The quote from Anthony Burgess's "A Clockwork Orange" emphasizes the importance of choice in defining our humanity. The ability to choose between good and evil is integral to our character and moral identity. When individuals lose this capacity, they are stripped of their agency and essence, reducing them to mere automata rather than truly autonomous beings.

This perspective suggests that the essence of being human lies in the freedom to make choices, including the choice to do good. Without the opportunity to decide, a person's individuality and moral understanding are compromised, highlighting the critical relationship between choice, morality, and personal identity.