) > [My Catholic faith is my life. 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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. 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