--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [M]an is by no means merely a product of…" description: "\"“[M]an is by no means merely a product of heredity and environment. There is a third element: decision. Man ultimately decides for himself! And, in the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/viktor-e-frankl-668_decision-making_m-an-is-by-no-means-merely-a-product-of_1599321.jpg" --- # \[M\]an is by no means merely a product of heredity and… ![“[M]an is by no means merely a product of heredity and environment. There is a third element: decision. Man ultimately decides for himself! And, in the end, education must be education toward the ability to decide.” quote by Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/viktor-e-frankl-668_decision-making_m-an-is-by-no-means-merely-a-product-of_1599321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/viktor-e-frankl-668_decision-making_m-an-is-by-no-means-merely-a-product-of_1599321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ff/viktor-e-frankl-668_decision-making_m-an-is-by-no-means-merely-a-product-of_1599321.jpg) > ““\[M\]an is by no means merely a product of heredity and environment. There is a third element: decision. Man ultimately decides for himself! And, in the end, education must be education toward the ability to decide.”” [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings are shaped by genetics, surroundings, and crucially, personal choice; true education cultivates the power to decide. **In simple terms:** We are shaped by genes, environment, and choices; education should teach decision‑making. Key Takeaway Cultivate decision‑making skills. Themes responsibility education free will Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - parenting - career planning - leadership training - personal development Key Concepts existential psychology human agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you practice making independent choices? - What role does education play in your decisions? A Different Perspective Decision‑making can be constrained by social pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-decide-355924/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Decides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decides/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decision Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-man-491602/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-ability-1273478/) [Logotherapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logotherapy-110469/) [Man U](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-u/) ## Related quotes > [Man ultimately decides for himself! And in the end, education must be education towards the ability to decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-ultimately-decides-for-himself-and-in-the-end-education-must-be/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [ “\[I\]n the last resort, man should not ask "What is the meaning of my life?" but should realize that he himself is being questioned.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-n-the-last-resort-man-should-not-ask-what-is-the-meaning-of-my-life/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“As each situation in life represents a challenge to man and presents a problem for him to solve, the question of the meaning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/as-each-situation-in-life-represents-a-challenge-to-man-and-presents/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“Man is originally characterized by his "search for meaning" rather than his "search for himself." The more he forgets himself—giving himself to a cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-is-originally-characterized-by-his-search-for-meaning-rather-than/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [I grew up learning from a father who said, 'When you make a mistake or you make a bad decision, you man up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lane-garrison/i-grew-up-learning-from-a-father-who-said-when-you-make-a-mistake-or/) [Lane Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lane-garrison/) > [“Psychiatrist and Auschwitz survivor, Viktor Frankl, stated, "...man is by no means merely a product of heredity and environment. There is a third element:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-a-kemp/psychiatrist-and-auschwitz-survivor-viktor-frankl-stated-man-is-by-no/) [Alice A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-a-kemp/) > [Self-confidence is nothing more than belief in one’s ability to decide and in one’s decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/self-confidence-is-nothing-more-than-belief-in-one-s-ability-to/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Women rule men's lives - every decision a man makes is based on a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-stroup/women-rule-men-s-lives-every-decision-a-man-makes-is-based-on-a-woman/) [Jessica Stroup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-stroup/) > [Our power is in our ability to decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/our-power-is-in-our-ability-to-decide/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [If a man knows what he wants, then he is in a position to decide that he will get it. This is faith. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-pringle/if-a-man-knows-what-he-wants-then-he-is-in-a-position-to-decide-that/) [Phil Pringle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-pringle/) > [A decision is what a man makes when he can't find anybody to serve on a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fletcher-knebel/a-decision-is-what-a-man-makes-when-he-can-t-find-anybody-to-serve-on/) [Fletcher Knebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fletcher-knebel/) > [Nature takes the decision first, man agrees, reconciles, modifies, refutes, contradicts etc., subsequently. It means the application of reason, the discretionary power of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiruman-archunan/nature-takes-the-decision-first-man-agrees-reconciles-modifies/) [Thiruman Archunan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiruman-archunan/) > [“Losing your job gives you the ability to decide what product each unit of your passing life should produce”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/losing-your-job-gives-you-the-ability-to-decide-what-product-each/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [Leadership is the ability to decide what is to be done and then get others to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/leadership-is-the-ability-to-decide-what-is-to-be-done-and-then-get/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“You alone have the right and ability to decide every element of your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/you-alone-have-the-right-and-ability-to-decide-every-element-of-your/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) ## More by Viktor E. Frankl > [For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/for-the-meaning-of-life-differs-from-man-to-man-from-day-to-day-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured. To be sure, people tend to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-the-past-nothing-is-irretrievably-lost-but-rather-on-the-contrary/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer... his unique opportunity lies in the way he bears his burden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/when-a-man-finds-that-it-is-his-destiny-to-suffer-his-unique/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A negative attitude intensifies pain and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/a-positive-attitude-enables-a-person-to-endure-suffering-and/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“our sacrifice did have a meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/our-sacrifice-did-have-a-meaning/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's last freedom is his freedom to choose how he will react in any given situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-last-freedom-is-his-freedom-to-choose-how-he-will-react-in-any/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [The more one forgets himself - by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love - the more human he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-more-one-forgets-himself-by-giving-himself-to-a-cause-to-serve-or/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“There is nothing in the world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/there-is-nothing-in-the-world-i-venture-to-say-that-would-so/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Man's search for meaning is the chief motivation of his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/man-s-search-for-meaning-is-the-chief-motivation-of-his-life/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/in-a-last-violent-protest-against-the-hopelessness-of-imminent-death/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“But happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/but-happiness-cannot-be-pursued-it-must-ensue/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one's belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one's right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-one-s-belief-but-it/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I think it was Lessing who once said, 'There are things which must cause you to lose your reason or you have none to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-think-it-was-lessing-who-once-said-there-are-things-which-must/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“I believe that my handicap will only enhance my ability to help others. I know that without the suffering, the growth that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/i-believe-that-my-handicap-will-only-enhance-my-ability-to-help/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [“He main retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp. Dostoevsky said once, 'There is only one thing that I dread: not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/he-main-retain-his-human-dignity-even-in-a-concentration-camp/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) [Explore all 381 Viktor E. Frankl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) ## More Decide quotes > [“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/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/) [Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/) [Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/) > [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/) [Raajni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raajni/) > [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/) [Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/) [Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[M]an is by no means merely a product of heredity and environment. 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