--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only when our characters and events…" description: "\"It is only when our characters and events begin to disobey us that they begin to live.\" — John Fowles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/john-fowles-816_character_it-is-only-when-our-characters-and-event_734013.png" --- # It is only when our characters and events begin to disobey… ![“It is only when our characters and events begin to disobey us that they begin to live.” quote by John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/john-fowles-816_character_it-is-only-when-our-characters-and-event_734013.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/john-fowles-816_character_it-is-only-when-our-characters-and-event_734013.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/163/john-fowles-816_character_it-is-only-when-our-characters-and-event_734013.png) > “It is only when our characters and events begin to disobey us that they begin to live.” [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Characters and events become alive when they act beyond our control, showing autonomy. **In simple terms:** Life emerges when things act on their own. Key Takeaway Embrace unpredictability. Themes freedom creativity autonomy Mood curious reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - personal development - leadership - innovation Key Concepts existentialism narrative theory Questions to Reflect On - What gives you a sense of control? - When do you welcome surprise? A Different Perspective Unpredictable actions can cause chaos. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) ## Related quotes > [“All characters and events in this book are made up. If some of them seem familiar, it’s because so many of us grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-minkin/all-characters-and-events-in-this-book-are-made-up-if-some-of-them/) Stephen Minkin > [Fiction is about intimacy with characters, events, places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/fiction-is-about-intimacy-with-characters-events-places/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [“The characters and events in this book are fictitious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/the-characters-and-events-in-this-book-are-fictitious/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) > [Go, send, or disobey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/go-send-or-disobey/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [In our evil we rebel against God. 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Any fool can obey orders!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fisher-1st-baron-fisher/in-war-the-first-principle-is-to-disobey-orders-any-fool-can-obey/) John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher > [“Behave," he gritted at her as if he was in control of this, of her, of his own wild response, "and this will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-crews/behave-he-gritted-at-her-as-if-he-was-in-control-of-this-of-her-of/) [Caitlin Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-crews/) > [If we're being told to do stupid or cruel things, then it is morally correct to disobey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/if-we-re-being-told-to-do-stupid-or-cruel-things-then-it-is-morally/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [You simply disobey. Peaceably, yes. Respectfully, of course. Nonviolently, absolutely. But when told how to think or what to say or how to behave,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/you-simply-disobey-peaceably-yes-respectfully-of-course-nonviolently/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [If people disobey, don't ask what is wrong with them, ask what's wrong with their leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/if-people-disobey-don-t-ask-what-is-wrong-with-them-ask-what-s-wrong/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“Come here.” She blanched, backing away instead. “Don’t disobey me. I’ve been more than cordial. I’ve been patient and mostly kind. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-winters/come-here-she-blanched-backing-away-instead-don-t-disobey-me-i-ve/) [Pepper Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-winters/) > [“As the boy looked at it, my thing moved and he whispered "It is splendid! Do let me try its love-making" ... And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-m-christman/as-the-boy-looked-at-it-my-thing-moved-and-he-whispered-it-is/) Henry M. Christman ## More by John Fowles > [I am infinitely strange to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/i-am-infinitely-strange-to-myself/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [I do not plan my fiction any more than I normally plan woodland walks; I follow the path that seems most promising at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/i-do-not-plan-my-fiction-any-more-than-i-normally-plan-woodland-walks/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [“The sky is absolutely empty. Beautifully pure and empty. As if the architects and builders would live in all the houses they built! Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-sky-is-absolutely-empty-beautifully-pure-and-empty-as-if-the/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [“The evolution of human mentality has put us all in vitro now, behind the glass wall of our own ingenuity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/the-evolution-of-human-mentality-has-put-us-all-in-vitro-now-behind/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [Most marriages recognize this paradox: Passion destroys passion; we want what puts an end to wanting what we want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/most-marriages-recognize-this-paradox-passion-destroys-passion-we/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [That is the great distinction between the sexes. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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