--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had a choice. I could become an…" description: "\"I had a choice. I could become an economist & managing director. I choose to do something else. I would have become much, much richer than I am. I choo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/odd-nerdrum-27218_choice_i-had-a-choice-i-could-become-an-economi_491975.jpg" --- # I had a choice. I could become an economist & managing… ![“I had a choice. I could become an economist & managing director. I choose to do something else. I would have become much, much richer than I am. I choose to not do that. It's that simple.” quote by Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/odd-nerdrum-27218_choice_i-had-a-choice-i-could-become-an-economi_491975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/odd-nerdrum-27218_choice_i-had-a-choice-i-could-become-an-economi_491975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/odd-nerdrum-27218_choice_i-had-a-choice-i-could-become-an-economi_491975.jpg) > “I had a choice. I could become an economist & managing director. I choose to do something else. I would have become much, much richer than I am. I choose to not do that. It's that simple.” [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing personal fulfillment over material wealth highlights that success is defined by values, not money. **In simple terms:** Values over money. Key Takeaway Prioritize purpose over profit. Themes values fulfillment wealth choice Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - financial planning - life purpose - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts existentialism personal ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does success mean to you? - How would you balance wealth and purpose? A Different Perspective May overlook practical responsibilities or financial security. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Economist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economist/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) ## Related quotes > [“For the first time in my life I had money, and it was the most liberating thing in the world. The first thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-had-money-and-it-was-the-most/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [I'm no economist. I don't even play one on TV. I'm just a husband, a father, a taxpayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/i-m-no-economist-i-don-t-even-play-one-on-tv-i-m-just-a-husband-a/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [However, the fact that an economist offers a theoretical analysis does not and should not automatically command respect. What is needed is some assurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/however-the-fact-that-an-economist-offers-a-theoretical-analysis-does/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Economists actually disagree about whether there are significant economic returns from attending an elite college versus a less-selective one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-oster/economists-actually-disagree-about-whether-there-are-significant/) [Emily Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-oster/) > [The good news is that economists are intelligent, engaging and often charming folks. The bad news is their work is often of little use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/the-good-news-is-that-economists-are-intelligent-engaging-and-often/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [ I have learned more \[from Balzac\] than from all the professional historians, economists, and statisticians put together. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-engels/i-have-learned-more-from-balzac-than-from-all-the-professional/) [Friedrich Engels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-engels/) > [Stiglitz is not a Left economist. Indeed, it would be difficult to find a more authentic insider and establishment figure than Stiglitz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prashant-bhushan/stiglitz-is-not-a-left-economist-indeed-it-would-be-difficult-to-find/) [Prashant Bhushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prashant-bhushan/) > [Economic theorists should not make such a production about taking a rabbit out of a hat after having put the rabbit into the hat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/economic-theorists-should-not-make-such-a-production-about-taking-a/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [Louis Kelso of San Francisco, a lawyer-economist, has for years felt that he has a radical answer to the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/louis-kelso-of-san-francisco-a-lawyer-economist-has-for-years-felt/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [Losses of a kind of satisfaction that have no market equivalent don't show up in the calculations of economists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/losses-of-a-kind-of-satisfaction-that-have-no-market-equivalent-don-t/) [Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/) > [All professionals, whether physicists, economists or musicians, live by and for peer judgment, even when they are being paid by people who cannot tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hobsbawm/all-professionals-whether-physicists-economists-or-musicians-live-by/) [Eric Hobsbawm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hobsbawm/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-often-sadly-remarked-that-the-bad-economists-present-their/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Economists think about what people ought to do. Psychologists watch what they actually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/economists-think-about-what-people-ought-to-do-psychologists-watch/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) ## More by Odd Nerdrum > [If a girl is in love with a poor guy and chooses him, then that is worst for her. If she chooses a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/if-a-girl-is-in-love-with-a-poor-guy-and-chooses-him-then-that-is/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [Talking about success in society, no one can complain, because today everyone can choose what he or she wants. They don't just have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/talking-about-success-in-society-no-one-can-complain-because-today/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [Desire is something very egoistic. If you desire something, you also have to take the consequences of that. You have to study the market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/desire-is-something-very-egoistic-if-you-desire-something-you-also/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [When you choose your profession, you also choose your own downfall or success. If one chooses to become an artist it is 99% certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/when-you-choose-your-profession-you-also-choose-your-own-downfall-or/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [I believe one must be such a big egoist that it is possible to avoid the big tendencies that cut of your head. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/i-believe-one-must-be-such-a-big-egoist-that-it-is-possible-to-avoid/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [We are all kitsch on our deathbeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/we-are-all-kitsch-on-our-deathbeds/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [Everything is a meaningless struggle against nothing and when people say that the world has become a better place that is a false development-optimism.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/everything-is-a-meaningless-struggle-against-nothing-and-when-people/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [I have no ideals. I have no will that the world should be any better or worse or anything... Because I know that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/i-have-no-ideals-i-have-no-will-that-the-world-should-be-any-better/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [Kitsch is deep in its superficiality. Art is superficially deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/kitsch-is-deep-in-its-superficiality-art-is-superficially-deep/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [The world somehow is always the same. The only thing that can improve is the individual life. One can live a good life. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/the-world-somehow-is-always-the-same-the-only-thing-that-can-improve/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [The point is that only one thing matters in this world, to prepare oneself for death. One can try to be as comfortable as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/the-point-is-that-only-one-thing-matters-in-this-world-to-prepare/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [A topic is not interesting enough until it is multi layered. There is no vigor in a motive without many layers. One also learns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/a-topic-is-not-interesting-enough-until-it-is-multi-layered-there-is/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [Art is a car, kitsch is a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/art-is-a-car-kitsch-is-a-horse/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [If you fall asleep on horseback, the horse will stop by the rock. Art is a car. Kitsch is a horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/if-you-fall-asleep-on-horseback-the-horse-will-stop-by-the-rock-art/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) > [ To be contemporary actually means to be an artist. \[But\] I do not feel contemporary in my work. I perceive my work as old-fashioned.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odd-nerdrum/to-be-contemporary-actually-means-to-be-an-artist-but-i-do-not-feel/) [Odd Nerdrum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) [Explore all 21 Odd Nerdrum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odd-nerdrum/) ## 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": "I had a choice. 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