There are moments when you have to choose Meaning Factcheck Usage

You know, “There are moments when you have to choose” really gets to the heart of a tough professional truth. It’s about those crossroads where your ambition and your integrity are pulling you in opposite directions, and the path you pick defines everything that comes after.

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Table of Contents

• Meaning
• Explanation
• Origin & Factcheck
• Context
• Usage Examples
• FAQ

Meaning

At its core, this quote is about the fundamental conflict between ethical principles and worldly ambition.

Explanation

Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. It’s not about small, everyday choices. It’s about those high-stakes, defining moments. The ones that keep you up at night. Do you cut corners to hit a quarterly target? Do you throw a colleague under the bus to get that promotion? Coelho is pointing out that true success isn’t just about the trophy or the title. It’s about who you have to become to get it. And sometimes, the cost of winning is a piece of your own humanity. That’s a price that, once paid, you can rarely get back.

Quote Summary

Context	Attributes
Original Language	Portuguese (369)
Category	Life (320)
Topics	ambition (7), integrity (42), morality (5)
Literary Style	philosophical (434)
Emotion / Mood	serious (155)
Overall Quote Score	86 (262)

Origin & Factcheck

This line comes straight from Paulo Coelho’s 2008 novel, “The Winner Stands Alone,” which is set against the backdrop of the Cannes Film Festival. It’s often misattributed to his more famous work, “The Alchemist,” but its true home is in this gritty exploration of ambition and morality in the modern world.

Attribution Summary

Context	Attributes
Author	Paulo Coelho (368)
Source Type	Book (4032)
Source/Book Name	The Winner Stands Alone (55)
Origin Timeperiod	Contemporary (1615)
Original Language	Portuguese (369)
Authenticity	Verified (4032)

Where is this quotation located?

Quotation	There are moments when you have to choose between being human and being successful
Book Details	Publication Year: 2008 (Brazil); ISBN: 978-0-06-175044-1; Latest Edition: Harper Perennial 2009; 368 pages.
Where is it?	Approximate page 44, Chapter: The Choice of Humanity

Context

In the book, this idea isn’t just philosophical—it’s literal. The story follows a wealthy businessman so consumed by his goal of winning back his ex-wife that he’s willing to commit murder to “destroy entire worlds” for her. It’s a dark, extreme example that forces you to see the terrifying endgame of choosing success at any cost.

Usage Examples

This quote is a powerful gut-check. You can use it when:

• Mentoring a rising star: “I know you’re driven, and that’s great. But remember Coelho’s line about choosing between being human and being successful. Let’s talk about how you can win without losing yourself.”
• In a leadership meeting: “As we discuss these aggressive targets, let’s keep this principle in mind. Is there a way to achieve this that doesn’t compromise our team’s well-being or our company’s values?”
• Reflecting on your own career: It’s a perfect prompt for a personal journal entry. “Where am I facing this choice right now? What does ‘being human’ look like in this situation?”

To whom it appeals?

Context	Attributes
Theme	Wisdom (1754)
Audiences	leaders (2619), professionals (751), seekers (406), students (3111)
Usage Context/Scenario	ethics training (14), leadership programs (172), motivational essays (111), spiritual reflections (44)

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FAQ

Question: Does this mean you can’t be successful and a good person?

Answer: Not at all. The key word is “moments.” It’s not a permanent state. It’s about recognizing those critical junctures where the easy path to success requires a moral compromise. The challenge is to find a third way—a path to success that aligns with your humanity.

Question: Is this choice always black and white?

Answer: Rarely. It’s usually a spectrum of grey. The “choice” might be a series of small, justifiable compromises that slowly erode your character over time until you look up and don’t recognize yourself. That’s the real danger.

Question: Who is this quote most relevant for?

Answer: Honestly, anyone in a competitive field—entrepreneurs, artists, corporate climbers. But it’s especially crucial for leaders. The decisions they make at these crossroads don’t just affect them; they set the cultural tone for their entire organization.