--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We did not choose to believe that…" description: "\"We did not choose to believe that personal choice is the highest human virtue. Rather, we were taught, formed, forced to believe nothing is important i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/william-henry-willimon-58582_belief_we-did-not-choose-to-believe-that-person_983928.jpg" --- # We did not choose to believe that personal choice is the… ![“We did not choose to believe that personal choice is the highest human virtue. Rather, we were taught, formed, forced to believe nothing is important in life other than that which we have personally chosen. The irony is that the belief that nothing is important in life other than that which we…” quote by William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/william-henry-willimon-58582_belief_we-did-not-choose-to-believe-that-person_983928.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/william-henry-willimon-58582_belief_we-did-not-choose-to-believe-that-person_983928.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/792/william-henry-willimon-58582_belief_we-did-not-choose-to-believe-that-person_983928.jpg) > “We did not choose to believe that personal choice is the highest human virtue. Rather, we were taught, formed, forced to believe nothing is important in life other than that which we have personally chosen. The irony is that the belief that nothing is important in life other than that which we have personally chosen is a belief that we have not personally chosen! The supermarket and shopping mall have been our school.” [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal choice is shaped by cultural forces; true autonomy is often an illusion. **In simple terms:** Our choices are influenced by society. Key Takeaway Question the origins of your values. Themes identity consumerism philosophy freedom Mood reflective critical Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - media literacy - personal reflection - community dialogue - educational curricula Key Concepts social conditioning authenticity existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs have you adopted unconsciously? - How can you reclaim authentic agency? A Different Perspective Resisting pervasive consumer narratives requires effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Belief Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-important-370831/) [Belief Personally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief-personally-1969771/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen/) [Chosen Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen-belief-1969772/) [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Human Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-virtue-1129844/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Irony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irony/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Malls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malls/) [Overconsumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconsumption/) [Personal choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-choice/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Shopping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shopping/) [Supermarkets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supermarkets/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [A personal belief is that if you're not personally invested in what you're working on, you'll fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/a-personal-belief-is-that-if-you-re-not-personally-invested-in-what/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I don't think the amount of belief you have is what's important. I think it's what you have belief in that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-think-the-amount-of-belief-you-have-is-what-s-important-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Belief is so important in everything. You need to believe in magic. You need to believe in yourself. You need to believe in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kitsis/belief-is-so-important-in-everything-you-need-to-believe-in-magic-you/) [Edward Kitsis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kitsis/) > [“Belief in yourself is more important than endless worries of what others think of you. Value yourself and others will value you. Validation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/belief-in-yourself-is-more-important-than-endless-worries-of-what/) [Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-g-wa-thiong-o/) > [“Many capable people are kept from getting to the next level of contribution because they can’t let go of the belief that everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-mckeown/many-capable-people-are-kept-from-getting-to-the-next-level-of/) [Greg McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-mckeown/) > [My belief is that it is most important for an artist to develop an approach and philosophy about life - if he has developed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-lawrence/my-belief-is-that-it-is-most-important-for-an-artist-to-develop-an/) [Jacob Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-lawrence/) > [They say: Belief is important. I say: No, actions are important. Judge by deed, not by creed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/they-say-belief-is-important-i-say-no-actions-are-important-judge-by/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Belief is the most important thing in football. Not quality, running, or being strong but belief, faith, and fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-pochettino/belief-is-the-most-important-thing-in-football-not-quality-running-or/) [Mauricio Pochettino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-pochettino/) > [One has to be realistic. One’s concern for equity and justice in the world must not carry one into the alien territory of unreasoned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/one-has-to-be-realistic-one-s-concern-for-equity-and-justice-in-the/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [“Drive,determination,and belief are important to build your success but dont ever miss one very important thing is the ATTITUDE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faiz-triumph/drive-determination-and-belief-are-important-to-build-your-success/) [Faiz Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faiz-triumph/) > [Most of the characteristics which make for success in writing are precisely those which we are all taught to repress ... the firm belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-anton-wilson/most-of-the-characteristics-which-make-for-success-in-writing-are/) [Robert Anton Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-anton-wilson/) > [It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-evil-the-soul-brings-itself-to/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [“What poor, mean trash this whole business of human virtue is! A mere matter, for the most part, of latitude and longitude, and geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/what-poor-mean-trash-this-whole-business-of-human-virtue-is-a-mere/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Seldom indeed does human virtue rise From trunk to branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/seldom-indeed-does-human-virtue-rise-from-trunk-to-branch/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## More by William Henry Willimon > [Preaching that is boring is preaching that talks first about us and then only tangentially about God. Preaching that is faithful is preaching that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-willimon/preaching-that-is-boring-is-preaching-that-talks-first-about-us-and/) [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) > [To speak the gospel skillfully without attempting to perform the gospel is a false proclamation of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-willimon/to-speak-the-gospel-skillfully-without-attempting-to-perform-the/) [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) > [Just when I get my church all sorted out, sheep from the goats, saved from the damned, hopeless from the hopeful, somebody makes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-willimon/just-when-i-get-my-church-all-sorted-out-sheep-from-the-goats-saved/) [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) > [We are better givers than getters, not because we are generous people, but because we are proud, arrogant people. The Christmas story-the one according…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-willimon/we-are-better-givers-than-getters-not-because-we-are-generous-people/) [William Henry Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) [Explore all 5 William Henry Willimon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-willimon/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We did not choose to believe that personal choice is the highest human virtue. Rather, we were taught, formed, forced to believe nothing is important in life other than that which we have personally chosen. 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