In the book "Jazz" by Toni Morrison, the character Joe Trace expresses his profound feelings for a woman he has chosen to love. He emphasizes that his choice was deliberate and conscious, not an accident or an impulsive decision. He acknowledges the complications of his choice, such as the timing and the fact that he is not being fair to his wife, yet he firmly believes that his love is a result of active decision-making rather than falling into feelings by chance.

Joe insists that his love for her was a conscious act of will, highlighting empowerment in his choice. He conveys a sense of agency in his emotions, stating that he "rose" in love, signifying strength and clarity rather than a passive experience. This reflects Morrison's themes of love, agency, and the complexities involved in personal relationships, illustrating how love can be both transformative and tangled with moral dilemmas.