The quote suggests that the apparent moment of making a decision is often just an illusion. In reality, the decision has typically been made long before the moment when it becomes visible or acknowledged. This mirrors how we perceive light from distant stars; we see the light only after it has traveled long distances, much like how the consequences of decisions reveal themselves over time.

Richard Ford, in his book "The Lay of the Land," highlights the complexity of decision-making. People may believe they are making choices in the present, but these choices often stem from prior thoughts, experiences, and influences. Just as light reflects a past state of the universe, our decisions reflect the culmination of our past considerations and realizations.