--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the only thing you truly possess is your…" description: "\"“the only thing you truly possess is your ability to make choices (and to use reason and judgment when doing so).”\" — Ryan Holiday" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/ryan-holiday-514_choices_the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your_3182191.jpg" --- # the only thing you truly possess is your ability to make… ![“the only thing you truly possess is your ability to make choices (and to use reason and judgment when doing so).” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/ryan-holiday-514_choices_the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your_3182191.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/ryan-holiday-514_choices_the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your_3182191.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/ryan-holiday-514_choices_the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your_3182191.jpg) > ““the only thing you truly possess is your ability to make choices (and to use reason and judgment when doing so).”” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True freedom lies in the capacity to decide and apply rational judgment, emphasizing personal responsibility over external circumstances. **In simple terms:** You control your choices and reasoning. Key Takeaway Cultivate disciplined decision‑making. Themes responsibility agency reason choice Mood empowering thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - financial planning Key Concepts philosophical stoicism ethical autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What choices can you make today to align with your values? - How do you balance reason with emotion? A Different Perspective The view may underplay structural constraints on choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ## Related quotes > [What one should possess is the ability to carry off a role with panache. Once you do that, you're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shobana/what-one-should-possess-is-the-ability-to-carry-off-a-role-with/) [Shobana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shobana/) > [Laughter is key. Dancing a must. Because oh, how we do love both things! But most important, possess the ability to be present, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/laughter-is-key-dancing-a-must-because-oh-how-we-do-love-both-things/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) > [I believe the greatest ability to possess is the ability to find, develop, and promote abilities in other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-the-greatest-ability-to-possess-is-the-ability-to-find/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You Possess The Ability To Choose Your Own Direction in Life And Where Your Paths May Lead. You Control The Surrounding Influences That Inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/you-possess-the-ability-to-choose-your-own-direction-in-life-and/) Pacifiersucker > [“ Which natural gift would you most like to possess? The ability to master other languages (which would have hugely enhanced the scope of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/which-natural-gift-would-you-most-like-to-possess-the-ability-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“I get this occasionally, the need to define myself as a something-or-other, and at various times in my life I have wondered if I´m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/i-get-this-occasionally-the-need-to-define-myself-as-a-something-or/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [We do the best we can," she said softly, looking inward. "And punish ourselves for it. I've tried to make my choices with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/we-do-the-best-we-can-she-said-softly-looking-inward-and-punish/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [You can't make someone else's choices. You shouldn't let someone else make yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/you-can-t-make-someone-else-s-choices-you-shouldn-t-let-someone-else/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Only by letting go can we truly possess what is real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chow-yun-fat/only-by-letting-go-can-we-truly-possess-what-is-real/) [Chow Yun-Fat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chow-yun-fat/) > [You need only claim the events of your life to make yourself yours. When you truly possess all you have been and done, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florida-scott-maxwell/you-need-only-claim-the-events-of-your-life-to-make-yourself-yours-2/) [Florida Scott-Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florida-scott-maxwell/) > [We truly possess only what we are able to renounce; otherwise, we are simply possessed by our possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/we-truly-possess-only-what-we-are-able-to-renounce-otherwise-we-are/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [It is only when we have renounced our preoccupation with "I," "me," "mine," that we can truly possess the world in which we live.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/it-is-only-when-we-have-renounced-our-preoccupation-with-i-me-mine/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I see upon their noble brows the seal of the Lord, for they were born kings of the earth far more truly than those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-see-upon-their-noble-brows-the-seal-of-the-lord-for-they-were-born/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [“You need only claim the events of your life to make yourself yours. When you truly possess all you have been and done, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florida-scott-maxwell/you-need-only-claim-the-events-of-your-life-to-make-yourself-yours/) [Florida Scott-Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florida-scott-maxwell/) > [“You only truly possess that which you cannot lose in a shipwreck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-only-truly-possess-that-which-you-cannot-lose-in-a-shipwreck/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [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/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the only thing you truly possess is your ability to make choices (and to use reason and judgment when doing so).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Holiday" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your-ability-to-make-choices-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choices" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your-ability-to-make-choices-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/ryan-holiday-514_choices_the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your_3182191.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/ryan-holiday-514_choices_the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your_3182191.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/367/ryan-holiday-514_choices_the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your_3182191.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the only thing you truly possess is your ability to make choices (and to use reason and judgment when doing…” — Ryan Holiday", "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": "Ryan Holiday", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“the only thing you truly possess...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your-ability-to-make-choices-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-only-thing-you-truly-possess-is-your-ability-to-make-choices-and/#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 } } ] } ```