--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're all faced throughout our lives with…" description: "\"“We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. B..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/woody-allen-176_capacity-to-love_we-re-all-faced-throughout-our-lives-wit_3045328.jpg" --- # We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing… ![“We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly…” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/woody-allen-176_capacity-to-love_we-re-all-faced-throughout-our-lives-wit_3045328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/woody-allen-176_capacity-to-love_we-re-all-faced-throughout-our-lives-wit_3045328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/106/woody-allen-176_capacity-to-love_we-re-all-faced-throughout-our-lives-wit_3045328.jpg) > ““We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, Human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. it is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even try to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more”” [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life forces us to make many moral choices; our identity is shaped by those decisions, and love gives meaning to an indifferent universe. **In simple terms:** Choices define us; love adds meaning. Key Takeaway Reflect on your values. Themes philosophy ethics meaning love Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - family life - career choices - generational hope Key Concepts existentialism moral agency humanism Questions to Reflect On - What values guide your toughest decisions? - How does love influence your sense of purpose? A Different Perspective Moral choices can be ambiguous and stressful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capacity to love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-to-love/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Crimes and misdemeanors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crimes-and-misdemeanors/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Human happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-choices/) [Simple things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-things/) ## Related quotes > [Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. It is only we, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/events-unfold-so-unpredictably-so-unfairly-human-happiness-does-not/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“Human happiness does not seem to have been included in the design of creation. It is only we with our capacity to love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/human-happiness-does-not-seem-to-have-been-included-in-the-design-of/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In love, there are no moral decisions, only moral dilhema's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-love-there-are-no-moral-decisions-only-moral-dilhema-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You will notice that what we are aiming at when we fall in love is a very strange paradox. The paradox consists of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-will-notice-that-what-we-are-aiming-at-when-we-fall-in-love-is-a/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Take the money and run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/take-the-money-and-run/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were adamant that impeachment not reach to errors of judgment, or what Edmund Randolph described as “a willful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-delegates-to-the-constitutional-convention-were-adamant-that/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [“Willful and repeated violation of the Constitution is the textbook example of high crimes and misdemeanors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/willful-and-repeated-violation-of-the-constitution-is-the-textbook/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [Funny that all of Nixon's crimes - anonymous campaign cash, wiretapping, undeclared wars - are all legal now. Discuss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/funny-that-all-of-nixon-s-crimes-anonymous-campaign-cash-wiretapping/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [All societies make necessary moral distinctions between high crimes and misdemeanors, mortal and lesser sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/all-societies-make-necessary-moral-distinctions-between-high-crimes/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [Evidence has proven that Secretary Mayorkas' sustained and willful betrayal of the public trust makes him an accessory to the poisoning of millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/evidence-has-proven-that-secretary-mayorkas-sustained-and-willful/) [John E. 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Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [“The two impeachment articles charged President Clinton with perjury and obstruction of justice.16 The charges satisfied the “high crimes and misdemeanors” threshold, for it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-two-impeachment-articles-charged-president-clinton-with-perjury/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) > [It is a coup because while the Brazilian Constitution allows for impeachment, it's necessary for the person to have committed what we call high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/it-is-a-coup-because-while-the-brazilian-constitution-allows-for/) [Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva/) ## More by Woody Allen > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [What has gotten into you lately? Save a little craziness for menopause!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-has-gotten-into-you-lately-save-a-little-craziness-for-menopause/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I enjoy the making of the film and it's something for me to do. If nobody ever comes to my films, if people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-enjoy-the-making-of-the-film-and-it-s-something-for-me-to-do-if/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Capacity to love quotes > [“You are my everything,” Julie said. “You are challenging, and difficult, and guarded. I love those things about you. You are fascinating, and complex,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/you-are-my-everything-julie-said-you-are-challenging-and-difficult/) [Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/) > [For years mental health professionals taught people that they could be psychologically healthy without social support, that “unless you love yourself, no one else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/for-years-mental-health-professionals-taught-people-that-they-could/) [Bruce D. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-d-perry/) > [I think there's an ongoing effort involved in trying to get a bigger perspective, trying to let go of things that limit your capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-ryan/i-think-there-s-an-ongoing-effort-involved-in-trying-to-get-a-bigger/) [Meg Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-ryan/) > [No birth certificate is issued when friendship is born. There is nothing tangible. There is just a feeling that your life is different and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-tesich/no-birth-certificate-is-issued-when-friendship-is-born-there-is/) Steve Tesich > [Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. It is only we, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/events-unfold-so-unpredictably-so-unfairly-human-happiness-does-not/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Each person is sacred, no matter what his or her culture, religion, handicap, or fragility. Each person is created in God’s image; each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-vanier/each-person-is-sacred-no-matter-what-his-or-her-culture-religion/) [Jean Vanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-vanier/) > [“Even sorrow has its silver lining, as the emotion that pours forth reminds us of our capacity to love, and to be loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kozak/even-sorrow-has-its-silver-lining-as-the-emotion-that-pours-forth/) [Rob Kozak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kozak/) > [I imagine a world in which all humans are born with an intact capacity to love, and I am willing to devote my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lim/i-imagine-a-world-in-which-all-humans-are-born-with-an-intact/) [Robin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lim/) > [We receive love — from our children as well as others — not in proportion to our demands or sacrifices or needs, but roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/we-receive-love-from-our-children-as-well-as-others-not-in-proportion/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [The children of the nuclear age, I think, were weakened in their capacity to love. Hard to love, when you're bracing yourself for impact.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/the-children-of-the-nuclear-age-i-think-were-weakened-in-their/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [...there was some kind of connection between the capacity to love and the capacity to love \*running\*. The engineering was certainly the same: both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcdougall/there-was-some-kind-of-connection-between-the-capacity-to-love-and/) [Christopher McDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcdougall/) > [You can rescue yourself. No matter how you feel, no matter what you believe about your worth or your capacity to love and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/you-can-rescue-yourself-no-matter-how-you-feel-no-matter-what-you/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [Healing is a different type of pain. 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Would you suggest that man be stripped of the capacity to love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/how-can-there-be-love-without-a-true-choice-would-you-suggest-that/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [Only a deep attention to the whole of our life can bring us the capacity to love well and live freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/only-a-deep-attention-to-the-whole-of-our-life-can-bring-us-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) [Browse all 158 Capacity to love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capacity-to-love/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. 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