People seem unable to admit this principle of chance. Our…
““People seem unable to admit this principle of chance. Our spirits are not strong enough to stand the idea of life being a mere succession of chances—the idea, that is, of infinity. Each of us in his individual existence, which is contained between the chance of his birth and the chance of his death, identifies those few incidents that have arisen through what he styles his “will”; and the thing that emerges consistently from this he calls his “character” or again his “life.” Thus we contrive to comfort ourselves; there is, in fact, no other way for us to think.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Life is a series of chances; character emerges from how we respond to them.
In simple terms: Chance shapes character.
Key Takeaway
Embrace chance, shape your character.
Themes
chance
character
existence
Mood
contemplative
philosophical
Type
Chance:1
Existence:1
Strong enough:0
Individual Existence:0
Principle Chance:0
Infinity Individual:0
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- personal relationships
- creative pursuits
Key Concepts
philosophy
free will
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you view the role of chance in your life?
- What character traits have you built from chance events?
A Different Perspective
Chance alone doesn’t guarantee meaning; interpretation matters.