--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth is, we never know what life…" description: "\"“The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we don't have as much control as we might think we have. But we CAN choose how we walk through..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/elizabeth-berrien-24243_bereavement_the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-wil_907397.jpg" --- # The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we… ![“The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we don't have as much control as we might think we have. But we CAN choose how we walk through life and how we spend our time.” quote by Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/elizabeth-berrien-24243_bereavement_the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-wil_907397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/elizabeth-berrien-24243_bereavement_the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-wil_907397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/elizabeth-berrien-24243_bereavement_the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-wil_907397.jpg) > ““The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we don't have as much control as we might think we have. But we CAN choose how we walk through life and how we spend our time.”” [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is unpredictable and control limited, but we can choose our attitude and use of time. **In simple terms:** We can control our walk and time despite uncertainty. Key Takeaway Choose your path and use time wisely. Themes control choice uncertainty mindset Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily decisions - career planning - relationships - health routines Key Concepts free will existentialism time management Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide what matters most? - What habits help you stay present? A Different Perspective Limited control may cause anxiety or paralysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bereavement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bereavement/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [We can choose to walk through life either as a silent observer or as an active participant. The difference is that with the former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/we-can-choose-to-walk-through-life-either-as-a-silent-observer-or-as/) Unkown > [“You don't always choose the path you walk in life, but, you always choose how you walk that path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-johnson/you-don-t-always-choose-the-path-you-walk-in-life-but-you-always/) Tracy Johnson > [I can't control what people think about me or how they choose to remember me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-sanu/i-can-t-control-what-people-think-about-me-or-how-they-choose-to/) [Mohamed Sanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-sanu/) > [“Figure out how to balance Oliver with a career you’ve wanted your whole life,” he tells me. “Because you’ll end up with neither if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-lauren/figure-out-how-to-balance-oliver-with-a-career-you-ve-wanted-your/) [Christina Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-lauren/) > [“It is true that the grief journey is very lonely, but it is also up to you to decide just how lonely you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/it-is-true-that-the-grief-journey-is-very-lonely-but-it-is-also-up-to/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“You have to do what feels right for you. Do not let anyone influence you otherwise. It is your mind, your heart, and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/you-have-to-do-what-feels-right-for-you-do-not-let-anyone-influence/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Each loss brings growth with it, and learning to handle new experiences and taking charge of your needs is part of the transformative process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/each-loss-brings-growth-with-it-and-learning-to-handle-new/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Mothering while grieving should involve being understanding and keeping a gentle attitude toward yourself as you work to balance your own needs and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/mothering-while-grieving-should-involve-being-understanding-and/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“We never truly "get over" a loss, but we can move forward and evolve from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/we-never-truly-get-over-a-loss-but-we-can-move-forward-and-evolve/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I believe I gather strength from the generations of women who came before me - that together we all hold the suffering of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-believe-i-gather-strength-from-the-generations-of-women-who-came/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Remember to view yourself and your humanness with a kind heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/remember-to-view-yourself-and-your-humanness-with-a-kind-heart/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“It is okay to release your feelings when you feel the waves coming. It's all part of the process of having to let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/it-is-okay-to-release-your-feelings-when-you-feel-the-waves-coming-it/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Some of the choices you make might not always turn out to be the best ones, but at least you are learning as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/some-of-the-choices-you-make-might-not-always-turn-out-to-be-the-best/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I would still rather feel things and live life to the fullest rather than hide in a cave and attempt to protect myself from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-would-still-rather-feel-things-and-live-life-to-the-fullest-rather/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I used to feel afraid of the future, always assuming the worst. But now I've realized that my worst fears have already happened, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-used-to-feel-afraid-of-the-future-always-assuming-the-worst-but-now/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) ## More by Elizabeth Berrien > [“I used to feel afraid of the future, always assuming the worst. But now I've realized that my worst fears have already happened, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-used-to-feel-afraid-of-the-future-always-assuming-the-worst-but-now/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I would still rather feel things and live life to the fullest rather than hide in a cave and attempt to protect myself from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-would-still-rather-feel-things-and-live-life-to-the-fullest-rather/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I began to recognize that there was a part of me that was stronger than I ever could have imagined. I didn't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-began-to-recognize-that-there-was-a-part-of-me-that-was-stronger/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Some of the choices you make might not always turn out to be the best ones, but at least you are learning as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/some-of-the-choices-you-make-might-not-always-turn-out-to-be-the-best/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“It is okay to release your feelings when you feel the waves coming. It's all part of the process of having to let go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/it-is-okay-to-release-your-feelings-when-you-feel-the-waves-coming-it/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“The intense roller coaster of emotions will gradually lesson over time. But there is no timeframe for the grieving process, and it will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/the-intense-roller-coaster-of-emotions-will-gradually-lesson-over/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“In the first year of my grief, there were times when I felt like hiding my personal story of loss and other times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/in-the-first-year-of-my-grief-there-were-times-when-i-felt-like/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Remember to view yourself and your humanness with a kind heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/remember-to-view-yourself-and-your-humanness-with-a-kind-heart/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“I believe I gather strength from the generations of women who came before me - that together we all hold the suffering of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-believe-i-gather-strength-from-the-generations-of-women-who-came/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“We never truly "get over" a loss, but we can move forward and evolve from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/we-never-truly-get-over-a-loss-but-we-can-move-forward-and-evolve/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Journeying through grief is one of the most "normal human" experiences you can have. Nevertheless, all too frequently the heartbroken seem to feel alienated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/journeying-through-grief-is-one-of-the-most-normal-human-experiences/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Mothering while grieving should involve being understanding and keeping a gentle attitude toward yourself as you work to balance your own needs and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/mothering-while-grieving-should-involve-being-understanding-and/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Once you have walked down the grief path, what you have gained on your journey may turn into invaluable advice for someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/once-you-have-walked-down-the-grief-path-what-you-have-gained-on-your/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“It's my own deep-rooted feeling that our souls never truly die and that life continues in some way. I know I need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/it-s-my-own-deep-rooted-feeling-that-our-souls-never-truly-die-and/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Each loss brings growth with it, and learning to handle new experiences and taking charge of your needs is part of the transformative process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/each-loss-brings-growth-with-it-and-learning-to-handle-new/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) [Explore all 24 Elizabeth Berrien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) ## More Bereavement quotes > [“When we learn to attribute meaning to the events in our lives, we connect with our Higher Purpose, Higher Wisdom, or Source; we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-learn-to-attribute-meaning-to-the-events-in-our-lives-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [“When we understand the illusory nature of life and the profound power of eternal love, which enables us to create miracles and experience the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-understand-the-illusory-nature-of-life-and-the-profound-power/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [When you lose your parents, the sadness doesn't go away. It just changes. It hits you sideways sometimes instead of head-on. Like now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-lose-your-parents-the-sadness-doesn-t-go-away-it-just/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man is not completely born until he is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-man-is-not-completely-born-until-he-is-dead/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“It is the capacity to feel consuming grief and pain and despair that also allows me to embrace love and joy and beauty with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-white/it-is-the-capacity-to-feel-consuming-grief-and-pain-and-despair-that/) [Anna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-white/) > [“Sometimes, there was no getting over it. Sometimes, you lived with the empty place inside of you until you imploded on it, loss as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-kittredge/sometimes-there-was-no-getting-over-it-sometimes-you-lived-with-the/) [Caitlin Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-kittredge/) > [Grief that is dazed and speechless is out of fashion: the modern woman mourns her husband loudly and tells you the whole story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/grief-that-is-dazed-and-speechless-is-out-of-fashion-the-modern-woman/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I bow in reverence before the emotions of every melted heart…The more intense the delight in their presence, the more poignant the impression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-martineau/i-bow-in-reverence-before-the-emotions-of-every-melted-heart-the-more/) [James Martineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-martineau/) > [“her skilled use of her body, especially her eyes and hands, when communicating with people enabled millions sense she was a conduit between royalty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-walter/her-skilled-use-of-her-body-especially-her-eyes-and-hands-when/) Tony Walter > [I can remember certain Manchester United defeats the way most people remember family bereavements or great political events. The four-nil drubbing by Barcelona, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-dunne/i-can-remember-certain-manchester-united-defeats-the-way-most-people/) Tom Dunne > [Farewell is said by the living, in life, every day. It is said with love and friendship, with the affirmation that the memories are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/farewell-is-said-by-the-living-in-life-every-day-it-is-said-with-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I used to feel afraid of the future, always assuming the worst. But now I've realized that my worst fears have already happened, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/i-used-to-feel-afraid-of-the-future-always-assuming-the-worst-but-now/) [Elizabeth Berrien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/) > [“Loss pushes us to difficult places where we have not been before. We often question whether or not we have the courage and stamina…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/loss-pushes-us-to-difficult-places-where-we-have-not-been-before-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [“He stood for a moment, bereavement a sudden, small tear in his soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/he-stood-for-a-moment-bereavement-a-sudden-small-tear-in-his-soul/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [Thou, Everlasting Strength, hast set Thyself forth to bear our burdens. May we bear Thy cross, and bearing that; find there is nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/thou-everlasting-strength-hast-set-thyself-forth-to-bear-our-burdens/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) [Browse all 263 Bereavement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bereavement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we don't have as much control as we might think we have. But we CAN choose how we walk through life and how we spend our time.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elizabeth Berrien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-will-bring-us-and-we-don-t-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bereavement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-will-bring-us-and-we-don-t-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/elizabeth-berrien-24243_bereavement_the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-wil_907397.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/elizabeth-berrien-24243_bereavement_the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-wil_907397.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70c/elizabeth-berrien-24243_bereavement_the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-wil_907397.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The truth is, we never know what life will bring us and we don't have as much control as we might think we…” — Elizabeth Berrien", "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": "Elizabeth Berrien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berrien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The truth is, we never know...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-will-bring-us-and-we-don-t-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berrien/the-truth-is-we-never-know-what-life-will-bring-us-and-we-don-t-have/#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 } } ] } ```