--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How accidental our existences are…" description: "\"How accidental our existences are, really, and how full of influence by circumstance.\" — Louis Kahn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/louis-kahn-14459_circumstances_how-accidental-our-existences-are-really_1141776.jpg" --- # How accidental our existences are, really, and how full of… ![“How accidental our existences are, really, and how full of influence by circumstance.” quote by Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/louis-kahn-14459_circumstances_how-accidental-our-existences-are-really_1141776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/louis-kahn-14459_circumstances_how-accidental-our-existences-are-really_1141776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/louis-kahn-14459_circumstances_how-accidental-our-existences-are-really_1141776.jpg) > “How accidental our existences are, really, and how full of influence by circumstance.” [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) ## 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 events are largely accidental, shaped heavily by external circumstances. **In simple terms:** Our lives are shaped by chance and circumstance. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of circumstance in shaping outcomes. Themes fate circumstance human experience Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decisions - career planning - relationship building - policy making Key Concepts determinism existentialism social influence Questions to Reflect On - How much of your path is due to chance? - What can you control amid circumstance? A Different Perspective It may overlook personal agency and intentional action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [The first time I really had an influence on a show was during 'Ragtime.' It's still the most magical show that I've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/the-first-time-i-really-had-an-influence-on-a-show-was-during-ragtime/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [Growing up in Miami, I had all these great, strong influences. Being Cuban and the Latin influence, but also the strong hip-hop influence. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dahlia/growing-up-in-miami-i-had-all-these-great-strong-influences-being/) [Kat Dahlia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dahlia/) > [Movies and media really can influence us. A few years ago, my daughter wanted to be a dancer; since Obama came into office, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/movies-and-media-really-can-influence-us-a-few-years-ago-my-daughter/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [“In my life's chain of events nothing was accidental. Everything happened according to an inner need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-my-life-s-chain-of-events-nothing-was-accidental-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Directing is my first love; turning an actor was rather accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dileesh-pothan/directing-is-my-first-love-turning-an-actor-was-rather-accidental/) [Dileesh Pothan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dileesh-pothan/) > [I never thought I'd be acting. It's very accidental for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reeve-carney/i-never-thought-i-d-be-acting-it-s-very-accidental-for-me/) [Reeve Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reeve-carney/) > [“You have a real gift for getting into trouble, don’t you? That was one thing I forgot when you left the pack.” “How is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/you-have-a-real-gift-for-getting-into-trouble-don-t-you-that-was-one/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [My misdeeds are accidental happenings and merely the result of having been in the wrong bar or bed at the wrong time, say most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernard/my-misdeeds-are-accidental-happenings-and-merely-the-result-of-having/) [Jeffrey Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernard/) > [“That's how life is: it provides these accidental answers. Or it seems to. You have to judge by results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-munson/that-s-how-life-is-it-provides-these-accidental-answers-or-it-seems/) Sam Munson > [Parties are organised happiness but happiness is accidental. You can't legislate for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/parties-are-organised-happiness-but-happiness-is-accidental-you-can-t/) [Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/) > [Im an accidental entrepreneur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-massenet/im-an-accidental-entrepreneur/) [Natalie Massenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-massenet/) > [I'm kind of an accidental instrument, really, through which I hope that the judgment and the will of this nation can be expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/i-m-kind-of-an-accidental-instrument-really-through-which-i-hope-that/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Of your philosophy you makeno use If you give place to accidental evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-your-philosophy-you-makeno-use-if-you-give-place-to-accidental/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Accidental travel happens all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-w-cooper/accidental-travel-happens-all-the-time/) Loren W. Cooper > [The attempted assassinations against me were not accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhmad-kadyrov/the-attempted-assassinations-against-me-were-not-accidental/) [Akhmad Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhmad-kadyrov/) ## More by Louis Kahn > [Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/design-is-not-making-beauty-beauty-emerges-from-selection-affinities/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [Even a brick wants to be something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/even-a-brick-wants-to-be-something/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [Even a room which must be dark needs at least a crack of light to know how dark it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/even-a-room-which-must-be-dark-needs-at-least-a-crack-of-light-to/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [A room is not a room without natural light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/a-room-is-not-a-room-without-natural-light/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [Architecture struck me between the eye and the eyeball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/architecture-struck-me-between-the-eye-and-the-eyeball/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [I sense a Threshold: Light to Silence, Silence to Light - an ambiance of inspiration, in which the desire to be, to express, crosses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/i-sense-a-threshold-light-to-silence-silence-to-light-an-ambiance-of/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [If people want to see Beaux-Arts, it's fine with me. I'm interested in good architecture as anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/if-people-want-to-see-beaux-arts-it-s-fine-with-me-i-m-interested-in/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [The street is a room by agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/the-street-is-a-room-by-agreement/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [What does a house want to be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/what-does-a-house-want-to-be/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [We are born of light. The seasons are felt through light. We only know the world as it is evoked by light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/we-are-born-of-light-the-seasons-are-felt-through-light-we-only-know/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [The room is the beginning of architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/the-room-is-the-beginning-of-architecture/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [The nature of space reflects what it wants to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/the-nature-of-space-reflects-what-it-wants-to-be/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [Thoughts exchanged by one and another are not the same in one room as in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/thoughts-exchanged-by-one-and-another-are-not-the-same-in-one-room-as/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [The crocodile must want to be a crocodile for reasons of the crocodile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/the-crocodile-must-want-to-be-a-crocodile-for-reasons-of-the-crocodile/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) > [All material in nature, the mountains and the streams and the air and we, are made of Light which has been spent, and this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/all-material-in-nature-the-mountains-and-the-streams-and-the-air-and/) [Louis Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) [Explore all 46 Louis Kahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/) ## More Accidental quotes > [The attempted assassinations against me were not accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhmad-kadyrov/the-attempted-assassinations-against-me-were-not-accidental/) [Akhmad Kadyrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhmad-kadyrov/) > [“Accidental travel happens all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-w-cooper/accidental-travel-happens-all-the-time/) Loren W. Cooper > [Of your philosophy you makeno use If you give place to accidental evils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-your-philosophy-you-makeno-use-if-you-give-place-to-accidental/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I'm kind of an accidental instrument, really, through which I hope that the judgment and the will of this nation can be expressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mccarthy/i-m-kind-of-an-accidental-instrument-really-through-which-i-hope-that/) [Eugene McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mccarthy/) > [Im an accidental entrepreneur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-massenet/im-an-accidental-entrepreneur/) [Natalie Massenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-massenet/) > [Parties are organised happiness but happiness is accidental. You can't legislate for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/parties-are-organised-happiness-but-happiness-is-accidental-you-can-t/) [Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/) > [“That's how life is: it provides these accidental answers. Or it seems to. You have to judge by results.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-munson/that-s-how-life-is-it-provides-these-accidental-answers-or-it-seems/) Sam Munson > [My misdeeds are accidental happenings and merely the result of having been in the wrong bar or bed at the wrong time, say most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-bernard/my-misdeeds-are-accidental-happenings-and-merely-the-result-of-having/) [Jeffrey Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-bernard/) > [“You have a real gift for getting into trouble, don’t you? That was one thing I forgot when you left the pack.” “How is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/you-have-a-real-gift-for-getting-into-trouble-don-t-you-that-was-one/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I never thought I'd be acting. It's very accidental for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reeve-carney/i-never-thought-i-d-be-acting-it-s-very-accidental-for-me/) [Reeve Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reeve-carney/) > [Directing is my first love; turning an actor was rather accidental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dileesh-pothan/directing-is-my-first-love-turning-an-actor-was-rather-accidental/) [Dileesh Pothan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dileesh-pothan/) > [“In my life's chain of events nothing was accidental. Everything happened according to an inner need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-my-life-s-chain-of-events-nothing-was-accidental-everything/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This accidental Meeting of possibilities Calls itself I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/this-accidental-meeting-of-possibilities-calls-itself-i/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [All my books are accidental books - they come from reacting to things and thinking about things and engaging in a real way. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/all-my-books-are-accidental-books-they-come-from-reacting-to-things/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Any planning that I have in my career is totally accidental really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-bale/any-planning-that-i-have-in-my-career-is-totally-accidental-really/) [Christian Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-bale/) Browse all 101 Accidental quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How accidental our existences are, really, and how full of influence by circumstance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis Kahn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/how-accidental-our-existences-are-really-and-how-full-of-influence-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accidental" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/how-accidental-our-existences-are-really-and-how-full-of-influence-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/louis-kahn-14459_circumstances_how-accidental-our-existences-are-really_1141776.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/louis-kahn-14459_circumstances_how-accidental-our-existences-are-really_1141776.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d4/louis-kahn-14459_circumstances_how-accidental-our-existences-are-really_1141776.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How accidental our existences are, really, and how full of influence by circumstance.” — Louis Kahn", "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": "Louis Kahn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kahn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How accidental our existences are, really,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/how-accidental-our-existences-are-really-and-how-full-of-influence-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kahn/how-accidental-our-existences-are-really-and-how-full-of-influence-by/#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 } } ] } ```