--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot choose your battlefield, God…" description: "\"“You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you; But you can plant a standard Where a standard never flew. (From The Colors )”\" — Nathalia C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/nathalia-crane-25752_battle_you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-d_2211575.jpg" --- # You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you… ![“You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you; But you can plant a standard Where a standard never flew. (From The Colors )” quote by Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/nathalia-crane-25752_battle_you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-d_2211575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/nathalia-crane-25752_battle_you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-d_2211575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/nathalia-crane-25752_battle_you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-d_2211575.jpg) > ““You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you; But you can plant a standard Where a standard never flew. (From The Colors )”” [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You cannot select your challenges, but you can create a new standard where none existed. **In simple terms:** Choose battles, set new standards. Key Takeaway Create opportunities in unexpected places. Themes resilience agency innovation Mood motivational empowering Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career pivots - social activism - personal crises - entrepreneurship Key Concepts creative leadership self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - How can you redefine a difficult situation? - What standards can you pioneer? A Different Perspective Changing standards can meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battlefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battlefield/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you. But you can plant a standard where a standard never flew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-does-that-for-you-but-you-can-2/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [You cannot choose your battlefield, The Gods do that for you; But you can plant a standard Where a standard never flew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-the-gods-do-that-for-you-but-you/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [A Warrior of the Light cannot always choose his battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-of-the-light-cannot-always-choose-his-battlefield/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The GRU is used for both tactical intelligence collection in the battlefield in support of Russian military operations and also strategic active measures or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitri-alperovitch/the-gru-is-used-for-both-tactical-intelligence-collection-in-the/) [Dmitri Alperovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitri-alperovitch/) > [The most important 6 inches on the battlefield is between your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/the-most-important-6-inches-on-the-battlefield-is-between-your-ears/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [There is no God-given right to victory on the battlefield. You win that through the skill and the devotion, the valor and the ferocity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-mattis/there-is-no-god-given-right-to-victory-on-the-battlefield-you-win/) [Jim Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-mattis/) > [When I am in the battlefield, I love it more then my wedding night with the most beautiful of women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid-ibn-al-walid/when-i-am-in-the-battlefield-i-love-it-more-then-my-wedding-night/) [Khalid ibn al-Walid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid-ibn-al-walid/) > [What's always got me is the fact that when people talked on the telly about Iraq, before Afghanistan kicked off, you'd get only these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-kemp/what-s-always-got-me-is-the-fact-that-when-people-talked-on-the-telly/) [Ross Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-kemp/) > [When I got to write for the 'Battlefield' record, it was almost therapeutic. I had gone through a few things in the two years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/when-i-got-to-write-for-the-battlefield-record-it-was-almost/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > ['Battlefield' was one of those slow-building songs, the way 'Tattoo' was. It was kind of a word-of-mouth hit. The more people heard it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/battlefield-was-one-of-those-slow-building-songs-the-way-tattoo-was/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [“Those mornings were fragile things — like flowers blooming in the middle of a battlefield. She hadn’t realized then that the soil beneath them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-sn/those-mornings-were-fragile-things-like-flowers-blooming-in-the/) Maggie Sn > [I'd rather die humbly on a battlefield , surround w/ my military brother's and sister's , in life or too not die at all .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-natorious-rabb/i-d-rather-die-humbly-on-a-battlefield-surround-w-my-military-brother/) [Napoleon Natorious Rabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-natorious-rabb/) > [Men grow old quickly on the battlefield.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/men-grow-old-quickly-on-the-battlefield/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“life is our battlefield. We must do what we know to do, not what we want to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/life-is-our-battlefield-we-must-do-what-we-know-to-do-not-what-we/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [“Time gives poetry to a battlefield...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/time-gives-poetry-to-a-battlefield/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) ## More by Nathalia Crane > [There is a glory in a great mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/there-is-a-glory-in-a-great-mistake/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting, For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. And the touch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-very-serpents-bite-their-tails-the-bees-forget-to-sting-for-a/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [Lo and behold! God made this starry wold, The maggot and the mold; lo and behold! He taught the grass contentment blade by blade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/lo-and-behold-god-made-this-starry-wold-the-maggot-and-the-mold-lo/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [You cannot choose your battlefield, The Gods do that for you; But you can plant a standard Where a standard never flew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-the-gods-do-that-for-you-but-you/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [I linger on the flathouse roof, the moonlight is divine. But my heart is all aflutter like the washing on the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/i-linger-on-the-flathouse-roof-the-moonlight-is-divine-but-my-heart/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [Oh I'm in love with the janitor's boy, And the janitor's boy loves me; He's going to hunt for a desert isle In our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/oh-i-m-in-love-with-the-janitor-s-boy-and-the-janitor-s-boy-loves-me/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [Across the downs a hummingbird Came dipping through the bowers, He pivoted on emptiness To scrutinize the flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/across-the-downs-a-hummingbird-came-dipping-through-the-bowers-he/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [When you return, the youngest of the seers, Released from fetters of ancestral pose, There will be beauty waiting down the years Revisions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/when-you-return-the-youngest-of-the-seers-released-from-fetters-of/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [The rose has told In one simplicity That never life Relinquishes a bloom But to bestow An ancient confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-rose-has-told-in-one-simplicity-that-never-life-relinquishes-a/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [Great is the rose Infected by the tomb, Yet burgeoning Indifferent to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/great-is-the-rose-infected-by-the-tomb-yet-burgeoning-indifferent-to/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [Great is the rose That challenges the crypt, And quotes milleniums Against the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/great-is-the-rose-that-challenges-the-crypt-and-quotes-milleniums/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [Once a pallid Vestal Doubted truth in blue; Listed red in ruin, Harried every hue; Barricaded vision, Garbed herself in sighs; Ridiculed the birthmarks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/once-a-pallid-vestal-doubted-truth-in-blue-listed-red-in-ruin-harried/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [The world is growing gentle, But few know what she owes To the understanding lily And the judgment of the rose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-world-is-growing-gentle-but-few-know-what-she-owes-to-the/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [A precious place is Paradise and none may know its worth, But Eden ever longeth for the knicknacks of the earth. The angels grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/a-precious-place-is-paradise-and-none-may-know-its-worth-but-eden/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) > [The sign work of the Orient it runneth up and down; The Talmud stalks from right to left, a rabbi in a gown; The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/the-sign-work-of-the-orient-it-runneth-up-and-down-the-talmud-stalks/) [Nathalia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) [Explore all 22 Nathalia Crane quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you; But you can plant a standard Where a standard never flew. (From The Colors )”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nathalia Crane" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-does-that-for-you-but-you-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Battle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-does-that-for-you-but-you-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/nathalia-crane-25752_battle_you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-d_2211575.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/nathalia-crane-25752_battle_you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-d_2211575.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/nathalia-crane-25752_battle_you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-d_2211575.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you; But you can plant a standard Where a standard…” — Nathalia Crane", "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": "Nathalia Crane", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalia-crane/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You cannot choose your battlefield, God...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-does-that-for-you-but-you-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalia-crane/you-cannot-choose-your-battlefield-god-does-that-for-you-but-you-can/#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 } } ] } ```