--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We do the best we can,\" she said softly…" description: "\"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 idea that I've made those..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/tami-hoag-14254_choice_we-do-the-best-we-can-she-said-softly-lo_82441.jpg" --- # We do the best we can," she said softly, looking inward… ![“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 idea that I've made those choices for the greatest good. Sometimes someone suffers in the process, but I made the decision for the right reason. That should count for…” quote by Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/tami-hoag-14254_choice_we-do-the-best-we-can-she-said-softly-lo_82441.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/tami-hoag-14254_choice_we-do-the-best-we-can-she-said-softly-lo_82441.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/tami-hoag-14254_choice_we-do-the-best-we-can-she-said-softly-lo_82441.jpg) > “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 idea that I've made those choices for the greatest good. Sometimes someone suffers in the process, but I made the decision for the right reason. That should count for something, shouldn't it?” [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker wrestles with moral self‑judgment, balancing personal intent against the pain caused to others, and seeks validation that good intentions matter. **In simple terms:** Moral ambiguity and self‑forgiveness. Key Takeaway Intentions alone may not absolve harm. Themes morality self‑reflection guilt ethical decision‑making empathy responsibility Mood contemplative somber reflective Type philosophical personal dialogue When to use this quote - making a tough professional choice - justifying a personal sacrifice - dealing with fallout from a well‑meaning action - reflecting after a controversial decision Key Concepts intentionality consequence self‑punishment moral accounting Practical Applications - ethical coaching - psychotherapy counseling Questions to Reflect On - Can good intentions truly outweigh harmful outcomes? - How do we reconcile personal conscience with external impact? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Choices, the greatest power we have, Choices, the path which is destiny, Choices, the result which is you... .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-fernandez/choices-the-greatest-power-we-have-choices-the-path-which-is-destiny/) [Joshua Fernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-fernandez/) > [I've always been able to make choices that don't embarrass me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-glover/i-ve-always-been-able-to-make-choices-that-don-t-embarrass-me/) [Danny Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-glover/) > [You have to continuously make choices throughout your life. Whether it is made consciously or unconsciously, by making a choice means that you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/you-have-to-continuously-make-choices-throughout-your-life-whether-it/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“Make choices and decisions and step on it so hard till it sticks on your shoes whare ever you go,if you cant bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narjit-singh/make-choices-and-decisions-and-step-on-it-so-hard-till-it-sticks-on/) [Narjit Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narjit-singh/) > [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/) > [“Having choice is nothing but a big illusion created by those who have power to make choices and make another if it goes wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crestless-wave/having-choice-is-nothing-but-a-big-illusion-created-by-those-who-have/) Crestless Wave > [“Our destiny becomes the accumulation of the choices that we make; the choices of which paths we took in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/our-destiny-becomes-the-accumulation-of-the-choices-that-we-make-the/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Most of us are lucky not to be Kings and Heroes, because we do not have to make the choices that Kings and Heroes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cressida-cowell/most-of-us-are-lucky-not-to-be-kings-and-heroes-because-we-do-not/) [Cressida Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cressida-cowell/) > [If the fact that people make poor decisions is reason enough for the government to second-guess their decisions about dangerous activities such as smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-sullum/if-the-fact-that-people-make-poor-decisions-is-reason-enough-for-the/) Jacob Sullum > [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“My dad told me that God allows people to make their own choices and doesn’t override their free will. That is why bad things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-lord/my-dad-told-me-that-god-allows-people-to-make-their-own-choices-and/) [J. W. Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-lord/) > [For the are times in life where we need to make choices choices that will hurt us presently but make us smile in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/for-the-are-times-in-life-where-we-need-to-make-choices-choices-that/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [With taxes, if they aren't working right, we can change them with a stroke of the pen. It's basically a market-type mechanism. People make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/with-taxes-if-they-aren-t-working-right-we-can-change-them-with-a/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) > [It's very clearly stated in the film: You make your own choices, and what you're always fighting is ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/it-s-very-clearly-stated-in-the-film-you-make-your-own-choices-and/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [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/) ## More by Tami Hoag > [In a lifestyle where there are no boundaries, it becomes a challenge to find one's true self. If everything comes easily, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/in-a-lifestyle-where-there-are-no-boundaries-it-becomes-a-challenge/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“Throw up" Victor said. Bacteria, he believed, would run up his arms and gain access to his brain through his ear canals. "Vomit. Puke.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/throw-up-victor-said-bacteria-he-believed-would-run-up-his-arms-and/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“Never show your fear or your weaknesses, doll. Someone will spin you around and knock you flat with it when you least expect it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/never-show-your-fear-or-your-weaknesses-doll-someone-will-spin-you/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“Perps didn't always get their just deserts in this life. That was one of the reasons she kept believing in God, the hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/perps-didn-t-always-get-their-just-deserts-in-this-life-that-was-one/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“Man, y'all make the Addams family look like Ozzie and Harriet."(Annie)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/man-y-all-make-the-addams-family-look-like-ozzie-and-harriet-annie/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“i have no desire to spend my life dancing backward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/i-have-no-desire-to-spend-my-life-dancing-backward/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“But that’s what bravery is: to be afraid and do what you have to do anyway. You can’t have courage without fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/but-that-s-what-bravery-is-to-be-afraid-and-do-what-you-have-to-do/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [I so admire the discipline, the work ethic, and the sacrifices fighters make to master all aspects of mixed martial arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/i-so-admire-the-discipline-the-work-ethic-and-the-sacrifices-fighters/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [Minnesotans hate zeal. Zeal is right up there on the list of suspicious emotional behaviors like joy and despair. Always err on the side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/minnesotans-hate-zeal-zeal-is-right-up-there-on-the-list-of/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [She had the kind of looks that had probably been quite pretty in high school, but were now worn down by years of smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/she-had-the-kind-of-looks-that-had-probably-been-quite-pretty-in-high/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“Instincts were to be trusted above the teachings of an allegedly polite society. If she felt something was wrong, then something was probably wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/instincts-were-to-be-trusted-above-the-teachings-of-an-allegedly/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“It wouldn't do him any good to cry, no matter how much he wanted to. He had to think. He had to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/it-wouldn-t-do-him-any-good-to-cry-no-matter-how-much-he-wanted-to-he/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [“The bookcases were lined with titles, hundreds of books shelved by subject in alphabetical order.-Everything from aberrant behavior to the mysteries of zen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/the-bookcases-were-lined-with-titles-hundreds-of-books-shelved-by/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [Being rich has never stopped anyone from being greedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/being-rich-has-never-stopped-anyone-from-being-greedy/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) > [Family was a fertile breeding ground for the kind of psychological bacteria that warped minds and devoured hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tami-hoag/family-was-a-fertile-breeding-ground-for-the-kind-of-psychological/) [Tami Hoag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) [Explore all 43 Tami Hoag quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tami-hoag/) ## 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 > [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 > [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": "We do the best we can,\" she said softly, looking inward. \"And punish ourselves for it. 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