--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Just when you think you have a handle on…" description: "\"“Just when you think you have a handle on life, it breaks.”\" — Jill Shalvis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/jill-shalvis-838_breaks_just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on_2681974.png" --- # Just when you think you have a handle on life, it breaks. ![“Just when you think you have a handle on life, it breaks.” quote by Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/jill-shalvis-838_breaks_just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on_2681974.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/jill-shalvis-838_breaks_just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on_2681974.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/jill-shalvis-838_breaks_just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on_2681974.png) > ““Just when you think you have a handle on life, it breaks.”” [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s control can shatter even when you feel in control. **In simple terms:** Life can break unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and adapt. Themes uncertainty resilience control Mood reflective steady Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - health issues Key Concepts personal crises career setbacks Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope when plans fail? - What supports you during upheaval? A Different Perspective Control is an illusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaks/) [Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle/) [Handle Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handle-life-275027/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Breaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-breaks-1159428/) [Think Handle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-handle-732934/) ## Related quotes > [“Life breaks us, Teft. Then we fill the cracks with something stronger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/life-breaks-us-teft-then-we-fill-the-cracks-with-something-stronger/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [How you handle life depends a lot on how you handle plan B, or if you have a plan B.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/how-you-handle-life-depends-a-lot-on-how-you-handle-plan-b-or-if-you/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [There have been setbacks, illnesses and other obstacles, so inevitably I've had disappointments. But once you realise that things can't always go your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-quick/there-have-been-setbacks-illnesses-and-other-obstacles-so-inevitably/) [Diana Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-quick/) > [It will take time to adapt, but I think I can handle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/it-will-take-time-to-adapt-but-i-think-i-can-handle-it/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [And that, I think, was the handle--that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/and-that-i-think-was-the-handle-that-sense-of-inevitable-victory-over/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Push yourself. Go above and beyond what you think you can handle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/push-yourself-go-above-and-beyond-what-you-think-you-can-handle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never put much pressure on myself when I'm the central thing, just because I don't think I could handle it mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-never-put-much-pressure-on-myself-when-i-m-the-central-thing-just/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [“Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run… but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/maybe-it-meant-something-maybe-not-in-the-long-run-but-no-explanation-2/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I think sometimes you have to handle things delicately at work or at home. You know, you can find yourself in situations that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-russell/i-think-sometimes-you-have-to-handle-things-delicately-at-work-or-at/) [David O. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-russell/) > [“So when life breaks you pick up the pieces and keep moving. Otherwise, you stay broken. And instead of being a survivor, you’re always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hunter/so-when-life-breaks-you-pick-up-the-pieces-and-keep-moving-otherwise/) [Elizabeth Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hunter/) > [Life breaks us all, but you're stronger in the places that were broken. Or you can essentially crumble, give up, and, you know, waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-michaels/life-breaks-us-all-but-you-re-stronger-in-the-places-that-were-broken/) [Jillian Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-michaels/) > [Selena Gomez keeps me going in life. So when someone breaks me down I stay positive and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/selena-gomez-keeps-me-going-in-life-so-when-someone-breaks-me-down-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When hardships come into your life it breaks you for a while, but when it is done with you evolve into a new person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalsa-sharma/when-hardships-come-into-your-life-it-breaks-you-for-a-while-but-when/) [Madalsa Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalsa-sharma/) > [Life is simply better when we are with others, and worse when we are isolated. God designed us to be connected, and life breaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-townsend/life-is-simply-better-when-we-are-with-others-and-worse-when-we-are/) [John Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-townsend/) > [Life breaks all of us but some of us get stronger in the broken places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/life-breaks-all-of-us-but-some-of-us-get-stronger-in-the-broken-places/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) ## More by Jill Shalvis > [“But dammit, she was tired. Tired of doing what was expected, tired of feeling like she was missing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/but-dammit-she-was-tired-tired-of-doing-what-was-expected-tired-of/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“And not that I don't love those words, but what were you wrong about?" "Walking away from you." She stepped into him. "I'm done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/and-not-that-i-don-t-love-those-words-but-what-were-you-wrong-about/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“This put her in the possession of two guns. I Love Lucy does Criminal Minds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/this-put-her-in-the-possession-of-two-guns-i-love-lucy-does-criminal/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“What is it with us?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/what-is-it-with-us/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“The kiss had been shockingly... wow. Which had led to one thing or another, and some more wow, along with a good dash of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/the-kiss-had-been-shockingly-wow-which-had-led-to-one-thing-or/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“I've given up men. It's true. At first, I was just going to give up attorneys, but that seemed immature - and far too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/i-ve-given-up-men-it-s-true-at-first-i-was-just-going-to-give-up/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Where did that flashlight come from?" Chloe asked. "My purse." Chloe looked at Tara. "She carries a flashlight in her purse." "For emergencies," Maddie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/where-did-that-flashlight-come-from-chloe-asked-my-purse-chloe-looked/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Logan, why aren't you wearing protection?" The radio crackled, and then came Logan's voice. "I have 'protection' in my bag," he said. "But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/logan-why-aren-t-you-wearing-protection-the-radio-crackled-and-then/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“So what do you think I should do for myself then?" "Whatever feels right." She stared at him for the longest beat, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/so-what-do-you-think-i-should-do-for-myself-then-whatever-feels-right/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“With a smug smirk, he kissed her again, then slid into her. Pleasure flooded her, so intense it arched her back and had her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/with-a-smug-smirk-he-kissed-her-again-then-slid-into-her-pleasure/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“I think you have a case of being a little girl. Maybe you should prescribe yourself a heavy dose of man-the-fuck-up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/i-think-you-have-a-case-of-being-a-little-girl-maybe-you-should/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“She was like a drug. The most addicting kind, and he had a problem—he was pretty sure that she was developing feelings for him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/she-was-like-a-drug-the-most-addicting-kind-and-he-had-a-problem-he/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“Let me in.' 'Come to the door.' You always demanding like that? No wonder she isn't answering. Try asking sometime. Not all women will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/let-me-in-come-to-the-door-you-always-demanding-like-that-no-wonder/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Forever this time," he said as Sawyer strode toward them. Tara sighed blissfully. "You know what this means, right?" "I'm done guessing," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/forever-this-time-he-said-as-sawyer-strode-toward-them-tara-sighed/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [Remember, you’re unique. And so is everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/remember-you-re-unique-and-so-is-everyone-else/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) [Explore all 356 Jill Shalvis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) ## More Breaks quotes > [“...between two rapid beats of my heart, someone else's breaks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-williams/between-two-rapid-beats-of-my-heart-someone-else-s-breaks/) [Sandy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-williams/) > [When you cook a sausage, the skin sometimes breaks and the ground meat comes apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-cook-a-sausage-the-skin-sometimes-breaks-and-the-ground-meat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What I look for in a script is something that challenges me, something that breaks new ground, something that allows me to flex my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bay/what-i-look-for-in-a-script-is-something-that-challenges-me-something/) [Michael Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bay/) > [Since FDR's New Deal, corporations and wealthy families have been non-stop finding new ways to get tax breaks, deregulation and entitlements from the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/since-fdr-s-new-deal-corporations-and-wealthy-families-have-been-non/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [Ambition devours gold and drinks blood and climbs so high by other men's heads, that at the length in the fall, it breaks its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/ambition-devours-gold-and-drinks-blood-and-climbs-so-high-by-other/) [Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/) > [There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.' In order for a writer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/countee-cullen/there-is-no-secret-to-success-except-hard-work-and-getting-something/) [Countee Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/countee-cullen/) > [I hit Damian Fuller with a left hook that left him laid out for 30-45 minutes. They brought oxygen to him, they couldn't wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-corrales/i-hit-damian-fuller-with-a-left-hook-that-left-him-laid-out-for-30-45/) [Diego Corrales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-corrales/) > [“Everyone breaks a little sometimes. That doesn't make you weak. It makes you wounded.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenner/everyone-breaks-a-little-sometimes-that-doesn-t-make-you-weak-it/) [J. Kenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenner/) > [You need to understand plant chemistry, be inured to discomfort and awesomely flexible. When something breaks down-the plane, the boat, you just have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kilham/you-need-to-understand-plant-chemistry-be-inured-to-discomfort-and/) [Chris Kilham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kilham/) > [You've got to be poised in and out of your breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/you-ve-got-to-be-poised-in-and-out-of-your-breaks/) [Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/) > [I'm a 6'4' guy who can run every route. I can get in and out of breaks like a 5'10' guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-green/i-m-a-6-4-guy-who-can-run-every-route-i-can-get-in-and-out-of-breaks/) [A. J. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-green/) > [When a guy breaks up with you, make sure you show him that you are having a f\*ckin' good time without him and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-parkin/when-a-guy-breaks-up-with-you-make-sure-you-show-him-that-you-are/) [Sophie Parkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-parkin/) > [Contact with the world either breaks or hardens the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-chamfort/contact-with-the-world-either-breaks-or-hardens-the-heart/) [Nicolas Chamfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-chamfort/) > [My heart breaks a little bit more every time I see you with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-heart-breaks-a-little-bit-more-every-time-i-see-you-with-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We've had lots of breaks, especially over the last 10 years, so to still be getting together and to be able to get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-ve-had-lots-of-breaks-especially-over-the-last-10-years-so-to/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) [Browse all 359 Breaks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Just when you think you have a handle on life, it breaks.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jill Shalvis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on-life-it-breaks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Breaks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on-life-it-breaks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/jill-shalvis-838_breaks_just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on_2681974.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/jill-shalvis-838_breaks_just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on_2681974.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60e/jill-shalvis-838_breaks_just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on_2681974.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Just when you think you have a handle on life, it breaks.” — Jill Shalvis", "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": "Jill Shalvis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Just when you think you have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on-life-it-breaks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/just-when-you-think-you-have-a-handle-on-life-it-breaks/#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 } } ] } ```