--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't believe anything's really…" description: "\"“I don't believe anything's really inevitable until it happens. We just call it inevitable to make ourselves feel better about it, to excuse ourselves ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/lauren-willig-8632_doing-nothing_i-don-t-believe-anything-s-really-inevit_2187029.jpg" --- # I don't believe anything's really inevitable until it… ![“I don't believe anything's really inevitable until it happens. We just call it inevitable to make ourselves feel better about it, to excuse ourselves for not having done anything.” quote by Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/lauren-willig-8632_doing-nothing_i-don-t-believe-anything-s-really-inevit_2187029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/lauren-willig-8632_doing-nothing_i-don-t-believe-anything-s-really-inevit_2187029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/lauren-willig-8632_doing-nothing_i-don-t-believe-anything-s-really-inevit_2187029.jpg) > ““I don't believe anything's really inevitable until it happens. We just call it inevitable to make ourselves feel better about it, to excuse ourselves for not having done anything.”” [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People label events inevitable to ease discomfort, but true inevitability only appears after they occur. **In simple terms:** We pretend things are inevitable to feel better. Key Takeaway Question assumptions of inevitability. Themes psychology determinism comfort Mood thoughtful skeptical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal planning - stress management - decision making - storytelling Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑justification future anxiety Questions to Reflect On - What events do you deem inevitable? - How does this belief affect your actions? A Different Perspective Denial can hinder proactive change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) [Inevitability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitability/) ## Related quotes > [It's inevitable that you make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/it-s-inevitable-that-you-make-mistakes/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [Even with the best intentions, growing apart might just be an inevitable part of growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/even-with-the-best-intentions-growing-apart-might-just-be-an/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [When you can't stop sneaking around your ex's Facebook, pain is just inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alitta-t/when-you-can-t-stop-sneaking-around-your-ex-s-facebook-pain-is-just/) Alitta T > [I ought to reflect again and again, and yet again, that the beings that I have to steer are just as inevitable in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/i-ought-to-reflect-again-and-again-and-yet-again-that-the-beings-that/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Women shouldn't have to apologise for their age or growing old. It is just inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keren-woodward/women-shouldn-t-have-to-apologise-for-their-age-or-growing-old-it-is/) [Keren Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keren-woodward/) > [“If the reader says the state of affairs which I wish to bring about is right, or is just, or is inevitable and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/if-the-reader-says-the-state-of-affairs-which-i-wish-to-bring-about/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [The inevitable is no less a shock just because it is inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-inevitable-is-no-less-a-shock-just-because-it-is-inevitable/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Every performer will have a bad night. It's just inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-edwards/every-performer-will-have-a-bad-night-it-s-just-inevitable/) [Alyssa Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-edwards/) > [“Why is it people fall for the wrong person? Then, when the inevitable happens, they spend the rest of their lives trying to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-jance/why-is-it-people-fall-for-the-wrong-person-then-when-the-inevitable/) [J.A. Jance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-jance/) > [In Ireland the inevitable never happens and the unexpected constantly occurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-ireland-the-inevitable-never-happens-and-the-unexpected-constantly/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Change is inevitable. It happens every day, whether we notice it or not. Some people like change. They embrace it with every ounce of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-elvira/change-is-inevitable-it-happens-every-day-whether-we-notice-it-or-not/) [Justine Elvira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-elvira/) > [Nothing is inevitable until it happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-p-taylor/nothing-is-inevitable-until-it-happens/) [A. J. P. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-p-taylor/) > [“change is inevitable, and when it happens, the wisest response is not to wail or whine but to suck it up and deal with”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/change-is-inevitable-and-when-it-happens-the-wisest-response-is-not/) [Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/) > [“I think that an objective reader may see how in the society to which I was exposed as a black youth here in America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-think-that-an-objective-reader-may-see-how-in-the-society-to-which/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I don't know where the characters are going to go or what's going to happen. I know that something inevitable will happen. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/i-don-t-know-where-the-characters-are-going-to-go-or-what-s-going-to/) [Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/) ## More by Lauren Willig > [“This was what the poets couldn't put in their poetry, she thought dumbly, the rush of desire so fierce and pure it made one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/this-was-what-the-poets-couldn-t-put-in-their-poetry-she-thought/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [It was lovely to see cynicism in one so young. It positively restored his faith in human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/it-was-lovely-to-see-cynicism-in-one-so-young-it-positively-restored/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“That's a good point, I suppose,' he said in that way people have when you've just said something that's so off the mark it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/that-s-a-good-point-i-suppose-he-said-in-that-way-people-have-when/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“Such kindness wasn't a gift but a goad, scraping against one's skin like a yoke of thorns. She would have preferred him stiff, defensive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/such-kindness-wasn-t-a-gift-but-a-goad-scraping-against-one-s-skin/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“He admired her for throwing off her aristocratic shackles -- his terms, that -- and making her own way in the world. He didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/he-admired-her-for-throwing-off-her-aristocratic-shackles-his-terms/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“From far across the sea I come, Through fire, frost,and blazing sun, That you might, with your own fair hand, Enjoy the bounties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/from-far-across-the-sea-i-come-through-fire-frost-and-blazing-sun/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [Hard to believe that so nearby, just across the Channel, such atrocities could still occur in their supposedly civilized world, that one could wake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/hard-to-believe-that-so-nearby-just-across-the-channel-such/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“Her eyes were as hard and bright as stars. Not the pretty sort that poets mooned about, but the kind that made men's destinies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/her-eyes-were-as-hard-and-bright-as-stars-not-the-pretty-sort-that/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“I’m not your gilded prince with the gilded chairs, Letty,” Geoff said simply. “I couldn’t be if I tried.” “I wouldn’t want you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/i-m-not-your-gilded-prince-with-the-gilded-chairs-letty-geoff-said/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“After an initial startled gasp, his intended bride dissolved into his arms, returning his kiss with more fervor than she had ever shown before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/after-an-initial-startled-gasp-his-intended-bride-dissolved-into-his/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [Patience is only a virtue when there is something worth waiting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/patience-is-only-a-virtue-when-there-is-something-worth-waiting-for/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“Inside, the festivities would continue, probably well into the night, with flirtation and merriment and gratuitous use of mistletoe. It was an inexpressibly wearying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/inside-the-festivities-would-continue-probably-well-into-the-night/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“Her eyes were as hard and bright as stars. Not the pretty sort that poets mooned about, but the kind that made men's destinies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/her-eyes-were-as-hard-and-bright-as-stars-not-the-pretty-sort-that-2/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [“I didn't know there could be an almost kiss. It seems like the sort of thing that either happens or it doesn't. Oh no...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/i-didn-t-know-there-could-be-an-almost-kiss-it-seems-like-the-sort-of/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [Why was it that cheering expressions were invariably so infuriating?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/why-was-it-that-cheering-expressions-were-invariably-so-infuriating/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) [Explore all 79 Lauren Willig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) ## More Doing nothing quotes > [Doing nothing gives me great pleasure. And believe me, I succeed wonderfully in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/doing-nothing-gives-me-great-pleasure-and-believe-me-i-succeed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are going to kill me, and that will protect society from me. But out there are many, many more people who are addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-bundy/you-are-going-to-kill-me-and-that-will-protect-society-from-me-but/) [Ted Bundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-bundy/) > [Sometimes, the hardest thing was doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/sometimes-the-hardest-thing-was-doing-nothing/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) > [Love women! I hate feminism. "Hate" may be an accurate word, but too strong to use. I strongly oppose feminism because it's nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/love-women-i-hate-feminism-hate-may-be-an-accurate-word-but-too/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Retirement is wonderful. It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-perret/retirement-is-wonderful-it-s-doing-nothing-without-worrying-about/) [Gene Perret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-perret/) > [Admirals extolled for standing still, or doing nothing with a deal of skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/admirals-extolled-for-standing-still-or-doing-nothing-with-a-deal-of/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [I am not advocating doing nothing. I am advocating for you to energetically, actively and vigilantly monitor how you are BEING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-strong/i-am-not-advocating-doing-nothing-i-am-advocating-for-you-to/) [Brenda Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-strong/) > [If you can't be remarkable, perhaps you should consider doing nothing until you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-can-t-be-remarkable-perhaps-you-should-consider-doing-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The problem with lethargy is that doing nothing validates the fear that nothing can be done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-crawford/the-problem-with-lethargy-is-that-doing-nothing-validates-the-fear/) [Bill Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-crawford/) > [Talk to the guys that ain't doing nothing, don't talk to me. I just want eight guys out there with me who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/talk-to-the-guys-that-ain-t-doing-nothing-don-t-talk-to-me-i-just/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Never go into business purely to make money. If that's the motive you're better off doing nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/never-go-into-business-purely-to-make-money-if-that-s-the-motive-you/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Music is my life. I love doing it, so I just do it nonstop all day. And with dancing, I wanted to put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-mahone/music-is-my-life-i-love-doing-it-so-i-just-do-it-nonstop-all-day-and/) [Austin Mahone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-mahone/) > [The right to a trial is a core principle of the American legal system. Depriving Americans of these essential liberties undermines the Constitution while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-garamendi/the-right-to-a-trial-is-a-core-principle-of-the-american-legal-system/) [John Garamendi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-garamendi/) [Browse all 361 Doing nothing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-nothing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I don't believe anything's really inevitable until it happens. 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