--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If coincidences are coincidences, why do…" description: "\"“If coincidences are coincidences, why do they feel so contrived? Words by Fox Mulder on the X-Files”\" — Kathy Goodhew" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/kathy-goodhew-66995_coincidence_if-coincidences-are-coincidences-why-do_3118134.jpg" --- # If coincidences are coincidences, why do they feel so… ![“If coincidences are coincidences, why do they feel so contrived? Words by Fox Mulder on the X-Files” quote by Kathy Goodhew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/kathy-goodhew-66995_coincidence_if-coincidences-are-coincidences-why-do_3118134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/kathy-goodhew-66995_coincidence_if-coincidences-are-coincidences-why-do_3118134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a20/kathy-goodhew-66995_coincidence_if-coincidences-are-coincidences-why-do_3118134.jpg) > ““If coincidences are coincidences, why do they feel so contrived? Words by Fox Mulder on the X-Files”” Kathy Goodhew ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We often interpret random events as meaningful because our brains seek patterns and narratives. **In simple terms:** Our mind makes random events seem purposeful. Key Takeaway Question coincidences, but beware of over‑reading. Themes pattern recognition meaning‑making skepticism Mood curious analytical Type philosophical skeptical When to use this quote - investigating clues - writing fiction - personal reflection - decision making Key Concepts cognitive bias apophenia confirmation bias Questions to Reflect On - Do you tend to assign meaning to random events? - When might it be safer to accept coincidence? A Different Perspective Randomness can be truly meaningless; not every oddity has a hidden cause. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coincidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) [Coincidences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidences/) ## Related quotes > [If coincidences are just coincidences, why do they feel so contrived?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clyde-bruckman/if-coincidences-are-just-coincidences-why-do-they-feel-so-contrived/) Clyde Bruckman > [But really, there are no coincidences. Coincidences are just other people's choices, plans you don't know about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-broach/but-really-there-are-no-coincidences-coincidences-are-just-other/) [Elise Broach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-broach/) > [My liveliest interest is not so much in things, as in relations of things. I have spent much time thinking about the alleged pseudo-relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/my-liveliest-interest-is-not-so-much-in-things-as-in-relations-of/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [I don't really see how any song can not feel contrived if it isn't honest, and how could I write honest songs if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/i-don-t-really-see-how-any-song-can-not-feel-contrived-if-it-isn-t/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [“Subject: Some boat Alex, I know Fox Mulder. My mom watched The X-Files . She says it was because she liked the creepy store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/subject-some-boat-alex-i-know-fox-mulder-my-mom-watched-the-x-files/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“Mulder, I want you to meet your new assistant. Special Agent Dana Scully, Fox Mulder.' 'An assistant? Nice to know I'm suddenly so highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-martin/mulder-i-want-you-to-meet-your-new-assistant-special-agent-dana/) [Les Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-martin/) > [Honestly, I would love to be friends with Fox Mulder on 'The X-Files.' That's almost a little too obvious, but that would be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumail-nanjiani/honestly-i-would-love-to-be-friends-with-fox-mulder-on-the-x-files/) [Kumail Nanjiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumail-nanjiani/) > [The first time, where Fox Mulder and Scully met, she stands up for herself. She stands right there and gives it to him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/the-first-time-where-fox-mulder-and-scully-met-she-stands-up-for/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [If Fox Mulder discovered that Larry Sanders was a clone? I think he would stab him . . . but it wouldn't be with an ice pick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-duchovny/if-fox-mulder-discovered-that-larry-sanders-was-a-clone-i-think-he/) [David Duchovny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-duchovny/) > [“Subect: Sigh. Okay. Since we're on the subject... Q. What is the Tsar of Russia's favorite fish? A. Tsardines, of course. Q. What does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/subect-sigh-okay-since-we-re-on-the-subject-q-what-is-the-tsar-of/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-live-your-life-with-an-appreciation-of-coincidences-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are no coincidences in God's providence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-woodsmall/there-are-no-coincidences-in-god-s-providence/) [Cindy Woodsmall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-woodsmall/) > [It’s amazing how many coincidences occur when one begins to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/it-s-amazing-how-many-coincidences-occur-when-one-begins-to-pray/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [“Premonitions are coincidences waiting to happen,” he said, without looking up. “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/premonitions-are-coincidences-waiting-to-happen-he-said-without/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [“Coincidence is the exception, not the rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soheir-khashoggi/coincidence-is-the-exception-not-the-rule/) [Soheir Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soheir-khashoggi/) ## More by Kathy Goodhew > [“The things I fear the most are the things God wants me to face, so I can continue on my journey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-goodhew/the-things-i-fear-the-most-are-the-things-god-wants-me-to-face-so-i/) Kathy Goodhew > [“If we close our eyes and look beyond our worst nightmare, we will find a loving God who promises HOPE and a new beginning!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-goodhew/if-we-close-our-eyes-and-look-beyond-our-worst-nightmare-we-will-find/) Kathy Goodhew > [“Explore your untamed dreams and you just might find a unique place where a confluence of paths lead towards your destiny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-goodhew/explore-your-untamed-dreams-and-you-just-might-find-a-unique-place/) Kathy Goodhew Explore all 4 Kathy Goodhew quotes ## More Coincidence quotes > [“Symbols are miracles we have recorded into language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/symbols-are-miracles-we-have-recorded-into-language/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [“Coincidence is the exception, not the rule.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soheir-khashoggi/coincidence-is-the-exception-not-the-rule/) [Soheir Khashoggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soheir-khashoggi/) > [Is it a coincidence that stories from the private life became more popular just as the grand hope for public redemption through revolution was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/is-it-a-coincidence-that-stories-from-the-private-life-became-more/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [It was an odd coincidence that my career took off the same decade as having babies. I often wished it had been different, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kaczmarek/it-was-an-odd-coincidence-that-my-career-took-off-the-same-decade-as/) [Jane Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kaczmarek/) > [“Every emotion in the world wishes to be expressed, every task desires to be done. Coincidence is the perfect texture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-geary/every-emotion-in-the-world-wishes-to-be-expressed-every-task-desires/) [Patricia Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-geary/) > [It's not coincidence that these attacks come at the exact same moment, and all together at the same time as WikiLeaks releases documents exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-not-coincidence-that-these-attacks-come-at-the-exact-same-moment/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“You wonder if that really constitutes being ‘a coincidence’ but don’t press her on the issue, instead sticking your hand down your pocket to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-kerkhoven/you-wonder-if-that-really-constitutes-being-a-coincidence-but-don-t/) Rudolf Kerkhoven > [A thrumming of piano-strings beyond the gardens and through the elms. At length the melody steals into my being. I know not when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-thrumming-of-piano-strings-beyond-the-gardens-and-through-the-elms/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“We cannot see how our lives will unfold. What is destiny and What is accident? And how can one ever be certain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-ostlere/we-cannot-see-how-our-lives-will-unfold-what-is-destiny-and-what-is/) [Cathy Ostlere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-ostlere/) > [When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-live-your-life-with-an-appreciation-of-coincidences-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s amazing how many coincidences occur when one begins to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/it-s-amazing-how-many-coincidences-occur-when-one-begins-to-pray/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [“Premonitions are coincidences waiting to happen,” he said, without looking up. “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/premonitions-are-coincidences-waiting-to-happen-he-said-without/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [“A friend of mine once said that she didn't believe in coincidence, that it was God working in her life, not a coincidence every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cameron/a-friend-of-mine-once-said-that-she-didn-t-believe-in-coincidence/) [Barbara Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cameron/) > [Some people suggested that I should try something else. It was a lot of things, but nothing really stood out for me. Nothing felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-kim/some-people-suggested-that-i-should-try-something-else-it-was-a-lot/) [Claudia Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-kim/) [Browse all 823 Coincidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If coincidences are coincidences, why do they feel so contrived? 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