--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's the stuff that happens right in…" description: "\"It's the stuff that happens right in front of your face when there's no routine and everything is unexpected. That's what I want to write about.\" — Har..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/harvey-pekar-4945_faces_it-s-the-stuff-that-happens-right-in-fro_1739738.jpg" --- # It's the stuff that happens right in front of your face… ![“It's the stuff that happens right in front of your face when there's no routine and everything is unexpected. That's what I want to write about.” quote by Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/harvey-pekar-4945_faces_it-s-the-stuff-that-happens-right-in-fro_1739738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/harvey-pekar-4945_faces_it-s-the-stuff-that-happens-right-in-fro_1739738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/480/harvey-pekar-4945_faces_it-s-the-stuff-that-happens-right-in-fro_1739738.jpg) > “It's the stuff that happens right in front of your face when there's no routine and everything is unexpected. That's what I want to write about.” [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer wants to capture spontaneous, unplanned moments that occur when routine breaks down. **In simple terms:** Write about unexpected moments. Key Takeaway Embrace unpredictability in storytelling. Themes creativity spontaneity observation Mood curious inspired Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - travel - daily life - improv theater - journalism Key Concepts narrative theory mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you prepare for randomness? - What techniques capture fleeting experiences? A Different Perspective Unpredictable events can be hard to document accurately. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Routine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/routine/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Your house is all about routine, not the unexpected events of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/your-house-is-all-about-routine-not-the-unexpected-events-of-your-life/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [Profit is what happens when you do everything else right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/profit-is-what-happens-when-you-do-everything-else-right/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [“The Right Thing Happens at the Right Time of Life. So, do not worry about the Right Thing Right Now!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apurva-tamhane/the-right-thing-happens-at-the-right-time-of-life-so-do-not-worry/) Apurva Tamhane > [You must not be unkind, especially when it happens that you're right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/you-must-not-be-unkind-especially-when-it-happens-that-you-re-right/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [There's always someone who will love you as much as you love them, just remember that everything happens at the right time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/there-s-always-someone-who-will-love-you-as-much-as-you-love-them/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Shit happens, right?” Dan said bravely. “Some days the pile is just a little higher than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-riesel/shit-happens-right-dan-said-bravely-some-days-the-pile-is-just-a/) Rodney Riesel > [“Everything happens RIGHT, when you love the RIGHT person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandini-deka/everything-happens-right-when-you-love-the-right-person/) [Nandini Deka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandini-deka/) > [“Sometimes the most obvious solution also happens to be the right one: after all, life isn't a novel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurizio-de-giovanni/sometimes-the-most-obvious-solution-also-happens-to-be-the-right-one/) [Maurizio de Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurizio-de-giovanni/) > [The biggest surprise watching video on the tiny, 2.5-inch screen (320 by 240 pixels) is completely immersive. Three unexpected factors are at work. First,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pogue/the-biggest-surprise-watching-video-on-the-tiny-2-5-inch-screen-320/) [David Pogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pogue/) > [The tongue can conceal the truth, but the eyes never! You're asked an unexpected question, you don't even flinch, it takes just a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bulgakov/the-tongue-can-conceal-the-truth-but-the-eyes-never-you-re-asked-an/) [Mikhail Bulgakov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bulgakov/) > [I thought that marketing was a way to be creative in business but quickly learned all creative stuff happens at the ad agency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-rees/i-thought-that-marketing-was-a-way-to-be-creative-in-business-but/) [Dee Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-rees/) > [That's part of the game...Sometimes that stuff happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/that-s-part-of-the-game-sometimes-that-stuff-happens/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [Some weeks, I'm super-duper busy, so I can only fit cardio in here and there, a lot of stuff happens in the afternoon, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/some-weeks-i-m-super-duper-busy-so-i-can-only-fit-cardio-in-here-and/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [Life stuff happens. You get knocked down, and you get back up. That's just always been my mentality. I'm not really fazed by anything.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odell-beckham-jr/life-stuff-happens-you-get-knocked-down-and-you-get-back-up-that-s/) [Odell Beckham, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/odell-beckham-jr/) > [But sometimes stuff happens and we find ourselves lost, and suddenly we're standing in a place we don't recognize and can't remember walking-or falling-there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/but-sometimes-stuff-happens-and-we-find-ourselves-lost-and-suddenly/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) ## More by Harvey Pekar > [Every ethnic group thinks they are the chosen ones. …](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/every-ethnic-group-thinks-they-are-the-chosen-ones/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Since about 1980 Kenny Werner has been one of jazz’s unsung heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/since-about-1980-kenny-werner-has-been-one-of-jazz-s-unsung-heroes/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think that the so-called average person often exhibits a great deal of heroism in getting through an ordinary day . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-that-the-so-called-average-person-often-exhibits-a-great-deal/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [It's real easy for me to write a lot of stories. I just go and I live through something, and I go home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/it-s-real-easy-for-me-to-write-a-lot-of-stories-i-just-go-and-i-live/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I've just been writing stuff down as it comes to me. I haven't thought, 'Let me write some major opus here.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-ve-just-been-writing-stuff-down-as-it-comes-to-me-i-haven-t-thought/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm always shook up and nervous and I've got the hospital record to prove it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-always-shook-up-and-nervous-and-i-ve-got-the-hospital-record-to/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I'm a guy that likes to sit in one place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-m-a-guy-that-likes-to-sit-in-one-place/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [People who are readers of fiction aren't particularly interested in comic books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/people-who-are-readers-of-fiction-aren-t-particularly-interested-in/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [When you're dead, it robs life of many of it's pleasures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/when-you-re-dead-it-robs-life-of-many-of-it-s-pleasures/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [My parents' work ethic amazed me. How could they put in such long hours, day after day? Part of the reason was to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/my-parents-work-ethic-amazed-me-how-could-they-put-in-such-long-hours/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I think you can find all the elements that you can find in great literature in mundane experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-think-you-can-find-all-the-elements-that-you-can-find-in-great/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [Life is about women, gigs, an' bein' creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/life-is-about-women-gigs-an-bein-creative/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [The film's success so far involves winning a couple of prizes at Cannes and Sundance, and getting some very nice reviews in newspapers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/the-film-s-success-so-far-involves-winning-a-couple-of-prizes-at/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I just continue to be kind of disappointed that people don't realize that and try and diversify the kind of work they are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-just-continue-to-be-kind-of-disappointed-that-people-don-t-realize/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) > [I don't think I made any really big mistakes; it's just that I chose something difficult to do. Looking back, I suppose I should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-don-t-think-i-made-any-really-big-mistakes-it-s-just-that-i-chose/) [Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) [Explore all 104 Harvey Pekar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's the stuff that happens right in front of your face when there's no routine and everything is unexpected. 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