---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I must choose between righteousness…"
description: "\"“If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.”\" — Theodore Roosevelt"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/theodore-roosevelt-218_choose_if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-a_2798183.jpg"
---

#  If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose…

![“If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.” quote by Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/theodore-roosevelt-218_choose_if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-a_2798183.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/theodore-roosevelt-218_choose_if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-a_2798183.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/theodore-roosevelt-218_choose_if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-a_2798183.jpg)

> ““If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.””

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Righteousness is chosen over peace when moral integrity matters.

**In simple terms:** Choose moral right over peace.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize integrity over comfort.

Themes

ethics conflict integrity

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- ethical dilemmas
- social justice
- leadership decisions

Key Concepts

moral philosophy personal values

Questions to Reflect On

- What does righteousness cost you?
- When is peace preferable?

A Different Perspective

Peace can also be valuable.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Choose Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-righteousness-805018/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-choose-805020/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Righteousness Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness-peace-516136/)

## Related quotes

> [If given the choice between Righteousness and Peace, I choose Righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-given-the-choice-between-righteousness-and-peace-i-choose/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [If I have to choose between peace and righteousness, I'll choose righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-i-have-to-choose-between-peace-and-righteousness-i-ll-choose/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Love of peace is common among weak, short-sighted, timid, and lazy persons; and on the other hand courage is found among many men of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/love-of-peace-is-common-among-weak-short-sighted-timid-and-lazy/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Peace is normally a great good, and normally it coincides with righteousness, but it is righteousness and not peace which should bind the conscience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/peace-is-normally-a-great-good-and-normally-it-coincides-with/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [My message is love and righteousness and peace and to share and care for yourself and share for others as you would share for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sizzla/my-message-is-love-and-righteousness-and-peace-and-to-share-and-care/)

[Sizzla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sizzla/)

> [We do not by any means think it desirable that the kingdom of righteousness and peace should be established on earth (because under any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-do-not-by-any-means-think-it-desirable-that-the-kingdom-of/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [So I like life and I like righteousness; if I cannot keep the two together, I will let life go and choose righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mencius/so-i-like-life-and-i-like-righteousness-if-i-cannot-keep-the-two/)

[Mencius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mencius/)

> [“Over everything in life...choose peace. Why would you choose anything else!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/over-everything-in-life-choose-peace-why-would-you-choose-anything/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [Choose to be at peace with yourself. Choose to feel good about yourself. You are indeed beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pontsho-manzi/choose-to-be-at-peace-with-yourself-choose-to-feel-good-about/)

[Pontsho Manzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pontsho-manzi/)

> [Absolutely there is not a single formula to happiness and peace. Choose one that fits you, and is kind to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/absolutely-there-is-not-a-single-formula-to-happiness-and-peace/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The Bible says, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-bible-says-for-the-kingdom-of-god-is-not-meat-and-drink-but/)

[Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/)

> [“Gospel bestows all good things spiritual: forgiveness of sins, true righteousness, peace of conscience, everlasting life; and all good things temporal: good judgment, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/gospel-bestows-all-good-things-spiritual-forgiveness-of-sins-true/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/mercy-and-truth-are-met-together-righteousness-and-peace-have-kissed/)

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/)

> [“Happiness is part of being whole. It means having an understanding of your identity and purpose, an established feeling of acceptance and value, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-mckinney-hammond/happiness-is-part-of-being-whole-it-means-having-an-understanding-of/)

[Michelle McKinney Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-mckinney-hammond/)

> [“APRIL 18 Some Things Never Happen You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/april-18-some-things-never-happen-you-will-show-me-the-path-of-life/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

## More by Theodore Roosevelt

> [No people is wholly civilized where a distinction is drawn between stealing an office and stealing a purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/no-people-is-wholly-civilized-where-a-distinction-is-drawn-between/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/get-action-seize-the-moment-man-was-never-intended-to-become-an-oyster/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Argument weak; speak loudly!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/argument-weak-speak-loudly/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Let the watchwords of all our people be the old familiar watchwords of honesty, decency, fair-dealing, and commonsense."... "We must treat each man on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/let-the-watchwords-of-all-our-people-be-the-old-familiar-watchwords/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The forces that tend for evil are great and terrible, but the forces of truth and love and courage and honesty and generosity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-forces-that-tend-for-evil-are-great-and-terrible-but-the-forces/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Every reform movement has a lunatic fringe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/every-reform-movement-has-a-lunatic-fringe/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Conservation and rural-life policies are really two sides of the same policy; and down at the bottom this policy rests upon the fundamental law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/conservation-and-rural-life-policies-are-really-two-sides-of-the-same/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [It is a great mistake to think that the extremist is a better man than the moderate. Usually the difference is not that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-think-that-the-extremist-is-a-better-man/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [I am a strong individualist by personal habit, inheritance, and conviction; but it is a mere matter of common sense to recognize that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/i-am-a-strong-individualist-by-personal-habit-inheritance-and/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [Alone of human beings the good and wise mother stands on a plane of equal honor with the bravest soldier; for she has gladly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/alone-of-human-beings-the-good-and-wise-mother-stands-on-a-plane-of/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [The greatest privilege and greatest duty for any man is to be happily married, and no other form of success or service, for either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-greatest-privilege-and-greatest-duty-for-any-man-is-to-be-happily/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly all other forms of success and achievement lose their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/for-unflagging-interest-and-enjoyment-a-household-of-children-if/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [There can be no effective control of corporations while their political activity remains. To put an end to it will be neither a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-effective-control-of-corporations-while-their-2/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

> [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/)

[Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

[Explore all 876 Theodore Roosevelt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/)

## 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](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/)

> [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Theodore Roosevelt"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-and-peace-i-choose/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choose"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-and-peace-i-choose/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/theodore-roosevelt-218_choose_if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-a_2798183.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/theodore-roosevelt-218_choose_if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-a_2798183.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/theodore-roosevelt-218_choose_if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-a_2798183.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness.” — Theodore Roosevelt",
                "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": "Theodore Roosevelt",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If I must choose between righteousness...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-and-peace-i-choose/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-i-must-choose-between-righteousness-and-peace-i-choose/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
