--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are what we are, he thought, and maybe…" description: "\"“We are what we are, he thought, and maybe the only time we can change what we are is when life throws us such a surprise that it’s like hitting a plat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/dean-koontz-118_life_we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe_2518513.jpg" --- # We are what we are, he thought, and maybe the only time we… ![“We are what we are, he thought, and maybe the only time we can change what we are is when life throws us such a surprise that it’s like hitting a plate-glass window with a baseball bat, shattering the grip of the past.” quote by Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/dean-koontz-118_life_we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe_2518513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/dean-koontz-118_life_we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe_2518513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/dean-koontz-118_life_we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe_2518513.jpg) > ““We are what we are, he thought, and maybe the only time we can change what we are is when life throws us such a surprise that it’s like hitting a plate-glass window with a baseball bat, shattering the grip of the past.”” [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A sudden, shocking event can break old patterns and allow personal transformation. **In simple terms:** Surprises can change us. Key Takeaway Embrace unexpected challenges for growth. Themes change identity adversity Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - career pivot - relationship shift - creative block Key Concepts psychology breakthrough self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - What surprise could shatter your old habits? - How can you prepare for unexpected change? A Different Perspective Change often requires more than a single event; sustained effort is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bat Shattering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bat-shattering-1228069/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Like Hitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-hitting-353565/) [Shattering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shattering/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Throws Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throws-surprise-1228070/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I like hitting first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-tatis-jr/i-like-hitting-first/) [Fernando Tatis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-tatis-jr/) > [“Writing to me is like hitting the herb. No problems, Mon. No worries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-k-kuykendall/writing-to-me-is-like-hitting-the-herb-no-problems-mon-no-worries/) [A.K. Kuykendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-k-kuykendall/) > [Every time I am directing, I question why in God's name I'm doing it again. It's like hitting yourself in the forehead with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-pollack/every-time-i-am-directing-i-question-why-in-god-s-name-i-m-doing-it/) [Sydney Pollack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-pollack/) > [I felt when I was hitting guys or going for a takedown at 185, sometimes it was like hitting a wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demian-maia/i-felt-when-i-was-hitting-guys-or-going-for-a-takedown-at-185/) [Demian Maia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demian-maia/) > [Sometimes I feel like hitting somebody. You look at the refs and they say, 'We'll take care of it.' I think, 'Yeah? You won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-robinson/sometimes-i-feel-like-hitting-somebody-you-look-at-the-refs-and-they/) [David Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-robinson/) > [“Foreign policy is like hitting a baseball: if you fail 70 percent of the time, you go to the Hall of Fame.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/foreign-policy-is-like-hitting-a-baseball-if-you-fail-70-percent-of/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [I don't like hitting people in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-don-t-like-hitting-people-in-the-face/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [Rick Miller hit only one home run last year, and that's like hitting none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-coleman/rick-miller-hit-only-one-home-run-last-year-and-that-s-like-hitting/) [Jerry Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-coleman/) > [Unrequited love is like hitting your head against a wall that isn't there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-wheeler/unrequited-love-is-like-hitting-your-head-against-a-wall-that-isn-t/) [Shannon Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-wheeler/) > [I've been putting 100% of work into defense like I do hitting because that way I can help my team more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-altuve/i-ve-been-putting-100-of-work-into-defense-like-i-do-hitting-because/) [Jose Altuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-altuve/) > [If it was up to me personally, I'd like to stay in the leadoff spot, simply because I like hitting there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-acuna-jr/if-it-was-up-to-me-personally-i-d-like-to-stay-in-the-leadoff-spot/) [Ronald Acuna Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-acuna-jr/) > [I like hitting people. The best feeling is when you hit so hard, pow! You get a jarring headache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohan-marley/i-like-hitting-people-the-best-feeling-is-when-you-hit-so-hard-pow/) [Rohan Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohan-marley/) > [When you think an angry thought about someone, it's like hitting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-you-think-an-angry-thought-about-someone-it-s-like-hitting-them/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When you're in a fight, it's just like everything is hitting you all at once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovince-saint-preux/when-you-re-in-a-fight-it-s-just-like-everything-is-hitting-you-all/) [Ovince Saint Preux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovince-saint-preux/) > [I don't want to act like hitting homers isn't a great feeling, because it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-arenado/i-don-t-want-to-act-like-hitting-homers-isn-t-a-great-feeling-because/) [Nolan Arenado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-arenado/) ## More by Dean Koontz > [“This kind of derangement is emblematic of humankind. 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You wreck a kid's life, I have no pity for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/some-will-accuse-me-of-being-judgmental-thank-you-and-proud-of-it-you/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Waiting is one of the things that humans beings cannot do well, though it is one of the essential things we must do successfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/waiting-is-one-of-the-things-that-humans-beings-cannot-do-well-though/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Dogs know we need to give affection as much as they need to receive it. They were the first therapists; they've been in practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/dogs-know-we-need-to-give-affection-as-much-as-they-need-to-receive/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) [Explore all 1,233 Dean Koontz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) ## More Life quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/) [Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/) > [But just remember, life without me would be even more unbearable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/but-just-remember-life-without-me-would-be-even-more-unbearable/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) [Browse all 265,290 Life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are what we are, he thought, and maybe the only time we can change what we are is when life throws us such a surprise that it’s like hitting a plate-glass window with a baseball bat, shattering the grip of the past.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dean Koontz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe-the-only-time-we-can-change/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe-the-only-time-we-can-change/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/dean-koontz-118_life_we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe_2518513.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/dean-koontz-118_life_we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe_2518513.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8a/dean-koontz-118_life_we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe_2518513.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are what we are, he thought, and maybe the only time we can change what we are is when life throws us…” — Dean Koontz", "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": "Dean Koontz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“We are what we are, he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe-the-only-time-we-can-change/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/we-are-what-we-are-he-thought-and-maybe-the-only-time-we-can-change/#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 } } ] } ```