--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if it were possible to cast my…" description: "\"“Even if it were possible to cast my horoscope in this one life, and to make an accurate prediction about my future, it would not be possible to 'show'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/christopher-hitchens-117_antidepressants_even-if-it-were-possible-to-cast-my-horo_1390645.jpg" --- # Even if it were possible to cast my horoscope in this one… ![“Even if it were possible to cast my horoscope in this one life, and to make an accurate prediction about my future, it would not be possible to 'show' it to me because as soon as I saw it my future would change by definition. This is why Werner Heisenberg's adaptation of the Hays Office—the…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/christopher-hitchens-117_antidepressants_even-if-it-were-possible-to-cast-my-horo_1390645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/christopher-hitchens-117_antidepressants_even-if-it-were-possible-to-cast-my-horo_1390645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a11/christopher-hitchens-117_antidepressants_even-if-it-were-possible-to-cast-my-horo_1390645.jpg) > ““Even if it were possible to cast my horoscope in this one life, and to make an accurate prediction about my future, it would not be possible to 'show' it to me because as soon as I saw it my future would change by definition. This is why Werner Heisenberg's adaptation of the Hays Office—the so-called principle of uncertainty whereby the act of measuring something has the effect of altering the measurement—is of such importance. In my case the difference is often made by publicity. For example, and to boast of one of my few virtues, I used to derive pleasure from giving my time to bright young people who showed promise as writers and who asked for my help. Then some profile of me quoted someone who disclosed that I liked to do this. Then it became something widely said of me, whereupon it became almost impossible for me to go on doing it, because I started to receive far more requests than I could respond to, let alone satisfy. Perception modifies reality: when I abandoned the smoking habit of more than three decades I was given a supposedly helpful pill called Wellbutrin. But as soon as I discovered that this was the brand name for an antidepressant, I tossed the bottle away. There may be successful methods for overcoming the blues but for me they cannot include a capsule that says: 'Fool yourself into happiness, while pretending not to do so.' I should actually want my mind to be strong enough to circumvent such a trick.”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Our expectations and labels can change outcomes; knowing a prediction can alter the predicted reality, limiting authentic action. **In simple terms:** Knowing a forecast can change the future. Key Takeaway Beware of self‑fulfilling prophecies. Themes psychology self‑fulfilling prophecy perception agency identity Mood reflective cautious analytical Type philosophical advice personal. When to use this quote - career mentorship - health decisions - public image management - personal habit changes Key Concepts quantum uncertainty social influence self‑concept behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - How does awareness of a label affect your behavior? - Can you maintain authenticity when others define you? A Different Perspective If you disclose a strength, demand may become overwhelmed, limiting its practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antidepressants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antidepressants/) [Assistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assistance/) [Called Wellbutrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-wellbutrin-2963387/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Helpful Pill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful-pill-2963390/) [Horoscopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horoscopes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Measurement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measurement/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Principle Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-uncertainty-1522044/) [Publicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publicity/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Satisfy Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfy-perception-4845286/) [Self delusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-delusion/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) [Soothsaying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soothsaying-174306/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Uncertainty principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-principle/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Werner Heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/werner-heisenberg/) [Werner-heisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/werner-heisenberg-204824/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [When I abandoned the smoking habit of more than three decades I was given a supposedly helpful pill called Wellbutrin. But as soon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/when-i-abandoned-the-smoking-habit-of-more-than-three-decades-i-was/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [The Principle of Uncertainty fixed once for all the realisation that all knowledge is limited. It is an irony of history that at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/the-principle-of-uncertainty-fixed-once-for-all-the-realisation-that/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [“Yet, the principle of uncertainty is a bad name. In science or outside of it, we are not uncertain. Our knowledge is merely confined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-bronowski/yet-the-principle-of-uncertainty-is-a-bad-name-in-science-or-outside/) [Jacob Bronowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-bronowski/) > [One can live in this world on soothsaying but not on truth saying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/one-can-live-in-this-world-on-soothsaying-but-not-on-truth-saying/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [“It is but sorrow to be wise when wisdom profits not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/it-is-but-sorrow-to-be-wise-when-wisdom-profits-not/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“There's some sort of Soothsayers' Code that prevents soothsayers from soothsaying on a day-to-day basis, when it might, you know, avert this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/there-s-some-sort-of-soothsayers-code-that-prevents-soothsayers-from/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [“When { Born and Heisenberg and the Göttingen theoretical physicists} first discovered matrix mechanics they were having, of course, the same kind of trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-born-and-heisenberg-and-the-g-ttingen-theoretical-physicists/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“One hundred thirty-seven is the inverse of something called the fine-structure constant. ...The most remarkable thing about this remarkable number is that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-m-lederman/one-hundred-thirty-seven-is-the-inverse-of-something-called-the-fine/) [Leon M. Lederman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-m-lederman/) > [You can make a good living from soothsaying but not from truthsaying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-make-a-good-living-from-soothsaying-but-not-from-truthsaying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Many scientists have tried to make determinism and complementarity the basis of conclusions that seem to me weak and dangerous; for instance, they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-broglie/many-scientists-have-tried-to-make-determinism-and-complementarity/) [Louis de Broglie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-broglie/) > [“Es gibt keinen Gott und Dirac ist sein Prophet. ( There is no God and Dirac is his Prophet .) { A remark made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-pauli/es-gibt-keinen-gott-und-dirac-ist-sein-prophet-there-is-no-god-and/) [Wolfgang Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-pauli/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Antidepressants quotes > [Antidepressants are the biggest fraud in the world. Number one, Prozac gives you a royal soft-on like you wouldn't believe, and number two you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-evans/antidepressants-are-the-biggest-fraud-in-the-world-number-one-prozac/) [Robert Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-evans/) > [Antidepressants sure kill your sexual life...Now, THAT'S depressing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/antidepressants-sure-kill-your-sexual-life-now-that-s-depressing/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Sylvie wishes the anti-depressants had been around when she was in her early twenties, not only to rescue her from the dark tunnels that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/sylvie-wishes-the-anti-depressants-had-been-around-when-she-was-in/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [One the one hand, the simple fact that there are children and that I do have an effect on them has been one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/one-the-one-hand-the-simple-fact-that-there-are-children-and-that-i/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [“Lord. How many antidepressants can one person take? However much it is, I'm going to need the maximum dose if I make it out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baylee-crush/lord-how-many-antidepressants-can-one-person-take-however-much-it-is/) [Baylee Crush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baylee-crush/) > [Like most people, I woke up one day to find that everyone I knew was taking antidepressants, and since I wasn't, I figured that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/like-most-people-i-woke-up-one-day-to-find-that-everyone-i-knew-was/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [I notice a lot of people think they can solve their problems with antidepressants. That, I noticed, being like a bigger issue, like, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-notice-a-lot-of-people-think-they-can-solve-their-problems-with/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [All the commercials on TV today are for antidepressants, for Prozac or Paxil. And they get you right away. "Are you sad? Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/all-the-commercials-on-tv-today-are-for-antidepressants-for-prozac-or/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness. Science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-kaczynski/imagine-a-society-that-subjects-people-to-conditions-that-make-them/) [Theodore Kaczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-kaczynski/) > [Nature is often overlooked as a healing balm for the emotional hardships in a child's life. You'll likely never see a slick commercial for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/nature-is-often-overlooked-as-a-healing-balm-for-the-emotional/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [I was terrified when my doctor told me that I had a unique and interesting personality trait, but then he told me about new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/i-was-terrified-when-my-doctor-told-me-that-i-had-a-unique-and/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [The recent discovery of highly specific antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications would not have been possible without the use of animal models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-pardes/the-recent-discovery-of-highly-specific-antidepressants-and-anti/) [Herb Pardes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-pardes/) > [“Those antidepressants Dr. Huang gave her were some kind of miracle drug. I considered giving them a try, but I didn't think they'd work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-standiford/those-antidepressants-dr-huang-gave-her-were-some-kind-of-miracle/) [Natalie Standiford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-standiford/) > [“We have pills for headaches. We have antidepressants for sadness. We had God for believers. We have nothing for autism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-genova/we-have-pills-for-headaches-we-have-antidepressants-for-sadness-we/) [Lisa Genova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-genova/) [Browse all 71 Antidepressants quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antidepressants/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even if it were possible to cast my horoscope in this one life, and to make an accurate prediction about my future, it would not be possible to 'show' it to me because as soon as I saw it my future would change by definition. This is why Werner Heisenberg's adaptation of the Hays Office—the so-called principle of uncertainty whereby the act of measuring something has the effect of altering the measurement—is of such importance. In my case the difference is often made by publicity. For example, and to boast of one of my few virtues, I used to derive pleasure from giving my time to bright young people who showed promise as writers and who asked for my help. Then some profile of me quoted someone who disclosed that I liked to do this. Then it became something widely said of me, whereupon it became almost impossible for me to go on doing it, because I started to receive far more requests than I could respond to, let alone satisfy. Perception modifies reality: when I abandoned the smoking habit of more than three decades I was given a supposedly helpful pill called Wellbutrin. But as soon as I discovered that this was the brand name for an antidepressant, I tossed the bottle away. 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