--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Destiny is a funny thing. Once I thought…" description: "\"“Destiny is a funny thing. Once I thought I was destined to become Emperor of Greenland, sole monarch over its 52,000 inhabitants. Then I thought I was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ben-edlund-37045_destiny_destiny-is-a-funny-thing-once-i-thought_2052117.jpg" --- # Destiny is a funny thing. Once I thought I was destined to… ![“Destiny is a funny thing. Once I thought I was destined to become Emperor of Greenland, sole monarch over its 52,000 inhabitants. Then I thought I was destined to build a Polynesian longship in my garage. I was wrong then, but I've got it now. I'm the destined protector of this place. I'm this…” quote by Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ben-edlund-37045_destiny_destiny-is-a-funny-thing-once-i-thought_2052117.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ben-edlund-37045_destiny_destiny-is-a-funny-thing-once-i-thought_2052117.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/ben-edlund-37045_destiny_destiny-is-a-funny-thing-once-i-thought_2052117.jpg) > ““Destiny is a funny thing. Once I thought I was destined to become Emperor of Greenland, sole monarch over its 52,000 inhabitants. Then I thought I was destined to build a Polynesian longship in my garage. I was wrong then, but I've got it now. I'm the destined protector of this place. I'm this city's superhero.”” [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Destiny can feel whimsical; self‑perception changes, leading to unexpected roles and responsibilities. **In simple terms:** Destiny is funny and changes. Key Takeaway Embrace evolving purpose. Themes identity destiny humor self‑discovery Mood playful thoughtful Type humorous inspirational When to use this quote - career shifts - personal reinvention - creative projects - community service Key Concepts narrative identity role theory Questions to Reflect On - What does “destiny” mean to you now? - How do you adapt when your path shifts? A Different Perspective Humor may mask underlying insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destined/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ## Related quotes > [For the first time in my life, in my mid-20s, I started to question things. Had I been deceived? I thought I had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-elise-goldsberry/for-the-first-time-in-my-life-in-my-mid-20s-i-started-to-question/) [Renee Elise Goldsberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-elise-goldsberry/) > [I'm not really into destiny, but it's funny - I bumped into a woman who told me about an audition, and now I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-campbell/i-m-not-really-into-destiny-but-it-s-funny-i-bumped-into-a-woman-who/) [Georgina Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-campbell/) > [Destiny is a funny thing cause you'll never known when you are in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/destiny-is-a-funny-thing-cause-you-ll-never-known-when-you-are-in-it/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [“If anyone rises to power, it's not only because he could, but also because the stars were aligned in his favor. Many with apparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-anyone-rises-to-power-it-s-not-only-because-he-could-but-also/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“If mankind's destined to bite the bullet, let's bite it and be damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/if-mankind-s-destined-to-bite-the-bullet-let-s-bite-it-and-be-damned/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [For they have always unanimously maintained that nature, rather the Creator Himself, has given man the right of private ownership not only that individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-they-have-always-unanimously-maintained-that-nature-rather-the/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [A country which does not create children is destined to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/a-country-which-does-not-create-children-is-destined-to-die/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Despite my mother saying I have been destined to be an actress my whole life, I remember being the kid who grew up not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantel-vansanten/despite-my-mother-saying-i-have-been-destined-to-be-an-actress-my/) [Shantel VanSanten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantel-vansanten/) > [Fate has a twisted sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-atwater-rhodes/fate-has-a-twisted-sense-of-humor/) [Amelia Atwater-Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-atwater-rhodes/) > [Life is a luck coin, once you're thrown into the pond..only you can make your worth the most by making it to the people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zacomh/life-is-a-luck-coin-once-you-re-thrown-into-the-pond-only-you-can/) Zacomh > [“I AM ALL ABOUT SELF-DETERMINATION. Will. Control. I determine my path in life. I decide my failures and successes. Screw fate. Destiny can kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/i-am-all-about-self-determination-will-control-i-determine-my-path-in/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) ## More by Ben Edlund > [On 'Supernatural,' you go to a location and another location, and every week they do amazing things up there. You have to kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/on-supernatural-you-go-to-a-location-and-another-location-and-every/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [Think of every character as a main character. They believe they're the main characters in their stories. No one should just be an obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/think-of-every-character-as-a-main-character-they-believe-they-re-the/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [“My mind is my Achilles's Heel." - The Tick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/my-mind-is-my-achilles-s-heel-the-tick/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [“And isn't sanity really just a one-trick pony, anyway? I mean, all you get is one trick, rational thinking. But when you're good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/and-isn-t-sanity-really-just-a-one-trick-pony-anyway-i-mean-all-you/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [The big challenge for me is that my nature is more towards comedy, so I understand when a comedy thing is working; I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/the-big-challenge-for-me-is-that-my-nature-is-more-towards-comedy-so/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [“Simon: You're in a dangerous line of work, Jayne. Odds are you'll be under my knife again, often. So I want you to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/simon-you-re-in-a-dangerous-line-of-work-jayne-odds-are-you-ll-be/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [And Supernatural, in fact, going there wasit felt like a place where I had to actually, um, learn to be kind of manly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/and-supernatural-in-fact-going-there-wasit-felt-like-a-place-where-i/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [“Not baked goods! BAKED BADS!!!!" --The Tick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/not-baked-goods-baked-bads-the-tick/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [There's a lot of levels of metanarrative that I like to play with. That's why I like the Ghostfacers, because we actually managed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/there-s-a-lot-of-levels-of-metanarrative-that-i-like-to-play-with/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [I used to a play a role-playing game called Dungeons and Dragons, and that was about levels of experience; as you gained experience, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/i-used-to-a-play-a-role-playing-game-called-dungeons-and-dragons-and/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) > [“Shepherd Book: What are we up to, sweetheart? River: Fixing your Bible. Book: I, um... What? River: Bible's broken. Contradictions, false logistics - doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-edlund/shepherd-book-what-are-we-up-to-sweetheart-river-fixing-your-bible/) [Ben Edlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) [Explore all 12 Ben Edlund quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-edlund/) ## More Destined quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn't have the same values. But I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-pleshette/troy-was-a-sweet-good-man-we-just-were-never-destined-to-be-married/) [Suzanne Pleshette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-pleshette/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [Life is a luck coin, once you're thrown into the pond..only you can make your worth the most by making it to the people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zacomh/life-is-a-luck-coin-once-you-re-thrown-into-the-pond-only-you-can/) Zacomh > [Despite my mother saying I have been destined to be an actress my whole life, I remember being the kid who grew up not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantel-vansanten/despite-my-mother-saying-i-have-been-destined-to-be-an-actress-my/) [Shantel VanSanten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantel-vansanten/) > [The act of self-denial seems to confer on us the right to be harsh and merciless toward others. The impression somehow prevails that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-act-of-self-denial-seems-to-confer-on-us-the-right-to-be-harsh/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“If mankind's destined to bite the bullet, let's bite it and be damned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/if-mankind-s-destined-to-bite-the-bullet-let-s-bite-it-and-be-damned/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [A country which does not create children is destined to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/a-country-which-does-not-create-children-is-destined-to-die/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [For they have always unanimously maintained that nature, rather the Creator Himself, has given man the right of private ownership not only that individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/for-they-have-always-unanimously-maintained-that-nature-rather-the/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [Robespierre, however, was not the type of leader finally destined to emerge from the Revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-babbitt/robespierre-however-was-not-the-type-of-leader-finally-destined-to/) [Irving Babbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-babbitt/) > [I'm destined to live and say things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-destined-to-live-and-say-things/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [“You’re destined for greatness,” Life said. “But first, I’m going to make you cry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/you-re-destined-for-greatness-life-said-but-first-i-m-going-to-make/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [There is an unmistakable freedom that accompanies contentment: a freedom to be who you are, enjoy who you are, and live the life you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-becker/there-is-an-unmistakable-freedom-that-accompanies-contentment-a/) [Josh Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-becker/) > [But without a caring society, without each citizen voluntarily accepting the weight of responsibility, government is destined to grow even larger, taking more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/but-without-a-caring-society-without-each-citizen-voluntarily/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [I'd like to play an alien, like from 'Starman' or 'K-PAX,' where it's human. I think I'm destined to play an alien.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-lindberg/i-d-like-to-play-an-alien-like-from-starman-or-k-pax-where-it-s-human/) [Chad Lindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-lindberg/) [Browse all 560 Destined quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destined/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Destiny is a funny thing. Once I thought I was destined to become Emperor of Greenland, sole monarch over its 52,000 inhabitants. Then I thought I was destined to build a Polynesian longship in my garage. I was wrong then, but I've got it now. I'm the destined protector of this place. 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