--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abundant choice doesn't force us to look…" description: "\"Abundant choice doesn't force us to look for the absolute best of everything. It allows us to find the extremes in those things we really care about, w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/virginia-postrel-2867_about_abundant-choice-doesn-t-force-us-to-look_1959569.jpg" --- # Abundant choice doesn't force us to look for the absolute… ![“Abundant choice doesn't force us to look for the absolute best of everything. It allows us to find the extremes in those things we really care about, whether that means great coffee, jeans cut wide across the hips, or a spouse who shares your zeal for mountaineering, Zen meditation, and science…” quote by Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/virginia-postrel-2867_about_abundant-choice-doesn-t-force-us-to-look_1959569.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/virginia-postrel-2867_about_abundant-choice-doesn-t-force-us-to-look_1959569.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a7/virginia-postrel-2867_about_abundant-choice-doesn-t-force-us-to-look_1959569.jpg) > “Abundant choice doesn't force us to look for the absolute best of everything. It allows us to find the extremes in those things we really care about, whether that means great coffee, jeans cut wide across the hips, or a spouse who shares your zeal for mountaineering, Zen meditation, and science fiction.” [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Having many options lets us focus on extremes that matter most, rather than seeking the absolute best in every category. **In simple terms:** Abundant choice lets us prioritize extremes we truly value. Key Takeaway Prioritize what truly matters. Themes choice values focus abundance Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - shopping - career decisions - relationship choices Key Concepts decision theory consumer behavior Questions to Reflect On - What extremes do you truly care about? - How can you simplify choices? A Different Perspective Too many choices can cause analysis paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute/) [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Abundant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abundant/) [Abundant Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abundant-choice-3226623/) [Across](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/across/) [Allows Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allows-extremes-3226624/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Cut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cut/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Extremes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes/) [Extremes Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extremes-things-3226625/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-coffee/) [Hips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hips/) [Jeans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jeans/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mountaineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountaineering/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Shares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shares/) [Spouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spouse/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Whether](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whether/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) [Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen/) [Zen Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen-meditation/) ## Related quotes > [It is hard to produce work in New York. You kind of have to center yourself - do some Zen meditation exercises and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toyin-odutola/it-is-hard-to-produce-work-in-new-york-you-kind-of-have-to-center/) [Toyin Odutola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toyin-odutola/) > [Zen is meditation, the actual experience of life directly, immediately with no buffers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/zen-is-meditation-the-actual-experience-of-life-directly-immediately/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Those who are already adept at some disciplines of the body will find that the study of Zen and meditation will give you much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/those-who-are-already-adept-at-some-disciplines-of-the-body-will-find/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [ZEN is MEDITATION. ARCHY is Social Order. ZENARCHY is the Social Order which springs from Meditation. As a doctrine, it holds Universal Enlightenment a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-thornley/zen-is-meditation-archy-is-social-order-zenarchy-is-the-social-order/) [Kerry Thornley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-thornley/) > [“passing current that does not affect you.  When a thought arises, a careful approach would be to simply “watch” the thought without judging it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-perera/passing-current-that-does-not-affect-you-when-a-thought-arises-a/) [Sonali Perera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-perera/) > [“in Zen, meditation is key to getting to know and find our true selves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-tuhovsky/in-zen-meditation-is-key-to-getting-to-know-and-find-our-true-selves/) [Ian Tuhovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-tuhovsky/) > [“When it came to producing a state of focus, quiet contentment, and inner peace, Zen meditation ran a very distant second to caffeine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/when-it-came-to-producing-a-state-of-focus-quiet-contentment-and/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [Zen purposes to discipline the mind itself, to make it its own master, through an insight into its proper nature. This getting into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/zen-purposes-to-discipline-the-mind-itself-to-make-it-its-own-master/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [When you are free of form and not confused, you are focused. To be free of form externally is 'Zen.' Not to be confused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-porter/when-you-are-free-of-form-and-not-confused-you-are-focused-to-be-free/) [Bill Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-porter/) > [“It is possible to access secrets of mind reprogramming with effortless methods. However, they are very dangerous to apply, and often, the consequences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/it-is-possible-to-access-secrets-of-mind-reprogramming-with/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [Rigging is like Zen meditation. 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This includes yourself and the world around you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-tuhovsky/overall-the-goal-of-zen-meditation-is-to-see-things-for-what-they/) [Ian Tuhovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-tuhovsky/) > [“Types of Meditation   While there are myriad of meditation techniques out there, there are two basic types of meditation that we are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-perera/types-of-meditation-while-there-are-myriad-of-meditation-techniques/) [Sonali Perera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonali-perera/) > [Good coffee is a benefit, but great coffee is a reward, and the difference between good and great is just pennies a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wyckoff/good-coffee-is-a-benefit-but-great-coffee-is-a-reward-and-the/) [Richard Wyckoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wyckoff/) > [The best Maxim I know in this life is, to drink your Coffee when you can, and when you cannot, to be easy without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/the-best-maxim-i-know-in-this-life-is-to-drink-your-coffee-when-you/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) ## More by Virginia Postrel > [The low point for neon came in 1982, when Holiday Inn did away with its signature 'Great Sign,' replacing the neon extravaganza with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-low-point-for-neon-came-in-1982-when-holiday-inn-did-away-with/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > ['The Matrix' is a movie that is all about glamour. I could do a whole talk on 'The Matrix' and glamour. It was criticized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-matrix-is-a-movie-that-is-all-about-glamour-i-could-do-a-whole/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Science is about exploring the unknown and cannot offer guarantees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/science-is-about-exploring-the-unknown-and-cannot-offer-guarantees/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [“Design is not style. It’s not about giving shape to the shell and not giving a damn about the guts. Good design is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/design-is-not-style-it-s-not-about-giving-shape-to-the-shell-and-not/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Persuasion has become a kind of force. The more the advertiser knows about what consumers want, and the more desires the product and packaging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/persuasion-has-become-a-kind-of-force-the-more-the-advertiser-knows/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [When credit is cheaper to use and easier to arrange, people do use more of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/when-credit-is-cheaper-to-use-and-easier-to-arrange-people-do-use/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Glamour is a beautiful illusion - the word 'glamour' originally meant a literal magic spell - that promises to transcend ordinary life and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/glamour-is-a-beautiful-illusion-the-word-glamour-originally-meant-a/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [A standard 'well woman' checkup can last as little as 10 minutes, hardly time for any in-depth discussions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/a-standard-well-woman-checkup-can-last-as-little-as-10-minutes-hardly/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [When I was in college, I wanted to be editor of 'Reason' when I grew up. It was an impractical ambition, especially since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/when-i-was-in-college-i-wanted-to-be-editor-of-reason-when-i-grew-up/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [A lot of consumers actively enjoy advertising, especially fashion print ads and clever TV commercials. The nostalgic cable channel TVLand features not only vintage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/a-lot-of-consumers-actively-enjoy-advertising-especially-fashion/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [“Functionality still matters, of course. But competition has pushed quality so high and prices so low that many manufacturers can no longer distinguish themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/functionality-still-matters-of-course-but-competition-has-pushed/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Like the skyscraper, the automobile, and the motion-picture palace, neon signs once symbolized popular hopes for a new era of technological achievement and commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/like-the-skyscraper-the-automobile-and-the-motion-picture-palace-neon/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [When 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' premiered on the WB Network in 1996, American culture was in trouble. Americans were bowling alone, pursuing individual interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/when-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-premiered-on-the-wb-network-in-1996/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [The glamour of air travel - its aspirational meaning in the public imagination - disappeared before its luxury did, dissipating as flying gradually became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/the-glamour-of-air-travel-its-aspirational-meaning-in-the-public/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [Behind the criticism of fashion as an artistic medium is a highly ideological prejudice: against markets, against consumers, against the dynamism of Western commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/behind-the-criticism-of-fashion-as-an-artistic-medium-is-a-highly/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) [Explore all 147 Virginia Postrel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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