--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our lives are arbitrary and weird, but if…" description: "\"“Our lives are arbitrary and weird, but if I pull this off—if me and all my friends from the Intrepid pull this off—then we get something that everyone..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/john-scalzi-2071_destiny_our-lives-are-arbitrary-and-weird-but-if_916221.png" --- # Our lives are arbitrary and weird, but if I pull this… ![“Our lives are arbitrary and weird, but if I pull this off—if me and all my friends from the Intrepid pull this off—then we get something that everyone else in our universe doesn’t get: a chance to make our own fate. I’m going to take it. I don’t know how yet. But I’m not going to blow it.” quote by John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/john-scalzi-2071_destiny_our-lives-are-arbitrary-and-weird-but-if_916221.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/john-scalzi-2071_destiny_our-lives-are-arbitrary-and-weird-but-if_916221.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/john-scalzi-2071_destiny_our-lives-are-arbitrary-and-weird-but-if_916221.png) > ““Our lives are arbitrary and weird, but if I pull this off—if me and all my friends from the Intrepid pull this off—then we get something that everyone else in our universe doesn’t get: a chance to make our own fate. I’m going to take it. I don’t know how yet. But I’m not going to blow it.”” [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A group of friends seize a unique opportunity to shape their destiny despite uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Friends can control fate by taking bold chances. Key Takeaway Seize the chance, even if unclear. Themes friendship adventure choice fate risk Mood determined hopeful anxious Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - starting a mission - making a life‑changing decision - overcoming doubt - team leadership Key Concepts agency self‑determination collective action Questions to Reflect On - What will you risk to claim your destiny? - How can you prepare for unknown outcomes? A Different Perspective Success depends on planning and resources, not just will. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [I think it would be slightly perverse to continue tempting fate by going back to the same places and doing the same sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-farrell/i-think-it-would-be-slightly-perverse-to-continue-tempting-fate-by/) Stephen Farrell > [Bemoaning your fate is not going to solve the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-arnold/bemoaning-your-fate-is-not-going-to-solve-the-problem/) [Frances Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-arnold/) > [“The surest way to bring out the best in you may simply be to remind yourself, again and again, that you can make your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/the-surest-way-to-bring-out-the-best-in-you-may-simply-be-to-remind/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [Maybe mistakes are what make our fate... without them what would shape our lives? Maybe if we had never veered off course we wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-mistakes-are-what-make-our-fate-without-them-what-would-shape-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's the coward who says, 'This is fate'...It's the strong who stands up & says 'I will make my fate'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-s-the-coward-who-says-this-is-fate-it-s-the-strong-who-stands-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Then we’re just sitting there, staring at each other. Which has been happening a lot lately. It’s like whatever wall there was between us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/then-we-re-just-sitting-there-staring-at-each-other-which-has-been/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) > [To make what fate intends for me my own intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-make-what-fate-intends-for-me-my-own-intention/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [It is hard work to control the workings of inclination and turn the bent of nature; but that it may be done, I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/it-is-hard-work-to-control-the-workings-of-inclination-and-turn-the/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Maybe mistakes are what make our fate. without them what would shape our lives? Maybe if we had never veered off course we wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-mistakes-are-what-make-our-fate-without-them-what-would-shape/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maybe our mistakes are what make our fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/maybe-our-mistakes-are-what-make-our-fate/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [Failure to plan brings barrenness and sterility. Fate brushes man with its wings, but we make our own fate largely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/failure-to-plan-brings-barrenness-and-sterility-fate-brushes-man-with/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [We are pretty firm believers in the fact that you make your own fate, with or without the Facebook ordeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-winklevoss/we-are-pretty-firm-believers-in-the-fact-that-you-make-your-own-fate/) [Tyler Winklevoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-winklevoss/) > [“Fates are woven not by gods, but by the choices of humans--their greed and jealousies, their loves and courage...Fate is but one moment the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-watson/fates-are-woven-not-by-gods-but-by-the-choices-of-humans-their-greed/) Jules Watson > [What can i tell you about the choices we make? Fate reads like the polar opposite of decision, and so much of life reads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/what-can-i-tell-you-about-the-choices-we-make-fate-reads-like-the/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Do you believe in fate?" "I guess, but . . . its more about creatng the life you want so you can make that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susane-colasanti/do-you-believe-in-fate-i-guess-but-its-more-about-creatng-the-life/) [Susane Colasanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susane-colasanti/) ## More by John Scalzi > [“To everyone who thinks writing a sequel should be easy because you've already clreated the universe: Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha! Heh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/to-everyone-who-thinks-writing-a-sequel-should-be-easy-because-you-ve/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [When you're a kid all you want to do is be somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/when-you-re-a-kid-all-you-want-to-do-is-be-somewhere-else/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Being poor is people wondering why you didn't leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/being-poor-is-people-wondering-why-you-didn-t-leave/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It’s a hell of a thing to say good-bye to your whole life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-s-a-hell-of-a-thing-to-say-good-bye-to-your-whole-life/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“That as far as I can tell,” Jenkins said, “it’s not actually a very good show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/that-as-far-as-i-can-tell-jenkins-said-it-s-not-actually-a-very-good/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I both love and am terrified by Greg Van Eekhout's vision of Los Angeles. I already want to go back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-both-love-and-am-terrified-by-greg-van-eekhout-s-vision-of-los/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [There's always been a little bit of tension between the writers of science fiction literature and then science-fiction televised shows or movies, partly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/there-s-always-been-a-little-bit-of-tension-between-the-writers-of/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I mean that you and I know that in this universe, God is a hack," he said. "He's a writer on an awful science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-mean-that-you-and-i-know-that-in-this-universe-god-is-a-hack-he/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“The diagnostics and modifications screens. Ugly and utilitarian, just like they have been since the very beginnings of visual user interface. They were beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/the-diagnostics-and-modifications-screens-ugly-and-utilitarian-just/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“You can’t afford anthropomorphic biases when some of the aliens most like us would rather make human hamburgers than peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/you-can-t-afford-anthropomorphic-biases-when-some-of-the-aliens-most/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [Ultimately the first, best step in getting your work noticed is to write good work. If people don't engage in your writing, no amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/ultimately-the-first-best-step-in-getting-your-work-noticed-is-to/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“It was this philosophy that had Harvey taking the hovercraft Sagan had stolen, mounting it, and, after a few moments to glean the fundamentals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/it-was-this-philosophy-that-had-harvey-taking-the-hovercraft-sagan/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I tell people the first time I decided to write a novel I was in my mid-20s, and it was, 'Well, it's time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-tell-people-the-first-time-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-i-was-in-my/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [“I don't think food safety laws are going to protect you from a third carnitas burrito," Hanson said. "That's not about food safety. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-don-t-think-food-safety-laws-are-going-to-protect-you-from-a-third/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife's grave. Then I joined the army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-did-two-things-on-my-seventy-fifth-birthday-i-visited-my-wife-s/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) [Explore all 187 John Scalzi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) ## More Destiny quotes > [... War on the destiny of man! Doom on the sun! Before death takes you, O take back this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-on-the-destiny-of-man-doom-on-the-sun-before-death-takes-you-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anatomy is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/anatomy-is-destiny/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Destiny is the ordained intention God has sacredly prepared with your name on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-lynch/destiny-is-the-ordained-intention-god-has-sacredly-prepared-with-your/) [John S. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-lynch/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Browse all 7,925 Destiny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our lives are arbitrary and weird, but if I pull this off—if me and all my friends from the Intrepid pull this off—then we get something that everyone else in our universe doesn’t get: a chance to make our own fate. 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