--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't pick and choose subjects or…" description: "\"I don't pick and choose subjects or settings; they pick and choose me.\" — Vikram Seth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/vikram-seth-4208_choose_i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-sett_2833053.jpg" --- # I don't pick and choose subjects or settings; they pick… ![“I don't pick and choose subjects or settings; they pick and choose me.” quote by Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/vikram-seth-4208_choose_i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-sett_2833053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/vikram-seth-4208_choose_i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-sett_2833053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/vikram-seth-4208_choose_i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-sett_2833053.jpg) > “I don't pick and choose subjects or settings; they pick and choose me.” [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life chooses us as much as we choose it, shaping our path through external forces. **In simple terms:** Life often directs us more than we direct it. Key Takeaway Observe and adapt to circumstances. Themes destiny choice adaptation Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts free will determinism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal desire with external pressure? - What signs indicate a path is being chosen for you? A Different Perspective Your preferences may be limited by external expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Choose me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-me/) [Choose Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-subjects-467332/) [Pick and choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-and-choose/) [Pick Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick-choose/) [Settings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settings/) [Settings Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settings-pick-3671883/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Subjects Settings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects-settings-3671884/) ## Related quotes > [I pick and choose what I want to do at any given time, and what not to do, importantly. My agents, I won't hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcdonagh/i-pick-and-choose-what-i-want-to-do-at-any-given-time-and-what-not-to/) [Martin McDonagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcdonagh/) > [I pick and choose. I dont get shit confused. I got a small circle, Im not with different crews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-pick-and-choose-i-dont-get-shit-confused-i-got-a-small-circle-im/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [We have to pick and choose between good and a little bit better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/we-have-to-pick-and-choose-between-good-and-a-little-bit-better/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [So we pick and choose who we want to remain close to, and once we've chosen those people, we tend to stick close by](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-pick-and-choose-who-we-want-to-remain-close-to-and-once-we-ve/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pick and choose sit and lose all you different crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gorillaz/pick-and-choose-sit-and-lose-all-you-different-crews/) [Gorillaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gorillaz/) > [I don't pick and choose. I've never really had an qualms about who I fight next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/i-don-t-pick-and-choose-i-ve-never-really-had-an-qualms-about-who-i/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [Only sometimes when we pick and choose among the rules we discover later that we have set aside something precious in the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-simonson/only-sometimes-when-we-pick-and-choose-among-the-rules-we-discover/) [Helen Simonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-simonson/) > [I thank God I'm in a position where I can pick and choose - there are some roles I don't play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/i-thank-god-i-m-in-a-position-where-i-can-pick-and-choose-there-are/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) > [As a football player, you have to learn to pick and choose your battles and what to gamble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/as-a-football-player-you-have-to-learn-to-pick-and-choose-your/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [I definitely pick and choose what I put out and what I want people to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skai-jackson/i-definitely-pick-and-choose-what-i-put-out-and-what-i-want-people-to/) [Skai Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skai-jackson/) > [You couldn't just pick and choose at will when someone depended on you, or loved you. It wasn't like a light switch, easy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-couldn-t-just-pick-and-choose-at-will-when-someone-depended-on/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [I think you have to pick and choose what is most important to tell the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-wilson/i-think-you-have-to-pick-and-choose-what-is-most-important-to-tell/) [Patrick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-wilson/) > [I pick and choose when I like to have my moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caeleb-dressel/i-pick-and-choose-when-i-like-to-have-my-moments/) [Caeleb Dressel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caeleb-dressel/) > [In life you have to pick and choose your battles, it's easy to forget not to be at war with YOURSELF.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-life-you-have-to-pick-and-choose-your-battles-it-s-easy-to-forget/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To Stay Focused in Life: You can't know everyone You can't do everything You can't go everywhere We have to pick and choose between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/to-stay-focused-in-life-you-can-t-know-everyone-you-can-t-do/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More by Vikram Seth > [Realism hasn't fallen out of favor with most people, who are interested in people's lives rather than gymnastics of style or literary trends. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/realism-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-favor-with-most-people-who-are/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if-you-don-t-like-a-book-set-it/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/it-s-not-the-gods-but-our-own-hearts-we-need-to-fear-the-evil-starts/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“But what should I do?' Varun was saying. 'I'm not good for anything.' 'Write a book! Pull a rickshaw! Live! Don't make excuses,' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/but-what-should-i-do-varun-was-saying-i-m-not-good-for-anything-write/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“In a clear brook With joyful haste The whimsical trout Shot past me like an arrow I play the line of the song, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/in-a-clear-brook-with-joyful-haste-the-whimsical-trout-shot-past-me/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Boredom provides a stronger inclination to write than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/boredom-provides-a-stronger-inclination-to-write-than-anything/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think people give Indian society enough credit. We may not like to talk much about things but we do, basically, want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-people-give-indian-society-enough-credit-we-may-not/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [The problem with too beautiful a view is that it's alright for the mulling stage. But for the writing stage, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-problem-with-too-beautiful-a-view-is-that-it-s-alright-for-the/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Romantic retrospect aside, the night spent in the truck is distinctly unpleasant. We are cramped and cold. The much-vaunted heating of the truck is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/romantic-retrospect-aside-the-night-spent-in-the-truck-is-distinctly/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/is-it-not-love-that-knows-how-to-make-smooth-things-rough-and-rough/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Well, what do you think? Avanti?" "Avanti," cries everyone, and, after a few quick re-tunings of our instruments, and re-initialisings of our hearts, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/well-what-do-you-think-avanti-avanti-cries-everyone-and-after-a-few/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Behind every door on every ordinary street, in every hut in every ordinary village in this middling planet of a trivial star, such riches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/behind-every-door-on-every-ordinary-street-in-every-hut-in-every/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Perhaps it is true that for all the evidence of the mirror, one pictures oneself in some deep niche of the mind as forever 18.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/perhaps-it-is-true-that-for-all-the-evidence-of-the-mirror-one/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [What is the difference between my life and my love? One gets me low, the other lets me go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/what-is-the-difference-between-my-life-and-my-love-one-gets-me-low/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“The past is the past, and he can't make amends, only hope that the gain will outlast the damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-past-is-the-past-and-he-can-t-make-amends-only-hope-that-the-gain/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) [Explore all 113 Vikram Seth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## 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": "I don't pick and choose subjects or settings; they pick and choose me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vikram Seth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-settings-they-pick-and-choose-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-settings-they-pick-and-choose-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/vikram-seth-4208_choose_i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-sett_2833053.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/vikram-seth-4208_choose_i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-sett_2833053.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/vikram-seth-4208_choose_i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-sett_2833053.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't pick and choose subjects or settings; they pick and choose me.” — Vikram Seth", "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": "Vikram Seth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't pick and choose subjects...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-settings-they-pick-and-choose-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-pick-and-choose-subjects-or-settings-they-pick-and-choose-me/#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 } } ] } ```