--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We make choices. No one else can live our…" description: "\"We make choices. No one else can live our lives for us. And we must confront and accept the consequences of our actions.\" — Neil Gaiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/neil-gaiman-29_accepting_we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our_2193927.jpg" --- # We make choices. No one else can live our lives for us… ![“We make choices. No one else can live our lives for us. And we must confront and accept the consequences of our actions.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/neil-gaiman-29_accepting_we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our_2193927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/neil-gaiman-29_accepting_we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our_2193927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/neil-gaiman-29_accepting_we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our_2193927.jpg) > “We make choices. No one else can live our lives for us. And we must confront and accept the consequences of our actions.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individuals are responsible for their own choices and must accept the outcomes. **In simple terms:** You choose; you face consequences. Key Takeaway Own your decisions and learn from them. Themes responsibility choice consequence autonomy growth Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - legal judgments Key Concepts free will ethical accountability self‑determination Questions to Reflect On - What choices define your path? - How do you cope with unintended outcomes? A Different Perspective Life’s complexity can blur clear responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences/) [Consequences of our actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequences-of-our-actions/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“So long as we are brave enough to accept the consequences of our actions, no one can take away our freedom of choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-norton/so-long-as-we-are-brave-enough-to-accept-the-consequences-of-our/) [Mike Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-norton/) > [There is only one basic human right: the right to do as you please, without causing others harm. With it comes our only basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/there-is-only-one-basic-human-right-the-right-to-do-as-you-please/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Nothing happens in a vacuum in life: every action has a series of consequences, and sometimes it takes a long time to fully understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/nothing-happens-in-a-vacuum-in-life-every-action-has-a-series-of/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Principles are natural laws that are external to us and that ultimately control the consequences of our actions. Values are internal and subjective and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/principles-are-natural-laws-that-are-external-to-us-and-that/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The consequences of our actions take hold of us, quite indifferent to our claim that meanwhile we have 'improved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-consequences-of-our-actions-take-hold-of-us-quite-indifferent-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [We should face reality and our past mistakes in an honest, adult way. Boasting of glory does not make glory, and singing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-should-face-reality-and-our-past-mistakes-in-an-honest-adult-way-2/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-consequences-of-our-actions-are-always-so-complicated-so-diverse/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...the only thing that continues is the consequences of our action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/the-only-thing-that-continues-is-the-consequences-of-our-action/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [I think that's the moment when we all grow up, when we stop blaming our parents for the messes we've made out of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/i-think-that-s-the-moment-when-we-all-grow-up-when-we-stop-blaming/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [If we only look far enough off for the consequence of our actions, we can always find some point in the combination of results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/if-we-only-look-far-enough-off-for-the-consequence-of-our-actions-we/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [Only as long as we believe in our own identity over time does it make sense for us to make future plans, avoid risks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-metzinger/only-as-long-as-we-believe-in-our-own-identity-over-time-does-it-make/) [Thomas Metzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-metzinger/) > [In order not to be misunderstood, I want it perfectly clear that I believe it is incumbent on us to conduct our lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-order-not-to-be-misunderstood-i-want-it-perfectly-clear-that-i/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [What our Seventh Generation will have is a consequence of our actions today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-laduke/what-our-seventh-generation-will-have-is-a-consequence-of-our-actions/) [Winona LaDuke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-laduke/) > [“Think beforehand about afterwards — whatever you decide to do, think ahead about the consequences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-asbury/think-beforehand-about-afterwards-whatever-you-decide-to-do-think/) [Stephen Asbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-asbury/) > [I accept the consequences of all that I do. No matter what we do with our lives, our bodies are temporary. We're all going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bachar/i-accept-the-consequences-of-all-that-i-do-no-matter-what-we-do-with/) [John Bachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bachar/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We make choices. No one else can live our lives for us. And we must confront and accept the consequences of our actions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Gaiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our-lives-for-us-and-we-must/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our-lives-for-us-and-we-must/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/neil-gaiman-29_accepting_we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our_2193927.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/neil-gaiman-29_accepting_we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our_2193927.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42f/neil-gaiman-29_accepting_we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our_2193927.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We make choices. No one else can live our lives for us. And we must confront and accept the consequences of…” — Neil Gaiman", "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": "Neil Gaiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We make choices. No one else...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our-lives-for-us-and-we-must/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/we-make-choices-no-one-else-can-live-our-lives-for-us-and-we-must/#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 } } ] } ```