--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you have to choose between…" description: "\"Sometimes you have to choose between being dumb for them or being smart for yourself.\" — Sonya Parker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/sonya-parker-80_choose_sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-bei_2668788.jpg" --- # Sometimes you have to choose between being dumb for them… ![“Sometimes you have to choose between being dumb for them or being smart for yourself.” quote by Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/sonya-parker-80_choose_sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-bei_2668788.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/sonya-parker-80_choose_sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-bei_2668788.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/sonya-parker-80_choose_sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-bei_2668788.jpg) > “Sometimes you have to choose between being dumb for them or being smart for yourself.” [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balance between self‑sacrifice for others and self‑preservation. **In simple terms:** Choose between self‑sacrifice and self‑care. Key Takeaway Prioritize honest self‑interest. Themes authenticity boundaries self‑care relationships integrity Mood reflective assertive empathetic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - family decisions - workplace negotiations - friendship dynamics - personal growth - mental health Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - When to say no? - How to protect self without alienating others? A Different Perspective People may judge self‑care as selfish. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Self worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-worth/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [“It is better to be dumb and smart than to be vocal and dumb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-degraftcoleman/it-is-better-to-be-dumb-and-smart-than-to-be-vocal-and-dumb/) William deGraftColeman > [As you get older you realize your parents don't look so dumb - and that you're not as smart as you thought you were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/as-you-get-older-you-realize-your-parents-don-t-look-so-dumb-and-that/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [Life is very, very short, and you can choose to live it how you want. You can choose to dumb yourself down and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/life-is-very-very-short-and-you-can-choose-to-live-it-how-you-want-2/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [“Life is very, very short, and you can choose to live it how you want. You can choose to dumb yourself down and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/life-is-very-very-short-and-you-can-choose-to-live-it-how-you-want/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [“Feelings are feelings. They don't have dumb or smart labels,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/feelings-are-feelings-they-don-t-have-dumb-or-smart-labels/) [Cherise Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/) > [There are two types of people in the world: dumb smart people and smart dumb people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cooper/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-the-world-dumb-smart-people-and/) [Alex Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cooper/) > [“It's so torturously true that wealthy does rhyme with healthy and yet poor does not mean to pour! If by showing off you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-claudia-antunes/it-s-so-torturously-true-that-wealthy-does-rhyme-with-healthy-and-yet/) [Ana Claudia Antunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-claudia-antunes/) > [“If you’re going to do something dumb, do it in a smart way. This is my advice for falling in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-you-re-going-to-do-something-dumb-do-it-in-a-smart-way-this-is-my/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The Howard Stern Show is a big hit because it entertains dumb and smart people at the same time for different reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-lange/the-howard-stern-show-is-a-big-hit-because-it-entertains-dumb-and/) [Artie Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-lange/) > [You say you know your worth, but your actions prove that you don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-say-you-know-your-worth-but-your-actions-prove-that-you-don-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Realize that you deserve love, respect, affection, attention, loyalty and a commitment and dont settle for anything less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/realize-that-you-deserve-love-respect-affection-attention-loyalty-and/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Having a list of men that want your body is nothing to brag about. Only brag about a man that wants ALL of you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/having-a-list-of-men-that-want-your-body-is-nothing-to-brag-about/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [All that matters is that you KNOW your worth. If they don't know your worth realize that it's OKAY because they aren't meant for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/all-that-matters-is-that-you-know-your-worth-if-they-don-t-know-your/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Don't lower your worth just to keep them in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/don-t-lower-your-worth-just-to-keep-them-in-your-life/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [If holding onto them requires you to lower your self-worth and self-respect let go of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-holding-onto-them-requires-you-to-lower-your-self-worth-and-self/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## More by Sonya Parker > [If someone leaves you because of a flaw or small problem they're immature, and they are definitely wrong for you. So, good riddance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-someone-leaves-you-because-of-a-flaw-or-small-problem-they-re/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [If holding onto them requires you to lower your self-worth and self-respect let go of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-holding-onto-them-requires-you-to-lower-your-self-worth-and-self/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I still care about you, but youve lost my trust, youve lost my respect and youve lost me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-still-care-about-you-but-youve-lost-my-trust-youve-lost-my-respect/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Everyone has dreams, but everyone isn't willing to fight for their dreams to come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/everyone-has-dreams-but-everyone-isn-t-willing-to-fight-for-their/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [A jerk will keep hurting you then apologize to keep you from leaving them, and then do it all over again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-jerk-will-keep-hurting-you-then-apologize-to-keep-you-from-leaving/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Just because you failed yesterday it doesn't mean that you can't succeed today or tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/just-because-you-failed-yesterday-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-can-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Today isn't just another day off, it's a day to remember those who have sacrificed their life for your FREEDOM. Happy Memorial Day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/today-isn-t-just-another-day-off-it-s-a-day-to-remember-those-who/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Stop holding onto people that treat you like crap. They might be nice sometimes, but the rest of the time they disrespect you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/stop-holding-onto-people-that-treat-you-like-crap-they-might-be-nice/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Nice people hate saying 'no' to their friends and family, that's why they get used and taken advantage of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/nice-people-hate-saying-no-to-their-friends-and-family-that-s-why/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Most people don't reach their goals because reaching their goals requires them to do things that they don't want to do. You might not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/most-people-don-t-reach-their-goals-because-reaching-their-goals/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Once a person turns cold it's hard to change back into who they used to be. They have to let go of the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/once-a-person-turns-cold-it-s-hard-to-change-back-into-who-they-used/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [You're unhappy with your life because you give up when things don't happen fast enough for you. The bigger the goal the longer it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-re-unhappy-with-your-life-because-you-give-up-when-things-don-t/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Some people give up on everything just because they can't fix one thing. You might not be able to fix that, but you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-give-up-on-everything-just-because-they-can-t-fix-one/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I dont care how brokenhearted someone is if they wanted to be with you they would because the love they feel for you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/i-dont-care-how-brokenhearted-someone-is-if-they-wanted-to-be-with/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Love is when someone has the power to break your heart into a thousand pieces, but they make sure it stays in 1 piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/love-is-when-someone-has-the-power-to-break-your-heart-into-a/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) [Explore all 1,539 Sonya Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## More Choose quotes > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [If somebody asks me to choose a biopic, it would be Narain Karthikeyan because I love racing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naga-chaitanya/if-somebody-asks-me-to-choose-a-biopic-it-would-be-narain-karthikeyan/) [Naga Chaitanya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naga-chaitanya/) > [“Either you soften your ego, or the world will do it for you. Choose!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-mccoy/either-you-soften-your-ego-or-the-world-will-do-it-for-you-choose/) [Bert McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-mccoy/) > [I'm aware of who I am and I'm comfortable with who I choose to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/i-m-aware-of-who-i-am-and-i-m-comfortable-with-who-i-choose-to-date/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [No actor wants to choose - they just want all of the options available to them all the time; we tend to be pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-jacobs/no-actor-wants-to-choose-they-just-want-all-of-the-options-available/) [Gillian Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-jacobs/) > [If you choose to work at a larger company over a smaller company, you are more likely to be higher paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/if-you-choose-to-work-at-a-larger-company-over-a-smaller-company-you/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...so you gotta choose who is good for you! Be wise, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-come-into-your-life-for-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-so-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not opposed - we manufacture a lot of socks in North Carolina - I just choose not to wear them. It's a Southern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-burr/i-m-not-opposed-we-manufacture-a-lot-of-socks-in-north-carolina-i/) [Richard Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-burr/) > [Having too many options is bad. I want one person, just one. Not a whole bunch to choose from,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roderickthefirst/having-too-many-options-is-bad-i-want-one-person-just-one-not-a-whole/) RoderickTheFirst > [If I could be anyone, I'd choose the lead singer of Arcade Fire, Win Butler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/if-i-could-be-anyone-i-d-choose-the-lead-singer-of-arcade-fire-win/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [People are as happy as they choose to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/people-are-as-happy-as-they-choose-to-be/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) Browse all 3,851 Choose quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes you have to choose between being dumb for them or being smart for yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sonya Parker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-being-dumb-for-them-or-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-being-dumb-for-them-or-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/sonya-parker-80_choose_sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-bei_2668788.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/sonya-parker-80_choose_sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-bei_2668788.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/sonya-parker-80_choose_sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-bei_2668788.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sometimes you have to choose between being dumb for them or being smart for yourself.” — Sonya Parker", "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": "Sonya Parker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sometimes you have to choose between...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-being-dumb-for-them-or-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/sometimes-you-have-to-choose-between-being-dumb-for-them-or-being/#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 } } ] } ```