How we cite our quotes: (Chapter, Paragraph)
Quote #1
So the thing to remember, the thing that's most important of all that I might say in this here telling of things is that Noise ain't truth, Noise is what men want to be true, and there's a difference twixt those two things so big that it could ruddy well kill you if you don't watch out. (2.23)
Belief systems are actually choices, and in their misery, the men of Prentisstown have chosen to create a pretty terrible reality. As Todd travels, he finds the other people have chosen to build different lives around Noise.
Quote #2
But a knife ain't just a thing, is it? It's a choice, it's something you do. A knife says yes or no, cut or not, die or don't. A knife takes a decision out of your hand and puts it in the world and it never goes back again. (8.76)
Todd sees his new knife as something more than just a "thing." Rather than seeing that he's the one who makes the choice to kill or not, he thinks that the knife itself calls the shots. This isn't true, of course, which Todd will come to recognize.
Quote #3
But I'm holding my knife.
I swear. I swear right now before God or whatever. If Aaron ever comes in my reach again, I will kill him. I ain't hesitating again. No way. No how. I ain't. I swear to you.
I will kill him.
I'll ruddy well kill him. (12.41-43)
The decision to kill is the big choice in the book. Todd won't become a man until he does (by Prentisstown standards) and he's constantly wrestling with the choice. But rather than doing it, or deciding not to, he only tells us over and over again that he will. Buddy, actions speak louder than words, so this isn't really choice as much as the lack thereof.