--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...Next time you're faced with a choice…" description: "\"...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.\" — Wendelin Van Draanen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/wendelin-van-draanen-3327_choice_next-time-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-do_545003.png" --- # ...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right… ![“...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.” quote by Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/wendelin-van-draanen-3327_choice_next-time-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-do_545003.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/wendelin-van-draanen-3327_choice_next-time-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-do_545003.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1c/wendelin-van-draanen-3327_choice_next-time-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-do_545003.png) > “...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.” [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing ethical actions reduces long‑term harm for everyone involved. **In simple terms:** Do the right thing to avoid future pain. Key Takeaway Prioritize integrity over short‑term ease. Themes ethics consequences integrity Mood reflective serious Type advice ethical When to use this quote - family decisions - workplace dilemmas - friendship conflicts - public policy debates Key Concepts moral philosophy long‑term thinking Questions to Reflect On - What long‑term benefits can you foresee from ethical choices? - How do you balance short‑term pain against future gain? A Different Perspective People may face immediate loss when acting ethically. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Next time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-time/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Explaining that I'm faced with a choice between being with the love of my life, or saving four lives that were never meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/explaining-that-i-m-faced-with-a-choice-between-being-with-the-love/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [“I tumbled into the taxi alone, closing the door closed with a dull thud before I could possibly change my mind. Not like this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-sanderson/i-tumbled-into-the-taxi-alone-closing-the-door-closed-with-a-dull/) [Catherine Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-sanderson/) > [Faced with a choice of stepping up or stepping it down, we are going to step it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-stepping-it-down-we-are-going/) [Bill McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/) > [Faced with a choice, do both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-roth/faced-with-a-choice-do-both/) Dieter Roth > [When faced with the choice, choose happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-bertinelli/when-faced-with-the-choice-choose-happy/) [Valerie Bertinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-bertinelli/) > [“To the thing that hurts you most. To the paranormal and to never being normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/to-the-thing-that-hurts-you-most-to-the-paranormal-and-to-never-being/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-child-that-one-is-a-being-2/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [The only thing that hurts more is when you and your best friend love each other but can't have each other. Sometimes it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-thing-that-hurts-more-is-when-you-and-your-best-friend-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In the end, you should always do the right thing even if it hurts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/in-the-end-you-should-always-do-the-right-thing-even-if-it-hurts/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [The only thing that hurts worse than your own pain, is seeing the one you love in pain, knowing that you cant do anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-only-thing-that-hurts-worse-than-your-own-pain-is-seeing-the-one/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The thing that hurts the most is seeing him happy with another girl and wishing that it could have been you instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisette-alfaro/the-thing-that-hurts-the-most-is-seeing-him-happy-with-another-girl/) [Lisette Alfaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisette-alfaro/) > [The only thing that hurts harder than a failure is not trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apoorve-dubey/the-only-thing-that-hurts-harder-than-a-failure-is-not-trying/) [Apoorve Dubey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apoorve-dubey/) > [I like to play through any type of little thing that hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/i-like-to-play-through-any-type-of-little-thing-that-hurts/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) > [Sometimes, you can be your own thing that hurts you. It's you. It's like knowing too much of the game when really all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/sometimes-you-can-be-your-own-thing-that-hurts-you-it-s-you-it-s-like/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [“It is a terrible thing to learn as a child that one is a being separate from all the world, that no one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/it-is-a-terrible-thing-to-learn-as-a-child-that-one-is-a-being/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) ## More by Wendelin Van Draanen > [“Maybe it came from whacking at two-by-fours and dreaming about perpetual motion. I don't know. All I know is that compared to her, Shelly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/maybe-it-came-from-whacking-at-two-by-fours-and-dreaming-about/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [I’ve flown kites before and I know – sometimes they’re gone forever, and sometimes they’re just waiting in the middle of the road for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/i-ve-flown-kites-before-and-i-know-sometimes-they-re-gone-forever-and/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“Every once in a while you find someone who is iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/every-once-in-a-while-you-find-someone-who-is-iridescent-and-when-you/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“I also finally see that a crimson kiss isn't something you can chase, because it's more than just the passionate meeting of mouths. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/i-also-finally-see-that-a-crimson-kiss-isn-t-something-you-can-chase/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [I'll ride my bike all the stinkin' way to school for the rest of eternity if it means being with her. -Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/i-ll-ride-my-bike-all-the-stinkin-way-to-school-for-the-rest-of/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [It’s funny to hear priests and nuns argue with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/it-s-funny-to-hear-priests-and-nuns-argue-with-each-other/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [I had Flipped. -Bryce Loski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/i-had-flipped-bryce-loski/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“And then she started climbing/ The girl is in the seventh grade, and she's climbing a tree--way, way up in the tree. And why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/and-then-she-started-climbing-the-girl-is-in-the-seventh-grade-and/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“At first we tried to keep up, but soon we were tired of boiling and pickling and deviling, and my mother started complaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/at-first-we-tried-to-keep-up-but-soon-we-were-tired-of-boiling-and/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [I operate under the assumption that people don't notice the good in me. That's just how things always seem to play out. I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/i-operate-under-the-assumption-that-people-don-t-notice-the-good-in/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [A million dollars sounds like a lot, I know. Especially when youre young. But you cant let money erode your principles or youll wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/a-million-dollars-sounds-like-a-lot-i-know-especially-when-youre/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“Anger is a fuel that can only carry you so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/anger-is-a-fuel-that-can-only-carry-you-so-far/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“Somehow the silence seemed to connect us in a way like words never could.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/somehow-the-silence-seemed-to-connect-us-in-a-way-like-words-never/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [Part of my motivation for writing mysteries for young people is that I loved mysteries when I was growing up, and now that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/part-of-my-motivation-for-writing-mysteries-for-young-people-is-that/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [I believe in the paramount importance of entertainment, but I have something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/i-believe-in-the-paramount-importance-of-entertainment-but-i-have/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) [Explore all 131 Wendelin Van Draanen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) ## 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": "...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. 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