---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know how you can trace back moments…"
description: "\"“You know how you can trace back moments to one action that didn´t feel important at the time? But then later, you go back and think about it, and you ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/brigid-kemmerer-2470_moments_you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments_714446.jpg"
---

#  You know how you can trace back moments to one action that…

![“You know how you can trace back moments to one action that didn´t feel important at the time? But then later, you go back and think about it, and you realize one little decision turned your whole life upside down.” quote by Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/brigid-kemmerer-2470_moments_you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments_714446.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/brigid-kemmerer-2470_moments_you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments_714446.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/brigid-kemmerer-2470_moments_you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments_714446.jpg)

> ““You know how you can trace back moments to one action that didn´t feel important at the time? But then later, you go back and think about it, and you realize one little decision turned your whole life upside down.””

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Small, seemingly insignificant choices can later reveal themselves as pivotal turning points in one's life.

**In simple terms:** Minor decisions can change everything.

Key Takeaway

Pay attention to small choices.

Themes

choice destiny reflection

Mood

introspective inquisitive

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career choices
- relationships
- health decisions
- financial moves

Key Concepts

but-effect life turning points

Questions to Reflect On

- Which past decision feels most transformative?
- How can we recognize potential impact early?

A Different Perspective

Not all decisions are equally impactful; hindsight bias may exaggerate importance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [When I came to BYU, I had no idea what I wanted to study. It really was a decision based on football. I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taysom-hill/when-i-came-to-byu-i-had-no-idea-what-i-wanted-to-study-it-really-was/)

[Taysom Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taysom-hill/)

> [I was a fairly good amateur musician, and I was an average professional. But the one thing I saw was that the big band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-was-a-fairly-good-amateur-musician-and-i-was-an-average/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [I basically came from nothing and turned my life into something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-basically-came-from-nothing-and-turned-my-life-into-something/)

[LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/)

> [My life was definitely going into a nosedive. When my parents separated (and) divorced when I was fifteen, I definitely lost my bearings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-landon-jr/my-life-was-definitely-going-into-a-nosedive-when-my-parents/)

[Michael Landon, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-landon-jr/)

> [From the moment I met you I was counting back the days. Reelin in the years now. You turned my life upside down. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-elektricity/from-the-moment-i-met-you-i-was-counting-back-the-days-reelin-in-the/)

[London Elektricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-elektricity/)

> [I am happy about the way things have turned out in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shatrughan-sinha/i-am-happy-about-the-way-things-have-turned-out-in-my-life/)

[Shatrughan Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shatrughan-sinha/)

> [I want to tell the world about God's love that turned my life around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-tell-the-world-about-god-s-love-that-turned-my-life-around/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [He's turned his life around. He used to be depressed and miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frost/he-s-turned-his-life-around-he-used-to-be-depressed-and-miserable/)

[David Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frost/)

> [Elvis is what turned my life around when I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harwell/elvis-is-what-turned-my-life-around-when-i-was-a-kid/)

[Steve Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harwell/)

> [One of the true pleasures of my life has been the work of John Steinbeck. He was one of the people who turned my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/one-of-the-true-pleasures-of-my-life-has-been-the-work-of-john/)

[Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/)

> [I wanted to prove something to everybody - that I've turned my life around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/i-wanted-to-prove-something-to-everybody-that-i-ve-turned-my-life/)

[Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/)

> [I turned my life around. I have completely redeemed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-stanton-king/i-turned-my-life-around-i-have-completely-redeemed-my-life/)

[Angela Stanton-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-stanton-king/)

> [My father turned my life around insisting I be more than I was and by believing I could be more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/my-father-turned-my-life-around-insisting-i-be-more-than-i-was-and-by/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [And so it turned out that only a life similar to the life of those around us, merging with it without a ripple, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/and-so-it-turned-out-that-only-a-life-similar-to-the-life-of-those/)

[Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/)

> [“And then Lucy happened. Never mind prophecies and bounty hunters, she was the one who'd really turned my life upside down… She made everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyxandra-harvey/and-then-lucy-happened-never-mind-prophecies-and-bounty-hunters-she/)

[Alyxandra Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyxandra-harvey/)

## More by Brigid Kemmerer

> [“What is with you?” said Chris. “Don’t worry,” said Quinn. “I already know he’s an ass.” “Love you, too,” said Gabriel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/what-is-with-you-said-chris-don-t-worry-said-quinn-i-already-know-he/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“He offered to make-out with Hunter if it would prove that he's ok with me being gay." "Hmm," said Adam. "Yeah I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/he-offered-to-make-out-with-hunter-if-it-would-prove-that-he-s-ok/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Given that sin x = 1⁄4 and x is in Quadrant II, find the exact values of sin2 x and cos2 x WTF. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/given-that-sin-x-1-4-and-x-is-in-quadrant-ii-find-the-exact-values-of/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“I like you.” “I like you, too.” “I’ve liked you since the morning you ran into me.” I giggle and try to shove him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/i-like-you-i-like-you-too-i-ve-liked-you-since-the-morning-you-ran/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“He half rose from his seat and reached across another student’s desk to drop the mangled paper clip in front of Tommy. “Look, dude,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/he-half-rose-from-his-seat-and-reached-across-another-student-s-desk/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Touch was funny like that. How one movement could choke you and kill you, but another meant nothing more than a caress and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/touch-was-funny-like-that-how-one-movement-could-choke-you-and-kill/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“His expression changed, and he took a step back. He looked away. "When you said it was broken , you were just being-" "No!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/his-expression-changed-and-he-took-a-step-back-he-looked-away-when/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Kristin comes down the stairs, and the pressure on my chest snaps. I take a moment to turn away, inhaling deeply, blinking away tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/kristin-comes-down-the-stairs-and-the-pressure-on-my-chest-snaps-i/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Hunter stared back at him until Michael raised his eyebrows in a Dude, wtf? expression. Hunter shook himself. "Yeah. Sure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/hunter-stared-back-at-him-until-michael-raised-his-eyebrows-in-a-dude/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“She almost wished she smoked, so she could lie on the car’s hood, flick a lighter, and make up names for the constellations while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/she-almost-wished-she-smoked-so-she-could-lie-on-the-car-s-hood-flick/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [ “You're probably thinking I owe you my life."\[Chris\] "No." she \[Becca\] snapped. "Just sixty bucks." "You charge for the hero act?" \[Chris\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/you-re-probably-thinking-i-owe-you-my-life-chris-no-she-becca-snapped/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Scared of storms?” She jumped. The voice had come from behind her, and she forced her hands to her sides, ready to feign nonchalance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/scared-of-storms-she-jumped-the-voice-had-come-from-behind-her-and/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Before their final trip, Hunter's father had imparted one last lesson, and death had made it stick: Use them before they use you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/before-their-final-trip-hunter-s-father-had-imparted-one-last-lesson/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Becca watched New Kid work the cutlery. “Bet you wish you’d given up your seat now, huh?” “Oh.” Quinn settled back on the bench…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/becca-watched-new-kid-work-the-cutlery-bet-you-wish-you-d-given-up/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

> [“Nick's eyes were like ice. "Maybe we should talk about what happened in third period today. I didn't even ask if you were okay."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/nick-s-eyes-were-like-ice-maybe-we-should-talk-about-what-happened-in/)

[Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

[Explore all 165 Brigid Kemmerer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/)

## More Moments quotes

> [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [It's those moments, those odd moments that you look for and sometimes by creating this kind of loose atmosphere you find those little moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/it-s-those-moments-those-odd-moments-that-you-look-for-and-sometimes/)

[Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/)

[Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/)

> [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/)

[Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [Don't even think for a moment that you are not going to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/don-t-even-think-for-a-moment-that-you-are-not-going-to-die/)

[Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzongsar-jamyang-khyentse-rinpoche/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/)

[Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/)

> [Good manners are not bred in moments, but in years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-mcnair-wright/good-manners-are-not-bred-in-moments-but-in-years/)

[Julia McNair Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-mcnair-wright/)

[Browse all 20,399 Moments quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“You know how you can trace back moments to one action that didn´t feel important at the time? But then later, you go back and think about it, and you realize one little decision turned your whole life upside down.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brigid Kemmerer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments-to-one-action-that-didn-t/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Moments"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments-to-one-action-that-didn-t/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/brigid-kemmerer-2470_moments_you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments_714446.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/brigid-kemmerer-2470_moments_you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments_714446.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/463/brigid-kemmerer-2470_moments_you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments_714446.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You know how you can trace back moments to one action that didn´t feel important at the time? But then…” — Brigid Kemmerer",
                "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": "Brigid Kemmerer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“You know how you can trace...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments-to-one-action-that-didn-t/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/you-know-how-you-can-trace-back-moments-to-one-action-that-didn-t/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
