Ah, Thomas Hobson, the original master of limited choices! It's fascinating how this livery stable owner from centuries ago unwittingly gave us the phrase "Hobson's choice," which has become a timeless metaphor for situations where we're presented with a supposed choice but actually left with only one option.

Imagine being a customer at Hobson's livery stable in Cambridge back then. You'd have to pick the horse nearest the door or none at all. Talk about limited options! But old Thomas had his reasons. He wanted to ensure fairness among his horses and prevent customers from always selecting the best ones.

Little did he know that his policy would go on to resonate far beyond his stable doors. Today, when we find ourselves faced with an illusion of choice or an absence of genuine alternatives, we can credit good ol' Thomas Hobson for giving us a relatable term to describe such situations.

So thank you, Mr. Hobson, for unintentionally leaving your mark on language and reminding us that sometimes our choices are just as limited as those poor souls picking horses outside your stable door!