--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are only two possibilities in life…" description: "\"“There are only two possibilities in life: 1. Things don't always go the way you want, and you don't understand why you're having trouble; yet there is..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/fred-klett-180870_adversity_there-are-only-two-possibilities-in-life_715484.jpg" --- # There are only two possibilities in life: 1. Things don't… ![“There are only two possibilities in life: 1. Things don't always go the way you want, and you don't understand why you're having trouble; yet there is a hand of providence behind everything and a purpose for all that happens. 2. Things don't always go the way you want, and you don't understand why…” quote by Fred Klett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/fred-klett-180870_adversity_there-are-only-two-possibilities-in-life_715484.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/fred-klett-180870_adversity_there-are-only-two-possibilities-in-life_715484.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00e/fred-klett-180870_adversity_there-are-only-two-possibilities-in-life_715484.jpg) > ““There are only two possibilities in life: 1. Things don't always go the way you want, and you don't understand why you're having trouble; yet there is a hand of providence behind everything and a purpose for all that happens. 2. Things don't always go the way you want, and you don't understand why you're having trouble; but there is no hand of providence behind everything and no purpose for all that happens. The first possibility gives hope in the midst of trials, the second produces only despair.”” Fred Klett ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life presents two views: one where providence gives purpose and hope, and another where randomness leads to despair; the first fosters resilience. **In simple terms:** Two outlooks: hopeful providence vs. indifferent chance. Key Takeaway Choose the hopeful perspective to sustain hope. Themes hope adversity purpose destiny perspective Mood hopeful contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - grief - decision making - spiritual reflection Key Concepts theology existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports a guiding hand? - How does belief in providence affect coping? A Different Perspective The providence view may overlook personal agency and systemic factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Possibilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibilities/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) ## Related quotes > [Our vision for Pinterest is to be a discovery engine for people to see the possibilities for their life, to make their life more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-sharp/our-vision-for-pinterest-is-to-be-a-discovery-engine-for-people-to/) [Evan Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-sharp/) > [“Domains of Human Concerns: Common Types of Possibilities For Action 1. BODY: exercise, medical checkups, traveling to an appointment. 2. PLAY or AESTHETICS: taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-flores/domains-of-human-concerns-common-types-of-possibilities-for-action-1/) [Fernando Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-flores/) > [If people tell you it's impossible, it's an even better reason to want to do it. People have a tendency to see the problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-villeneuve/if-people-tell-you-it-s-impossible-it-s-an-even-better-reason-to-want/) [Martin Villeneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-villeneuve/) > [“Enjoy All Possibilities In Life and In Books”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leviathan/enjoy-all-possibilities-in-life-and-in-books/) David Leviathan > [“Happiness means knowing how to limit some needs which only diminish us, and being open to the many different possibilities which life can offer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/happiness-means-knowing-how-to-limit-some-needs-which-only-diminish/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“It was realisation, in a moment of time, not only of her own possibilities, far from inconsiderable ones, but also of other possibilities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-powell/it-was-realisation-in-a-moment-of-time-not-only-of-her-own/) [Anthony Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-powell/) > [“The amount of possibilities in life we can see or even imagine is like a radar screen on a ship. There are countless things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-kennard/the-amount-of-possibilities-in-life-we-can-see-or-even-imagine-is/) [Aaron Kennard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-kennard/) > [In short, we cannot grow, we cannot achieve authentic discovery, and our eyes cannot be cleansed to the truly beautiful possibilities of life, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armstrong-williams/in-short-we-cannot-grow-we-cannot-achieve-authentic-discovery-and-our/) [Armstrong Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armstrong-williams/) > [What has brought unique, irreplaceable me - out of all the possibilities of life-here, now, to this? Was all my youth-the paper route after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-broyles-jr/what-has-brought-unique-irreplaceable-me-out-of-all-the-possibilities-2/) William Broyles, Jr > [What has brought unique, irreplaceable me - out of all the possibilities of life - here, now, to this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-broyles-jr/what-has-brought-unique-irreplaceable-me-out-of-all-the-possibilities/) William Broyles, Jr > [I want people to know there are infinite possibilities in life to be grateful for. I love that people feel comfortable coming up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-roberts/i-want-people-to-know-there-are-infinite-possibilities-in-life-to-be/) [Robin Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-roberts/) > [“When you no longer need approval from others like the air you breathe, the possibilities in life are endless. What an interesting little prison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-nordby/when-you-no-longer-need-approval-from-others-like-the-air-you-breathe/) [Jacob Nordby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-nordby/) > [Books showed me there were possibilities in life, that there were actually people like me living in a world I could not only aspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/books-showed-me-there-were-possibilities-in-life-that-there-were/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I believe I'm just getting started. The TV show is just the foundation… If you're open to the possibilities, your life gets grander, bigger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-believe-i-m-just-getting-started-the-tv-show-is-just-the-foundation/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I don't ever want to lose that mind-set where you've got to be able to realize different ideas-slash-fantasies-slash-possibilities in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/i-don-t-ever-want-to-lose-that-mind-set-where-you-ve-got-to-be-able/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are only two possibilities in life: 1. Things don't always go the way you want, and you don't understand why you're having trouble; yet there is a hand of providence behind everything and a purpose for all that happens. 2. 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