--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are free to choose our actions, based…" description: "\"“We are free to choose our actions, based on our knowledge of correct principles, but we are not free to choose the consequences of those actions. Reme..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/stephen-r-covey-1501_freedom_we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-based_153507.jpg" --- # We are free to choose our actions, based on our knowledge… ![“We are free to choose our actions, based on our knowledge of correct principles, but we are not free to choose the consequences of those actions. Remember, “If you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other.” quote by Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/stephen-r-covey-1501_freedom_we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-based_153507.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/stephen-r-covey-1501_freedom_we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-based_153507.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab4/stephen-r-covey-1501_freedom_we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-based_153507.jpg) > ““We are free to choose our actions, based on our knowledge of correct principles, but we are not free to choose the consequences of those actions. Remember, “If you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other.”” [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We can choose actions aligned with principles, but outcomes are beyond our control, requiring responsibility for consequences. **In simple terms:** Choice of action is free; consequences are not. Key Takeaway Act ethically, accept outcomes. Themes ethics responsibility agency uncertainty Mood reflective thoughtful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decision making - leadership - risk management - personal growth Key Concepts free will determinism consequentialism Questions to Reflect On - How do you prepare for unknown consequences? - Can you be fully accountable for outcomes you cannot control? A Different Perspective Predicting outcomes is impossible; unintended effects may arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ## Related quotes > [While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-we-are-not-free-to-choose-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are free to choose our actions, . . . but we are not free to choose the consequences of these actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-but-we-are-not-free-to-choose-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have the freedom to choose your actions, you don't have the freedom to choose the consequences of your actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-the-freedom-to-choose-your-actions-you-don-t-have-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You are free to make your choices, but you are not free to choose the consequences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-akart/you-are-free-to-make-your-choices-but-you-are-not-free-to-choose-the/) [Bobby Akart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-akart/) > [“Principles are the territory. Values are maps. When we value correct principles, we have truth—a knowledge of things as they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/principles-are-the-territory-values-are-maps-when-we-value-correct/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [If you always support the correct principles then you will never get the wrong results!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/if-you-always-support-the-correct-principles-then-you-will-never-get/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) > [My object has been, first to discover correct principles and then to suggest their practical development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-prescott-joule/my-object-has-been-first-to-discover-correct-principles-and-then-to/) [James Prescott Joule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-prescott-joule/) > [“Choose your actions wisely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/choose-your-actions-wisely/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [When we value correct principles, we have truth - a knowledge of things as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-we-value-correct-principles-we-have-truth-a-knowledge-of-things/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I win the private victory when I have made my mind up and commit to live by correct principles and to serve worthy purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-win-the-private-victory-when-i-have-made-my-mind-up-and-commit-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When there's a chance, always choose actions instead of words. Words are merely words without any proof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/modestas-rinkevicius/when-there-s-a-chance-always-choose-actions-instead-of-words-words/) [Modestas Rinkevicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/modestas-rinkevicius/) > [I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-teach-them-correct-principles-and-they-govern-themselves/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I believe that correct principles are natural laws, and that God, the Creator and Father of us all, is the source of them, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-that-correct-principles-are-natural-laws-and-that-god-the/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We all want things that are not necessarily essential, but we always choose those actions which we think will best improve the situation from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-l-greaves-jr/we-all-want-things-that-are-not-necessarily-essential-but-we-always/) Percy L. Greaves, Jr > [Heres a take on the Actions speak louder than words. adage. Its true that words can often be contradicted by the actions we take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/heres-a-take-on-the-actions-speak-louder-than-words-adage-its-true/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) ## More by Stephen R. Covey > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Love is something you do: the sacrifices you make, the giving of self, like a mother bringing a newborn into the world. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/love-is-something-you-do-the-sacrifices-you-make-the-giving-of-self/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value. They’re fundamental.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/principles-are-guidelines-for-human-conduct-that-are-proven-to-have/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“So I recommend reading literature, such as the inspiring biography of Anwar Sadat, In Search of Identity, and seeing movies like Chariots of Fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/so-i-recommend-reading-literature-such-as-the-inspiring-biography-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“My experience has been that there are times to teach and times not to teach. When relationships are strained and the air charged with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/my-experience-has-been-that-there-are-times-to-teach-and-times-not-to/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Just as faith without works is dead, so also works without faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/just-as-faith-without-works-is-dead-so-also-works-without-faith/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“FRIEND/ENEMY CENTEREDNESS. Young people are particularly, though certainly not exclusively, susceptible to becoming friend-centered. Acceptance and belonging to a peer group can become almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/friend-enemy-centeredness-young-people-are-particularly-though/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“As a principle-centered person, you see things differently. And because you see things differently, you think differently, you act differently. Because you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/as-a-principle-centered-person-you-see-things-differently-and-because/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-every-thousand-hacking-at-the-leaves-of-evil-there-is-one/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Breaking deeply imbedded habitual tendencies such as procrastination, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness that violate basic principles of human effectiveness involves more than a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/breaking-deeply-imbedded-habitual-tendencies-such-as-procrastination/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“man you might like to take her out. If you were”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/man-you-might-like-to-take-her-out-if-you-were/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Start with the end in mind. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/start-with-the-end-in-mind/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“the very problem created the opportunity to build a deep relationship that empowered us to work together as a strong complementary team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/the-very-problem-created-the-opportunity-to-build-a-deep-relationship/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Coherence suggests that there is harmony, unity, and integrity between your vision and mission, your roles and goals, your priorities and plans, and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/coherence-suggests-that-there-is-harmony-unity-and-integrity-between/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) [Explore all 230 Stephen R. Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. 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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/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. 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