Monday, March 28, 2011

Quote of the Week

When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice.  
- William James


When I hear someone say, "I had to do it, I had no choice", I think no, that's not true.  You made a decision based on what you felt strongly about one way or the other.

Even when you think there is only one choice, there are two.  To act or not to act.  You could have chosen not to act and deal with the consequences, but you just felt like to do otherwise wasn't an option.

So, if we are faced with a difficult decision, we make the best one we can based on what we know.  We may feel that it's our only choice, but in reality it's the only choice we feel we can reasonably make.

9 comments:

  1. So true, Linda. Doing nothing about a situation is essentially doing something.

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  2. People who say "I had to do it, I had no choice" are, in saying that, choosing to make themselves victims.

    There are some who get a lot of mileage out of playing the victim. I just want to slap some sense into them.

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  3. Wow. You raise an excellent point.

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  4. Hi Linda .. there's always two .. one could be .. I'll wait and make the actual decision later - gives time for mulling over .. still two decisions though .. act now, or wait .. or act never!

    Cheers Hilary

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  5. That is very true. There are always choices. A person who says "I had no choice" is usually saying that because they feel bad over the choice they made.

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  6. I think all too often, we make choices and then don't understand the ramifications. We did choose. But we don't want to see it as of our own doing. Interesting! Thanks!

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  7. Talon- Yes, there's always a choice, even if it's not doing anything.

    Jayne- I see what you're saying and agree. I had not really looked at it that way, but it follows my reasoning in that they're defending a bad decision with "I had no choice".

    meleah rebeccah- Thanks!

    Hilary- Indeed, at least two choices for each decision to be made.

    Babs- You're right. They either feel bad or regret their decision, or don't want to take responsibility for the outcome.

    Linda- It's better to make an informed decision based on what you know and accept the results. I can understand, though, how a person may feel forced by circumstances to do something, and feel like there wasn't a choice.

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  8. Love your kitty pictures! And I'm a great collector of quotes, so I'm enjoying the ones you've been sharing.

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  9. Brenda- Thank you for stopping by. I am glad you are enjoying the quotes.

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