"We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it's a continuing choice"
About this Quote
The genius is the insistence on “continuing choice.” It sidesteps the motivational-industrial fantasy that a single epiphany fixes you. Maxwell, a clergyman-turned-leadership guru, is speaking from a tradition that treats the inner life as an arena of discipline: daily practices, daily repentance, daily recalibration. The subtext is accountability without cruelty. He’s not denying trauma, temperament, or circumstance; he’s trying to shrink the space where we can hide behind them. If attitude is a choice you keep making, then your identity isn’t a verdict, it’s a habit.
Context matters here: Maxwell’s work sits at the intersection of evangelical pastoral care and corporate self-management. That gives the quote its clean, actionable cadence - perfect for sermons and boardrooms alike. It also reveals the pressure embedded in the comfort. If you can always choose your attitude, then you can also fail to choose it. The line offers empowerment, but it quietly assigns responsibility for the emotional tone of your life - and, by extension, the lives of people around you.
Quote Details
| Topic | Self-Improvement |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Maxwell, John C. (2026, January 17). We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it's a continuing choice. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-choose-what-attitudes-we-have-right-now-and-32112/
Chicago Style
Maxwell, John C. "We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it's a continuing choice." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-choose-what-attitudes-we-have-right-now-and-32112/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"We choose what attitudes we have right now. And it's a continuing choice." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/we-choose-what-attitudes-we-have-right-now-and-32112/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.





