  Magnets with frustration often show accidental degeneracies, characterized by
a large classical ground-state space (CGSS). Quantum fluctuations may `select'
one of these ground states -- a phenomenon labeled `order by (quantum)
disorder' in literature. In this article, we examine the mechanism(s) by which
such state selection takes place. We argue that a magnet, at low energies, maps
to a particle moving on the CGSS. State selection corresponds to localization
of the particle at a certain point on this space. We distinguish two mechanisms
that can bring about localization. In the first, quantum fluctuations generate
a potential on the CGSS. If the potential has a deep enough minimum, then the
particle localizes in its vicinity. We denote this as `order by potential'
(ObP). In the second scenario, the particle localizes at a self-intersection
point due to bound-state formation -- a consequence of geometry and quantum
interference. Following recent studies by the present authors, we denote this
scenario as `order by singularity' (ObS). We place our discussion within the
context of the one-dimensional spin-$S$ Kitaev model. We map out its CGSS which
grows systematically with increasing system size. It resembles a network where
the number of nodes increases exponentially. In addition, the number of wires
that cross at each node also grows exponentially. This self-intersecting
structure leads to ObS, with the low-energy physics determined by a small
subset of the CGSS, consisting of `Cartesian' states. A contrasting picture
emerges when an additional XY antiferromagnetic coupling is introduced. The
CGSS simplifies dramatically, taking the form of a circle. Spin-wave
fluctuations generate a potential on this space, giving rise to state selection
by ObP under certain conditions. Apart from contrasting ObS and ObP, we discuss
the possibility of ObS in macroscopic magnets.
