Difference

I was arguing with this guy all week about why I wouldn't go out with him. Plain & simple, I told him that I can't coz Im already with someone. He argues with "You can't? Or you can? Coz he need not know of us". It got me thinking... he's right, I actually can! So I revised my answer. "Yes I can, but i choose not to."

It only dawned on me now, the difference between these two phrases:

"I can't... but I want to"
"I can... but I choose not to"


And there lies the difference. The use of either defines your true intentions.