--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because guys like us, Red, we know…" description: "\"“Because guys like us, Red, we know there's a third choice. An alternative to staying simon-pure and bathing in the filth and the slime. It's the alter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/stephen-king-rita-hayworth-and_choice_because-guys-like-us-red-we-know-there-s_2850521.jpg" --- # Because guys like us, Red, we know there's a third choice… ![“Because guys like us, Red, we know there's a third choice. An alternative to staying simon-pure and bathing in the filth and the slime. It's the alternative that grown-ups all over the world pick. You balance off the walk through the hog-wallow against what it gains you. You choose the lesser of…” quote by Stephen King Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/stephen-king-rita-hayworth-and_choice_because-guys-like-us-red-we-know-there-s_2850521.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/stephen-king-rita-hayworth-and_choice_because-guys-like-us-red-we-know-there-s_2850521.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/069/stephen-king-rita-hayworth-and_choice_because-guys-like-us-red-we-know-there-s_2850521.jpg) > ““Because guys like us, Red, we know there's a third choice. An alternative to staying simon-pure and bathing in the filth and the slime. It's the alternative that grown-ups all over the world pick. You balance off the walk through the hog-wallow against what it gains you. You choose the lesser of the two evils and try to keep your good intentions in front of you. And I guess you judge how well you are doing by how well you sleep at night...and what your dreams are like.”” [Stephen King Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king-rita-hayworth-and-shawshank-redemption/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing the lesser evil involves weighing moral compromise against personal conscience and the desire for peace of mind. **In simple terms:** Choose lesser evil. Key Takeaway Weigh moral trade‑offs. Themes ethics choice conscience compromise peace Mood conflicted thoughtful Type narrative ethical When to use this quote - life choices - storytelling - personal growth Key Concepts moral philosophy decision making Questions to Reflect On - What defines “lesser evil”? - How do you reconcile compromise with integrity? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Alternative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-alternative-2544261/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Choose Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-lesser-1933232/) [Good intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-intentions/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Know Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-choice-364332/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Shawshank-redemption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shawshank-redemption-168915/) [Stephen king](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephen-king/) ## Related quotes > [But you don't do it. Because guys like us, Red, we know there's a third choice. An alternative to staying simon-pure or bathing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/but-you-don-t-do-it-because-guys-like-us-red-we-know-there-s-a-third/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“knife. “Sure you have,” Andy agreed. “But you don’t do it. Because guys like us, Red, we know there’s a third choice. An alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/knife-sure-you-have-andy-agreed-but-you-don-t-do-it-because-guys-like/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“oh shit it's shit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/oh-shit-it-s-shit/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“That's how, on the second-to-last day of the job, the convict crew that tarred the plate-factory roof in 1950 ending up sitting in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/that-s-how-on-the-second-to-last-day-of-the-job-the-convict-crew-that/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [It is better to fall from the window than the roof; that is, of two evils, choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-better-to-fall-from-the-window-than-the-roof-that-is-of-two/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [It's pretty sad when you have to choose between the lesser of two evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-white/it-s-pretty-sad-when-you-have-to-choose-between-the-lesser-of-two/) [Meg White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-white/) > [If you choose the lesser of two evils, you are still choosing evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/if-you-choose-the-lesser-of-two-evils-you-are-still-choosing-evil/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [If you have difficulties making a decision, choose the lesser of the two evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/if-you-have-difficulties-making-a-decision-choose-the-lesser-of-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Still it might be nice, once in a while, not to have to choose between evils. Just once, couldn't I choose the lesser good?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/still-it-might-be-nice-once-in-a-while-not-to-have-to-choose-between/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/when-you-choose-the-lesser-of-two-evils-always-remember-that-it-is/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Of two evils, I always choose the lesser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-stratton-porter/of-two-evils-i-always-choose-the-lesser/) [Gene Stratton-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-stratton-porter/) > [To know there is a choice is to have to make the choice: change or stay: river or rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/to-know-there-is-a-choice-is-to-have-to-make-the-choice-change-or/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [I've made mistakes, and I know why I made them, but I made that choice. Nobody's ever made a choice for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-ve-made-mistakes-and-i-know-why-i-made-them-but-i-made-that-choice/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [“They know I have no choice, but if I did, they’d all be dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/they-know-i-have-no-choice-but-if-i-did-they-d-all-be-dead/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [What better way to get to know someone than through her choice and treatment of books?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/what-better-way-to-get-to-know-someone-than-through-her-choice-and/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) ## 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. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "“Because guys like us, Red, we know there's a third choice. 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