--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I look at life I try to be as…" description: "\"When I look at life I try to be as agnostic and unmetaphysical as possible. So I have to admit that, most probably, we do not have a fate. But I think ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-kehlmann-13333_agnostic_when-i-look-at-life-i-try-to-be-as-agnos_190690.png" --- # When I look at life I try to be as agnostic and… ![“When I look at life I try to be as agnostic and unmetaphysical as possible. So I have to admit that, most probably, we do not have a fate. But I think that's something that draws us to novels - that the characters always have a fate. Even if it's a terrible fate, at least they have one.” quote by Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-kehlmann-13333_agnostic_when-i-look-at-life-i-try-to-be-as-agnos_190690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-kehlmann-13333_agnostic_when-i-look-at-life-i-try-to-be-as-agnos_190690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68e/daniel-kehlmann-13333_agnostic_when-i-look-at-life-i-try-to-be-as-agnos_190690.png) > “When I look at life I try to be as agnostic and unmetaphysical as possible. So I have to admit that, most probably, we do not have a fate. But I think that's something that draws us to novels - that the characters always have a fate. Even if it's a terrible fate, at least they have one.” [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker embraces a skeptical, non‑metaphysical view, yet is drawn to stories where characters possess definite destinies, highlighting a tension between uncertainty and narrative certainty. **In simple terms:** Agnostic view meets love for stories with clear fates. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty but enjoy stories that give meaning. Themes uncertainty storytelling destiny philosophy Mood contemplative curious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - reading novels - discussing fate - writing fiction - teaching philosophy - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism narrative desire human need for meaning Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer stories with clear outcomes? - How does uncertainty affect your life choices? A Different Perspective Some may argue that seeking fate in fiction can limit openness to ambiguous outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agnostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-fate-2015033/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Fate Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate-terrible-2015035/) [Fate Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate-think-1845413/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Probably Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-fate-2015034/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [So the fact that there's someone who's planning what happens to the characters, writing it down, means that the characters always have a fate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/so-the-fact-that-there-s-someone-who-s-planning-what-happens-to-the/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [“In general, I start with an idea and a general gist of how I want the story to end, and I let the characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-cramer/in-general-i-start-with-an-idea-and-a-general-gist-of-how-i-want-the/) [Kristi Cramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-cramer/) > [“The powe if fate is something terrible. It cannot be escaped--not with wealth or by war, not with a tower ir a sea-lashed black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/the-powe-if-fate-is-something-terrible-it-cannot-be-escaped-not-with/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [Fate has terrible power. You cannot escape it by wealth or war. No fort will keep it out, no ships outrun it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/fate-has-terrible-power-you-cannot-escape-it-by-wealth-or-war-no-fort/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“She said 'life is all we have, and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/she-said-life-is-all-we-have-and-we-live-it-as-we-believe-in-living/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [“Nothing, nothing mattered, and I knew why. So did he. Throughout the whole absurd life I'd lived, a dark wind had been rising toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/nothing-nothing-mattered-and-i-knew-why-so-did-he-throughout-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Certainly. My whole life has been decided by fate. I think something more powerful than we are decides our fates for us. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-tate/certainly-my-whole-life-has-been-decided-by-fate-i-think-something/) [Sharon Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-tate/) > [“Do you believe people can change their fate, or do you think our lives are mapped out before us? I mean, do you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-owen/do-you-believe-people-can-change-their-fate-or-do-you-think-our-lives/) [Joanne Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-owen/) > [I believe that we have free will. I believe we get the chance to make choices in our lives. Not everything is set in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/i-believe-that-we-have-free-will-i-believe-we-get-the-chance-to-make/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“Beyond work and love, I would add two other ingredients that give meaning to life. First, to fulfill whatever talents we are born with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/beyond-work-and-love-i-would-add-two-other-ingredients-that-give-2/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [I'm a great believer in fate. I think things happen in spite of, and despite, yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-scott/i-m-a-great-believer-in-fate-i-think-things-happen-in-spite-of-and/) [Randolph Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-scott/) > [“They will be the architects of my fate, I think to myself, despite what Sybil said about my being the author of my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-white/they-will-be-the-architects-of-my-fate-i-think-to-myself-despite-what/) [Kim White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-white/) > [“Your thoughts are your fate. Think positively.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/your-thoughts-are-your-fate-think-positively/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I do believe in fate - I think you have to. It helps make sense of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-weymouth/i-do-believe-in-fate-i-think-you-have-to-it-helps-make-sense-of-things/) [Emma Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-weymouth/) > [Fate, I think, is a thief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/fate-i-think-is-a-thief/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) ## More by Daniel Kehlmann > [“Sweat was running down my face. The next turn wasn’t too bad, and I noticed an old barn on the roadside, the roof caved-in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/sweat-was-running-down-my-face-the-next-turn-wasn-t-too-bad-and-i/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [A neglect of one's sentimental education early in life could bear the most unfortunate fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/a-neglect-of-one-s-sentimental-education-early-in-life-could-bear-the/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [It was both odd and unjust, a real example of pitiful arbitrariness of existance, that you were born into a particular time & held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/it-was-both-odd-and-unjust-a-real-example-of-pitiful-arbitrariness-of/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [You say fate is almost indispensable to literature - I think it's completely indispensable, at least in a novel, because a novel always has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/you-say-fate-is-almost-indispensable-to-literature-i-think-it-s/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [When I write a book I'm always questioning the project as a whole. I always feel I might have to just throw it away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/when-i-write-a-book-i-m-always-questioning-the-project-as-a-whole-i/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [Also, whenever you have direct speech, and I don't quite know why, but it always gets better in English. Dialogue, the flow of dialogue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/also-whenever-you-have-direct-speech-and-i-don-t-quite-know-why-but/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [One of the points where the art world is at its most metaphysical is in this weird aspect of the power of the expert.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/one-of-the-points-where-the-art-world-is-at-its-most-metaphysical-is/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [“But why people? I asked. What does he care about people? He’s a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/but-why-people-i-asked-what-does-he-care-about-people-he-s-a-bear/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [Usually I work out the plot before I start. This time I thought: Writers always talk about not knowing where a book is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/usually-i-work-out-the-plot-before-i-start-this-time-i-thought/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [For a while I never show anybody what I'm writing, and during that time I need the feeling that publishing is only an option.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/for-a-while-i-never-show-anybody-what-i-m-writing-and-during-that/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [German can take a lot more pathos than English can. When you say "pathetic" in English it's a disparaging term, but when you say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/german-can-take-a-lot-more-pathos-than-english-can-when-you-say/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [English has a better way with colloquialisms. It has colloquialisms that are colorful and expressive but not too heavy or distracting. In German, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/english-has-a-better-way-with-colloquialisms-it-has-colloquialisms/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [It's also one of these strange points where metaphysics converges with economy. Because really what the experts are doing is creating value by banishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/it-s-also-one-of-these-strange-points-where-metaphysics-converges/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [Usually the German translators do something terrible, especially with Tom Wolfe, which is that they make it local. So if the characters are from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/usually-the-german-translators-do-something-terrible-especially-with/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) > [I think that's just what happens when you write a big bestseller. After that you need to find out: What's the best way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kehlmann/i-think-that-s-just-what-happens-when-you-write-a-big-bestseller/) [Daniel Kehlmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) [Explore all 31 Daniel Kehlmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kehlmann/) ## More Agnostic quotes > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [The prayer of the agnostic: "O God, if there is a God, save my soul if I have a soul."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-renan/the-prayer-of-the-agnostic-o-god-if-there-is-a-god-save-my-soul-if-i/) [Ernest Renan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-renan/) > [I'm actually, for the most part, a complete agnostic politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-witten/i-m-actually-for-the-most-part-a-complete-agnostic-politically/) [Edward Witten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-witten/) > [Even when I was saying I was Agnostic and trying to figure out my thoughts, I felt God was allowing me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfre-woodard/even-when-i-was-saying-i-was-agnostic-and-trying-to-figure-out-my/) [Alfre Woodard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfre-woodard/) > [There is, in fact, nothing about religious opinions that entitles them to any more respect than other opinions get. On the contrary, they tend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/there-is-in-fact-nothing-about-religious-opinions-that-entitles-them/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [“Some people are so stiff and inhumane as the dogma's they believe in”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/some-people-are-so-stiff-and-inhumane-as-the-dogma-s-they-believe-in/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [If a humanist or an atheist or an agnostic says, "We'll bake you a pie," we can go right into the kitchen and bake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalyn-murray-o-hair/if-a-humanist-or-an-atheist-or-an-agnostic-says-we-ll-bake-you-a-pie/) [Madalyn Murray O'Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalyn-murray-o-hair/) > [I'm agnostic because I went through the usual process of parents insisting you go to church, and yet they didn't. So there's me, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/i-m-agnostic-because-i-went-through-the-usual-process-of-parents/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [Intellect, at its best, can make you agnostic. Being theist or atheist is still a matter of choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/intellect-at-its-best-can-make-you-agnostic-being-theist-or-atheist/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [To be agnostic is to be open-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-agnostic-is-to-be-open-minded/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All Gaza's temples are torn down and burned and the city is cleansed of every belief but the Christian faith. The most stubborn opponents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramsay-macmullen/all-gaza-s-temples-are-torn-down-and-burned-and-the-city-is-cleansed/) [Ramsay MacMullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramsay-macmullen/) > [I'm still agnostic. But in the words of Elton Richards, I'm now a reverant agnostic. Which isn't an oxymoron, I swear. I now believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-still-agnostic-but-in-the-words-of-elton-richards-i-m-now-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm agnostic. By definition, I'm unsure of what to believe in, but I'm also borderline-capable of believing in anything and everything, or nothing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lola/i-m-agnostic-by-definition-i-m-unsure-of-what-to-believe-in-but-i-m/) [Lauren Lola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lola/) > [“The Agnostic is one who asserts 'what no one denies' that there are limits to the sphere of human intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stephen/the-agnostic-is-one-who-asserts-what-no-one-denies-that-there-are/) [Leslie Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stephen/) [Browse all 492 Agnostic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agnostic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I look at life I try to be as agnostic and unmetaphysical as possible. So I have to admit that, most probably, we do not have a fate. 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