--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did not direct my life. I didn't design…" description: "\"I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That's what life is.\" — B. F. Skinner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/b-f-skinner-4812_decision-making_i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design_1874549.png" --- # I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made… ![“I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That's what life is.” quote by B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/b-f-skinner-4812_decision-making_i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design_1874549.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/b-f-skinner-4812_decision-making_i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design_1874549.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/b-f-skinner-4812_decision-making_i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design_1874549.png) > “I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That's what life is.” [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement suggests that life unfolds without conscious planning, implying that events shape us rather than we shape them. **In simple terms:** Life happens to you; you don’t control it. Key Takeaway Accept life’s unpredictability. Themes determinism life agency Mood reflective neutral Type philosophical psychological When to use this quote - personal decision-making - career planning - relationship building Key Concepts behavioral psychology existential thought Questions to Reflect On - Do you feel you control your destiny? - How do you respond to unexpected events? A Different Perspective Overlooks personal responsibility and agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Well, you didn't design your beard too well, did you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-philip/well-you-didn-t-design-your-beard-too-well-did-you/) [Prince Philip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-philip/) > [I wish you didn't have to design so often. Try to do quality and cut down on quantity. I think fashion is very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-wish-you-didn-t-have-to-design-so-often-try-to-do-quality-and-cut/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [“our lives are shaped for better or worse, to move forward along largely unmapped terrain. to what extent can you direct your own life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheena-iyengar/our-lives-are-shaped-for-better-or-worse-to-move-forward-along/) [Sheena Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheena-iyengar/) > [Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God's greatest gift to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/next-to-the-bestowal-of-life-itself-the-right-to-direct-that-life-is/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [God direct my life... I have faith in you timing :D x](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily/god-direct-my-life-i-have-faith-in-you-timing-d-x/) [Lily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily/) > [My whole game plan was to direct movies. I knew if I made a reputation in theater, I would get offers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/my-whole-game-plan-was-to-direct-movies-i-knew-if-i-made-a-reputation/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [Love came into my life... And made it a wonderful world to live in. You made me feel so special with all that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-came-into-my-life-and-made-it-a-wonderful-world-to-live-in-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Love him not because of his money but because he came to your life and he made it beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyn/love-him-not-because-of-his-money-but-because-he-came-to-your-life/) Kyn > [You came into my life when it was about to be empty. You livened up me when I was about to be hopeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-came-into-my-life-when-it-was-about-to-be-empty-you-livened-up-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So many people came into your life, and they were such a part of the everyday that it was impossible to imagine them gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-o-hara/so-many-people-came-into-your-life-and-they-were-such-a-part-of-the/) [Maryanne O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-o-hara/) > [I love that since the day you came into my life, everything's been perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/i-love-that-since-the-day-you-came-into-my-life-everything-s-been/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [I thought it was time for a tough, smart, likable female private investigator, and that's how VI came to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-paretsky/i-thought-it-was-time-for-a-tough-smart-likable-female-private/) [Sara Paretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-paretsky/) > [I'm so glad you came into my life. You may not be aware of my existence, but you never fail to put a smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-glad-you-came-into-my-life-you-may-not-be-aware-of-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And then a strange thing happened. Out of the diseased and deteriorated pool os tired thoughts came life. A simple and poisoned life, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mckean/and-then-a-strange-thing-happened-out-of-the-diseased-and/) [Dave McKean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mckean/) > [I never believed in fate until you came into my life. Nothing has been the same since…or felt so right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/i-never-believed-in-fate-until-you-came-into-my-life-nothing-has-been/) [Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/) ## More by B. F. Skinner > [To require a citizen to sign a loyalty oath is to destroy some of the loyalty he could otherwise claim, since any subsequent loyal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/to-require-a-citizen-to-sign-a-loyalty-oath-is-to-destroy-some-of-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A first principle not formally recognized by scientific methodologists: when you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-first-principle-not-formally-recognized-by-scientific/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The problem of far greater importance remains to be solved. Rather than build a world in which we shall all live well, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-problem-of-far-greater-importance-remains-to-be-solved-rather/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I remember when I was a freshman in college, I was still somewhat bothered by... worried... about religion. I remember going to this professor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-remember-when-i-was-a-freshman-in-college-i-was-still-somewhat/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Those who have had anything useful to say have said it far too often, and those who have had nothing to say have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/those-who-have-had-anything-useful-to-say-have-said-it-far-too-often/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I would be opposed to any kind of totalitarian control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-would-be-opposed-to-any-kind-of-totalitarian-control/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A disappointment is not generally an oversight. It might just be the best one can do the situation being what it is. The genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-disappointment-is-not-generally-an-oversight-it-might-just-be-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The simplest and most satisfactory view is that thought is simply behavior - verbal or nonverbal, covert or overt. It is not some mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-simplest-and-most-satisfactory-view-is-that-thought-is-simply/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/behavior-is-shaped-and-maintained-by-its-consequences/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The alphabet was a great invention, which enabled men to store and to learn with little effort what others had learned the hard way-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-alphabet-was-a-great-invention-which-enabled-men-to-store-and-to/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [The people who control the condition in which we live have no reason to think beyond more than the next five or 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/the-people-who-control-the-condition-in-which-we-live-have-no-reason/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [I am opposed to the military use of animals. I am also opposed to the military use of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-am-opposed-to-the-military-use-of-animals-i-am-also-opposed-to-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [A person's genetic endowment, a product of the evolution of the species, is said to explain part of the workings of his mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/a-person-s-genetic-endowment-a-product-of-the-evolution-of-the/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Reinforcement is being right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/reinforcement-is-being-right/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/if-you-re-old-don-t-try-to-change-yourself-change-your-environment/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) [Explore all 105 B. F. Skinner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) ## More Decision making quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [My best business decision was to be independent as a musician and artist. My worst was compromising on certain aspects of a deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziggy-marley/my-best-business-decision-was-to-be-independent-as-a-musician-and/) [Ziggy Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziggy-marley/) > [“Making a decision takes a moment, living a decision takes a life-time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherif-a-el-mawardy/making-a-decision-takes-a-moment-living-a-decision-takes-a-life-time/) [Sherif A. El-Mawardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherif-a-el-mawardy/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“The decisions we take reflects our belief and our charachter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnish-borah/the-decisions-we-take-reflects-our-belief-and-our-charachter/) Rajnish Borah > [I think most of us are raised with preconceived notions of the choices we're supposed to make. We waste so much time making decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-think-most-of-us-are-raised-with-preconceived-notions-of-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) [Browse all 4,912 Decision making quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That's what life is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B. F. Skinner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design-it-i-never-made-decisions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision making" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design-it-i-never-made-decisions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/b-f-skinner-4812_decision-making_i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design_1874549.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/b-f-skinner-4812_decision-making_i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design_1874549.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bc8/b-f-skinner-4812_decision-making_i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design_1874549.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them…” — B. F. Skinner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "B. F. Skinner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I did not direct my life....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design-it-i-never-made-decisions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/i-did-not-direct-my-life-i-didn-t-design-it-i-never-made-decisions/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```