--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Serendipity is the way to make…" description: "\"Serendipity is the way to make discoveries, by accident but also by sagacity, of things one is not in quest of. Based on experience, knowledge, it is t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/adrian-bejan-51856_accidents_serendipity-is-the-way-to-make-discoveri_2384129.jpg" --- # Serendipity is the way to make discoveries, by accident… ![“Serendipity is the way to make discoveries, by accident but also by sagacity, of things one is not in quest of. Based on experience, knowledge, it is the creative exploitation of the unforeseen.” quote by Adrian Bejan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/adrian-bejan-51856_accidents_serendipity-is-the-way-to-make-discoveri_2384129.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/adrian-bejan-51856_accidents_serendipity-is-the-way-to-make-discoveri_2384129.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/adrian-bejan-51856_accidents_serendipity-is-the-way-to-make-discoveri_2384129.jpg) > “Serendipity is the way to make discoveries, by accident but also by sagacity, of things one is not in quest of. Based on experience, knowledge, it is the creative exploitation of the unforeseen.” [Adrian Bejan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-bejan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serendipity combines accidental chance with insightful observation, turning unexpected events into useful discoveries. **In simple terms:** Unexpected events become useful discoveries with insight. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity and notice the unexpected. Themes creativity discovery insight Mood inquisitive optimistic Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - research - product development - problem solving - innovation workshops Key Concepts systems thinking emergent order Questions to Reflect On - How can you prepare to notice useful accidents? - What habits help turn surprise into insight? A Different Perspective Serendipity still needs preparation; without knowledge, chance remains random. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Discoveries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discoveries/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Experience Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-knowledge-305002/) [Exploitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploitation/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Make Discoveries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-discoveries-276791/) [Quests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quests/) [Sagacity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sagacity/) [Serendipity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serendipity/) [Serendipity Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serendipity-way-5011092/) [Unforeseen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unforeseen/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Let there be room left in your heart for the unimaginable ~ serendipity has a way of showing itself just when you feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/let-there-be-room-left-in-your-heart-for-the-unimaginable-serendipity/) [Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/) > [Serendipity... You will understand it better by the derivation than by the definition. I once read a silly fairy tale, called 'The Three Princes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/serendipity-you-will-understand-it-better-by-the-derivation-than-by/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [When I write, I make discoveries about my feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/when-i-write-i-make-discoveries-about-my-feelings/) [Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/) > [...It would be possible to make much more progress than has been made if the NCI knew its job better, knew how to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/it-would-be-possible-to-make-much-more-progress-than-has-been-made-if/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [It has often been said that, to make discoveries, one must be ignorant. This opinion, mistaken in itself, nevertheless conceals a truth. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/it-has-often-been-said-that-to-make-discoveries-one-must-be-ignorant/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [“The most important thing is not to work on things that other people are working on because otherwise all you'll do is get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jewitt/the-most-important-thing-is-not-to-work-on-things-that-other-people-2/) [David Jewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jewitt/) > [The secret of all those who make discoveries is that they regard nothing as impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justus-von-liebig/the-secret-of-all-those-who-make-discoveries-is-that-they-regard/) [Justus von Liebig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justus-von-liebig/) > [ We make our discoveries while in the state \[of high functioning\] because then we are clear-sighted. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/we-make-our-discoveries-while-in-the-state-of-high-functioning/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [To make discoveries, you have to be curious about why the universe is the way it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/to-make-discoveries-you-have-to-be-curious-about-why-the-universe-is/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I want to make my own discoveries…….penetrate the evil which attracts me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-want-to-make-my-own-discoveries-penetrate-the-evil-which-attracts-me/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [We make our discoveries through our mistakes: we watch one another's success: and where there is freedom to experiment there is hope to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-make-our-discoveries-through-our-mistakes-we-watch-one-another-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The most important thing is not to work on things that other people are working on because otherwise all you'll do is get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jewitt/the-most-important-thing-is-not-to-work-on-things-that-other-people/) [David Jewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jewitt/) > [ \[Those\] who have an excessive faith in their theories or in their ideas are not only poorly disposed to make discoveries, but they also… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/those-who-have-an-excessive-faith-in-their-theories-or-in-their-ideas/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [There seems to be one quality of mind which seems to be of special and extreme advantage in leading him to make discoveries. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-darwin/there-seems-to-be-one-quality-of-mind-which-seems-to-be-of-special/) [Francis Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-darwin/) > [“he would have been the first to scoff at the notion of labeling himself anything other than an explorer. His words to me were,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-holley/he-would-have-been-the-first-to-scoff-at-the-notion-of-labeling/) [Val Holley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-holley/) ## More by Adrian Bejan > [Flow systems have two basic features (properties). There is the current that is flowing (for example, fluid, heat, mass, or information) and the design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-bejan/flow-systems-have-two-basic-features-properties-there-is-the-current/) [Adrian Bejan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-bejan/) > [For a finite-size system to persist in time (to live), it must evolve in such a way that it provides easier access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-bejan/for-a-finite-size-system-to-persist-in-time-to-live-it-must-evolve-in/) [Adrian Bejan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-bejan/) > [The fact that the same proportionalities rule optimal running, flying and swimming is not a coincidence rather it is an illustration of the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-bejan/the-fact-that-the-same-proportionalities-rule-optimal-running-flying/) [Adrian Bejan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-bejan/) > [The similarities among animals that are on the surface very different are no coincidence. 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It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Serendipity is the way to make discoveries, by accident but also by sagacity, of things one is not in quest of. 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