--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However stupid the choice seemed, Shay…" description: "\"However stupid the choice seemed, Shay had made it with her eyes open, and had respected Tally's choice to stay.\" — Scott Westerfeld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/scott-westerfeld-928_choice_however-stupid-the-choice-seemed-shay-ha_3213397.png" --- # However stupid the choice seemed, Shay had made it with… ![“However stupid the choice seemed, Shay had made it with her eyes open, and had respected Tally's choice to stay.” quote by Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/scott-westerfeld-928_choice_however-stupid-the-choice-seemed-shay-ha_3213397.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/scott-westerfeld-928_choice_however-stupid-the-choice-seemed-shay-ha_3213397.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e3/scott-westerfeld-928_choice_however-stupid-the-choice-seemed-shay-ha_3213397.png) > “However stupid the choice seemed, Shay had made it with her eyes open, and had respected Tally's choice to stay.” [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shay consciously chose a difficult path, respecting another's decision, showing agency and empathy. **In simple terms:** Conscious choices respect others. Key Takeaway Make informed, empathetic decisions. Themes choice agency empathy respect consciousness Mood reflective thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - relationships - moral dilemmas - personal growth - team dynamics Key Concepts ethical decision‑making personal autonomy interpersonal respect Questions to Reflect On - When did you choose with open eyes? - How do you balance personal choice with respect for others? A Different Perspective Choices may have unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-shay-6013228/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-open/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Her eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/her-eyes/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shay/) [Shay Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shay-eyes-4903468/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-choice-5316533/) ## Related quotes > [Tally sighed, tipping her feet again to follow. "Maybe that's because they have better stuff to do than kid tricks. Maybe partying in town…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/tally-sighed-tipping-her-feet-again-to-follow-maybe-that-s-because/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Why do I have to make a stupid choice if your just going to keep throwing me back every time we try to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole/why-do-i-have-to-make-a-stupid-choice-if-your-just-going-to-keep/) [Nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole/) > [Now,young lady,I suppose you're here for a work assignment." Work?" Tally said. They both looked down at her puzzled expression, and Shay burst into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/now-young-lady-i-suppose-you-re-here-for-a-work-assignment-work-tally/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Why are you still wearing...?" Aya began. "Oh, that's not smart plastic? You're really an ugly?" David rolled his eyes and Shay said quietly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/why-are-you-still-wearing-aya-began-oh-that-s-not-smart-plastic-you/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [That Shay was in possesion of hand grenades was a comforting thought showed what kind of night this had become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/that-shay-was-in-possesion-of-hand-grenades-was-a-comforting-thought/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [You're insane!" she shouted. "Pretty cool, huh?" "No!"Tally yelled. "Why didn't you tell me it was broken?" Shay shrugged. "More fun that way?" "More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-re-insane-she-shouted-pretty-cool-huh-no-tally-yelled-why-didn-t/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Once we turn, it’s new pretty, middle pretty, late pretty.” Shay dropped her arms, and her board stopped drifting. “Then dead pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/once-we-turn-it-s-new-pretty-middle-pretty-late-pretty-shay-dropped/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Shay sometimes talked in a mysterious way, like she was quoting the lyrics of some band no one else listened to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/shay-sometimes-talked-in-a-mysterious-way-like-she-was-quoting-the/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Nature was tough, it could be dangerous, but unlike Dr. Cable or shay, or peris-unlike people in general-it made sense. The problems it threw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/nature-was-tough-it-could-be-dangerous-but-unlike-dr-cable-or-shay-or/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Eyes open, then," I say, tapping the skin between my eyebrows. I don’t really need her eyes to be on mine, but I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/eyes-open-then-i-say-tapping-the-skin-between-my-eyebrows-i-don-t/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [When does it happen?" "It already has," Calla replied. Her eyes opened and fixed on Blue. "And it hasn't yet. Time' circular, chicken. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/when-does-it-happen-it-already-has-calla-replied-her-eyes-opened-and/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [The moment Eve bit into the apple, her eyes opened and she became free. She exposed the truth of what every woman knows: to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/the-moment-eve-bit-into-the-apple-her-eyes-opened-and-she-became-free/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [Shay this is for you(: I love having you as my best friend forever(: wish we could see each other outside of this site-lol(:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare/shay-this-is-for-you-i-love-having-you-as-my-best-friend-forever-wish/) [Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare/) > [“He told me how special you are," he said, flashing Shay an unfriendly smile. "Because of your great-great-times-a-hundred-grandmother Eira who got us into this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/he-told-me-how-special-you-are-he-said-flashing-shay-an-unfriendly/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [“The air around Shay rippled, tinged with the rusty hue of his rage. I caught the scent of Ren's own fury, sudden and violent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/the-air-around-shay-rippled-tinged-with-the-rusty-hue-of-his-rage-i/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) ## More by Scott Westerfeld > [“She thought of the orchids spreading across the plains below, choking the life out of the other plants, out of the soil itself, selfish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/she-thought-of-the-orchids-spreading-across-the-plains-below-choking/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [But it's always taking a risk, when you ... kiss someone new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/but-it-s-always-taking-a-risk-when-you-kiss-someone-new/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [The Rusty Ruins were the remains of an old city, a hulking reminder of back when there'd been way too many people, and everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-rusty-ruins-were-the-remains-of-an-old-city-a-hulking-reminder-of/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [High school wasn't a trial by fire or some ordeal that had to be survived. It was all a big joke. You just had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/high-school-wasn-t-a-trial-by-fire-or-some-ordeal-that-had-to-be/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [And you've actually watched it yourself?' I asked. 'Willingly?' Sure. I had to see it, you know? Besides we should be safe. Only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/and-you-ve-actually-watched-it-yourself-i-asked-willingly-sure-i-had/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Sure, zombies can “be a metaphor.” They can represent the oppressed, as in Land of the Dead, or humanity’s feral nature, as in 28…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sure-zombies-can-be-a-metaphor-they-can-represent-the-oppressed-as-in/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“You don't look very happy." Tally tried to smile. David had shared his biggest secret with her; she should tell him hers. But she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/you-don-t-look-very-happy-tally-tried-to-smile-david-had-shared-his/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Dude, I just watched you climb up a f\*cking building!-Lace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dude-i-just-watched-you-climb-up-a-f-cking-building-lace/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Weird, even for one of us. Or maybe she's worse." "Worse how?" "Normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/weird-even-for-one-of-us-or-maybe-she-s-worse-worse-how-normal/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Tally smiled. At least she was causing trouble to the end. "I'm Tally Youngblood," she said. "make me pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/tally-smiled-at-least-she-was-causing-trouble-to-the-end-i-m-tally/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Out here, you find out that the city fools you about how things really work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/out-here-you-find-out-that-the-city-fools-you-about-how-things-really/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“Growing up like rewriting is simply admitting how clueless you were not so long ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/growing-up-like-rewriting-is-simply-admitting-how-clueless-you-were/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [“The beauty of the world…has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder. —Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/the-beauty-of-the-world-has-two-edges-one-of-laughter-one-of-anguish/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Cure for writer's block: blow something up(in the story)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/cure-for-writer-s-block-blow-something-up-in-the-story/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) [Explore all 321 Scott Westerfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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