---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot pretend that I regard this with…"
description: "\"“I cannot pretend that I regard this with favor, but the purpose of life is not to do what we want but what needs to be done. This is what fate demands..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/christopher-paolini-622_fate-quotes_i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with_2302608.png"
---

#  I cannot pretend that I regard this with favor, but the…

![“I cannot pretend that I regard this with favor, but the purpose of life is not to do what we want but what needs to be done. This is what fate demands of us. - Oromis” quote by Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/christopher-paolini-622_fate-quotes_i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with_2302608.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/christopher-paolini-622_fate-quotes_i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with_2302608.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/christopher-paolini-622_fate-quotes_i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with_2302608.png)

> ““I cannot pretend that I regard this with favor, but the purpose of life is not to do what we want but what needs to be done. This is what fate demands of us. - Oromis””

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

## About This Quote

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

Life's purpose is duty over desire, following destiny's demands.

**In simple terms:** Purpose is duty, not desire.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize duty over personal wishes.

Themes

duty destiny purpose

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- family obligations
- public service
- personal goals

Key Concepts

existentialism moral philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What duties are you neglecting for desire?
- How does destiny shape your choices?

A Different Perspective

Balancing personal happiness with duty can be painful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Demands Oromis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demands-oromis-5447035/) [Fate Demands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate-demands-4548705/) [Fate-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate-quotes/) [Inspirational quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-quotes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-living/) [Life lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lessons/) [Life philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-philosophy/) [Life Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-want/) [Needs Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-fate-4548706/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-life/) [Purpose of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-of-life/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/)

## Related quotes

> [“The purpose of life is not to do what we want but what needs to be done. This is what fate demands of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-purpose-of-life-is-not-to-do-what-we-want-but-what-needs-to-be-2/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [Wherever fate demands me... I will go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertudis-gomez-de-avellaneda/wherever-fate-demands-me-i-will-go/)

[Gertudis Gomez De Avellaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertudis-gomez-de-avellaneda/)

> [“I cannot pretend that I regard this with favor, but the purpose of life is not what we want but what needs to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with-favor-but-the-purpose-of/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“Reflect on why you’re here. What is your ultimate purpose in life? What do you want to be, do, and have? What do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-johnson/reflect-on-why-you-re-here-what-is-your-ultimate-purpose-in-life-what/)

[Vic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-johnson/)

> [What the purpose of my life is about is I want to become the kind of person that God wants me to become, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/what-the-purpose-of-my-life-is-about-is-i-want-to-become-the-kind-of/)

[Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/)

> [The purpose of life is not to do what we want but what needs to be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-purpose-of-life-is-not-to-do-what-we-want-but-what-needs-to-be/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“There isn't any questioning the fact that some people enter your life, at the exact point of need, want or desire - it's sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/there-isn-t-any-questioning-the-fact-that-some-people-enter-your-life/)

[Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/)

> [“If you believe the world is conspiring against you it will just do that; you will help on by your pessimism action to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-believe-the-world-is-conspiring-against-you-it-will-just-do/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“If someone is destined to be with you, nothing can keep her away; if she is not, nothing can make her stay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-someone-is-destined-to-be-with-you-nothing-can-keep-her-away-if/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Those who complain that fate is against them will have a hard time finding happiness in their lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/those-who-complain-that-fate-is-against-them-will-have-a-hard-time/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“Predetermined fate is the slogan of the incapable people; with better ideas, you can always have a better fate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/predetermined-fate-is-the-slogan-of-the-incapable-people-with-better/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Fate seems to scourge some people with her furies, while it ravishes others with her graces with none having done absolutely nothing to suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/fate-seems-to-scourge-some-people-with-her-furies-while-it-ravishes/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“The energy we release becomes the thread that weaves our destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-energy-we-release-becomes-the-thread-that-weaves-our-destiny/)

[Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/)

> [“I don't usually read popular books. Because I know how powerful promotion can be. Most of the time, the great books are hidden from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/i-don-t-usually-read-popular-books-because-i-know-how-powerful/)

[Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/)

> [“The surest way to bring out the best in you may simply be to remind yourself, again and again, that you can make your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-surest-way-to-bring-out-the-best-in-you-may-simply-be-to-remind/)

[Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/)

## More by Christopher Paolini

> [Life is pain...anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/life-is-pain-anyone-who-tells-you-otherwise-is-selling-something/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“Understanding breeds empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/understanding-breeds-empathy/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [If he fancied her anymore," Saphira said to both Eragon and Roran, "I'd be trying to kiss Arya myself." "Saphira!" Mortified, Eragon swatted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/if-he-fancied-her-anymore-saphira-said-to-both-eragon-and-roran-i-d/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“Clear your mind of such thoughts. They cannot be answered and will make you no happier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/clear-your-mind-of-such-thoughts-they-cannot-be-answered-and-will/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [We are about to change history, said Saphira. We’re throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is. Ah, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/we-are-about-to-change-history-said-saphira-we-re-throwing-ourselves/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [I don't discuss my own beliefs in public, but I will say the beliefs I've given my characters do not necessarily represent what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-don-t-discuss-my-own-beliefs-in-public-but-i-will-say-the-beliefs-i/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [I've never been helpless, I just have powerful enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-never-been-helpless-i-just-have-powerful-enemies/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“Islanzadi sighed, and suddenly appeared tired. “Ormomis may have been your proper teacher, but you have proved yourself to be Brom’s heir, not Oromis’s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/islanzadi-sighed-and-suddenly-appeared-tired-ormomis-may-have-been/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [Regardless of whether I can shift my affections to another - and the heart, as you observed, is a notoriously fickle beast - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/regardless-of-whether-i-can-shift-my-affections-to-another-and-the/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“You worry about a crack in the floor while the whole mountain is about to come down on us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/you-worry-about-a-crack-in-the-floor-while-the-whole-mountain-is/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“The only thing she could be certain of was that she existed. All else was suspect, even her own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-only-thing-she-could-be-certain-of-was-that-she-existed-all-else/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“But you possess one quality that no one else does. Oh? Your identity. Your history, deeds and situation. Use those to shape your creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/but-you-possess-one-quality-that-no-one-else-does-oh-your-identity/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“Left weaponless, Roran was forced to retreat before the remaining soldier. He stumbled over a corpse, cutting his calf on a sword as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/left-weaponless-roran-was-forced-to-retreat-before-the-remaining/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [“Let go of your worries and focus only on the task at hand. The future will be what it will, and fretting about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/let-go-of-your-worries-and-focus-only-on-the-task-at-hand-the-future/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

> [I've always been very grateful that enough people have enjoyed reading what I've written that I've been able to pursue writing professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-always-been-very-grateful-that-enough-people-have-enjoyed/)

[Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

[Explore all 393 Christopher Paolini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/)

## More Fate-quotes quotes

> [“The surest way to bring out the best in you may simply be to remind yourself, again and again, that you can make your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-surest-way-to-bring-out-the-best-in-you-may-simply-be-to-remind/)

[Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/)

> [“I don't usually read popular books. Because I know how powerful promotion can be. Most of the time, the great books are hidden from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/i-don-t-usually-read-popular-books-because-i-know-how-powerful/)

[Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/)

> [“The energy we release becomes the thread that weaves our destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-energy-we-release-becomes-the-thread-that-weaves-our-destiny/)

[Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/)

> [“Fate seems to scourge some people with her furies, while it ravishes others with her graces with none having done absolutely nothing to suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/fate-seems-to-scourge-some-people-with-her-furies-while-it-ravishes/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“Predetermined fate is the slogan of the incapable people; with better ideas, you can always have a better fate!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/predetermined-fate-is-the-slogan-of-the-incapable-people-with-better/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Those who complain that fate is against them will have a hard time finding happiness in their lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/those-who-complain-that-fate-is-against-them-will-have-a-hard-time/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“If someone is destined to be with you, nothing can keep her away; if she is not, nothing can make her stay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-someone-is-destined-to-be-with-you-nothing-can-keep-her-away-if/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“If you believe the world is conspiring against you it will just do that; you will help on by your pessimism action to prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-believe-the-world-is-conspiring-against-you-it-will-just-do/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“There isn't any questioning the fact that some people enter your life, at the exact point of need, want or desire - it's sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/there-isn-t-any-questioning-the-fact-that-some-people-enter-your-life/)

[Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/)

> [“It's funny how people choose to believe in magic, miracles, fate and all sorts of superstition but not in themselves!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mouloud-benzadi/it-s-funny-how-people-choose-to-believe-in-magic-miracles-fate-and/)

[Mouloud Benzadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mouloud-benzadi/)

> [“Give your all to every experience, feel it breathe it appreciate it, nothing lasts forever, when it's gone you'll remember the feeling it once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rowe/give-your-all-to-every-experience-feel-it-breathe-it-appreciate-it/)

[Nikki Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rowe/)

> [“Every day part of our mind exercises are devoted to bracing ourselves against the advancing penultimate act that foreshadows our sorrowful ultimate demise. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/every-day-part-of-our-mind-exercises-are-devoted-to-bracing-ourselves/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [“Avoid allowing fate to stomp all over your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/avoid-allowing-fate-to-stomp-all-over-your-reality/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

> [“Some things do not come to us automatically; we must induce them to come our way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/some-things-do-not-come-to-us-automatically-we-must-induce-them-to/)

[Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/)

> [“The choice is to create your desired life-path or be a prisoner of fate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/the-choice-is-to-create-your-desired-life-path-or-be-a-prisoner-of/)

[Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/)

[Browse all 51 Fate-quotes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate-quotes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I cannot pretend that I regard this with favor, but the purpose of life is not to do what we want but what needs to be done. This is what fate demands of us. - Oromis”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Christopher Paolini"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with-favor-but-the-purpose-of-2/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fate-quotes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with-favor-but-the-purpose-of-2/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/christopher-paolini-622_fate-quotes_i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with_2302608.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/christopher-paolini-622_fate-quotes_i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with_2302608.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db5/christopher-paolini-622_fate-quotes_i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with_2302608.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I cannot pretend that I regard this with favor, but the purpose of life is not to do what we want but what…” — Christopher Paolini",
                "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": "Christopher Paolini",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I cannot pretend that I regard...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with-favor-but-the-purpose-of-2/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-cannot-pretend-that-i-regard-this-with-favor-but-the-purpose-of-2/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
