---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There comes a time in every person's life…"
description: "\"There comes a time in every person's life when he has to choose the course his life will take.\" — Muhammad Ali"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/muhammad-ali-386_courses_there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-lif_1787857.jpg"
---

#  There comes a time in every person's life when he has to…

![“There comes a time in every person's life when he has to choose the course his life will take.” quote by Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/muhammad-ali-386_courses_there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-lif_1787857.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/muhammad-ali-386_courses_there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-lif_1787857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/muhammad-ali-386_courses_there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-lif_1787857.jpg)

> “There comes a time in every person's life when he has to choose the course his life will take.”

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Everyone reaches a moment where they must decide their life's direction.

**In simple terms:** A pivotal choice determines one's path.

Key Takeaway

Make conscious decisions at crossroads.

Themes

choice responsibility growth

Mood

motivational thoughtful

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- career change
- personal relationships
- ethical dilemmas

Key Concepts

free will decision theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What decision defines your current life direction?
- How do you balance personal desire with societal expectations?

A Different Perspective

It ignores external constraints that limit options.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [There comes a time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-comes-a-time/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [There is a time when we must firmly choose the course which we will follow or the endless drift of events will make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-a-time-when-we-must-firmly-choose-the-course-which-we-will/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Your life is your ship and you are the captain. Choose your course, take the wheel firmly and get on your way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/your-life-is-your-ship-and-you-are-the-captain-choose-your-course/)

[Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/)

> [There is a time when we must firmly choose the course we will follow, or the relentless drift of events will make the decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-v-prochnow/there-is-a-time-when-we-must-firmly-choose-the-course-we-will-follow/)

[Herbert V. Prochnow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-v-prochnow/)

> [Up to a point a person’s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and changes in the world about them. Then there comes a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/up-to-a-point-a-person-s-life-is-shaped-by-environment-heredity-and/)

[Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/)

> [“Your action, reaction and inaction decide your course in life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souvik-khamrui/your-action-reaction-and-inaction-decide-your-course-in-life/)

Souvik Khamrui

> [The quality of your commitments will determine the course of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-marston/the-quality-of-your-commitments-will-determine-the-course-of-your-life/)

[Ralph Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-marston/)

> [History is the land-mark by which we are directed into the true course of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/history-is-the-land-mark-by-which-we-are-directed-into-the-true/)

[Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/)

> [Course of life will never change if you give in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin/course-of-life-will-never-change-if-you-give-in/)

[Alvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin/)

> [The ideal course of life is not always easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-ideal-course-of-life-is-not-always-easy/)

[Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/)

> [Who you spend your life with-much more so than how you choose to spend it-is the most important decision you can make. Do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/who-you-spend-your-life-with-much-more-so-than-how-you-choose-to/)

[Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/)

> [It's not the life you choose, but it's the life you live. It's not what you've got, but it's what you give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-the-life-you-choose-but-it-s-the-life-you-live-it-s-not-what/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You not only choose between two ways of life but you choose between two masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/you-not-only-choose-between-two-ways-of-life-but-you-choose-between/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [“Life is not about how long you live or how much you experience. Life is about how you choose to live it and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-hansen/life-is-not-about-how-long-you-live-or-how-much-you-experience-life/)

Marlene Hansen

> [You can never choose what you get in life, but you can choose how it affects you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/you-can-never-choose-what-you-get-in-life-but-you-can-choose-how-it/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [There are things in life you cannot choose: how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paritoshik-sharma/there-are-things-in-life-you-cannot-choose-how-you-feel/)

[Paritoshik Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paritoshik-sharma/)

## More by Muhammad Ali

> [There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-are-more-pleasant-things-to-do-than-beat-up-people/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [There ain't no such thing as black Muslims. That's how they tried to cut off all my brothers in the rest of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-ain-t-no-such-thing-as-black-muslims-that-s-how-they-tried-to/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [I've never let anyone talk me into not believing in myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-ve-never-let-anyone-talk-me-into-not-believing-in-myself/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-too-fast-i-m-too-smart-i-m-too-pretty/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [I don't count my sit-ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting. That is when I start counting, because then it really counts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-don-t-count-my-sit-ups-i-only-start-counting-when-it-starts-hurting/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-said-a-lot-of-things-in-the-heat-of-the-moment-that-i-shouldn-t/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [Many people are quick to say that we are not recognized by Muslims in the East . And I start with the Honorable Elijah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/many-people-are-quick-to-say-that-we-are-not-recognized-by-muslims-in/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [I have been so great in boxing they had to create an image like Rocky, a white image on the screen, to counteract my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-have-been-so-great-in-boxing-they-had-to-create-an-image-like-rocky/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [Money and riches don't mean nothing to me. I don't care nothing about being no rich individual. I'm not living for glory or for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/money-and-riches-don-t-mean-nothing-to-me-i-don-t-care-nothing-about/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [Allah is the Greatest. I'm just the greatest boxer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/allah-is-the-greatest-i-m-just-the-greatest-boxer/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [My wealth is in my knowledge of self, love, and spirituality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/my-wealth-is-in-my-knowledge-of-self-love-and-spirituality/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [We followed the Honorable Elijah Mohammed, who is the boss. And we don't waste a lot of time arguin' about a dead black man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/we-followed-the-honorable-elijah-mohammed-who-is-the-boss-and-we-don/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [I'm gonna have to be killed before I lose, and I ain't going to die easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-m-gonna-have-to-be-killed-before-i-lose-and-i-ain-t-going-to-die/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [If some black man go out and start something, a riot or something or, I'm not going to jump in it and get killed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-some-black-man-go-out-and-start-something-a-riot-or-something-or-i/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

> [If you want to be equal with me, you can get your own Rolls-Royce, your own house and your own million dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/if-you-want-to-be-equal-with-me-you-can-get-your-own-rolls-royce-your/)

[Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

[Explore all 609 Muhammad Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/)

## 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

> [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

> [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 comes a time in every person's life when he has to choose the course his life will take.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Muhammad Ali"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-life-when-he-has-to-choose-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-life-when-he-has-to-choose-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/muhammad-ali-386_courses_there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-lif_1787857.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/muhammad-ali-386_courses_there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-lif_1787857.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/muhammad-ali-386_courses_there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-lif_1787857.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There comes a time in every person's life when he has to choose the course his life will take.” — Muhammad Ali",
                "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": "Muhammad Ali",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "There comes a time in every...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-life-when-he-has-to-choose-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/there-comes-a-time-in-every-person-s-life-when-he-has-to-choose-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
