We are not animals. We are not a product of what has happened to us in our past. We have the power of choice.

The line distills a central theme in Stephen R. Covey’s work: human beings are not merely reactive creatures driven by conditioning, instinct, or past experience. Instead, Covey argues that between stimulus and response lies a distinctly human capacity—self-awareness and moral agency—that allows us to choose our actions and shape our character. The quote pushes back against deterministic narratives (“my past made me this way”) and reframes responsibility as empowering rather than blaming. In Covey’s broader framework, this power of choice is the foundation for proactive living: aligning behavior with values and principles rather than moods, circumstances, or social pressures.