--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have been enormously impressed by the…" description: "\"“I have been enormously impressed by the role that pure chance plays in determining our life history. I was reminded of some famous lines of Robert Fro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/milton-friedman-616_chance_i-have-been-enormously-impressed-by-the_743765.jpg" --- # I have been enormously impressed by the role that pure… ![“I have been enormously impressed by the role that pure chance plays in determining our life history. I was reminded of some famous lines of Robert Frost: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both I took the one less travled by, And that has made all the difference. As…” quote by Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/milton-friedman-616_chance_i-have-been-enormously-impressed-by-the_743765.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/milton-friedman-616_chance_i-have-been-enormously-impressed-by-the_743765.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fa6/milton-friedman-616_chance_i-have-been-enormously-impressed-by-the_743765.jpg) > ““I have been enormously impressed by the role that pure chance plays in determining our life history. I was reminded of some famous lines of Robert Frost: Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both I took the one less travled by, And that has made all the difference. As I recalled my own experience and development, I was impressed by the series of lucky accidents that determined the road I traveled. > From "Lives of the Laureates" pg.67”” [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Chance and lucky accidents shape life paths more than deliberate choices, echoing Frost’s “road less traveled.” **In simple terms:** Random events guide our lives. Key Takeaway Recognize and seize lucky opportunities. Themes chance determinism life choices serendipity Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal growth - creative projects - entrepreneurship Key Concepts probability philosophy of free will Questions to Reflect On - How have random events altered your trajectory? - Can you create conditions for serendipity? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on luck can downplay effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Determined Road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined-road-2346546/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Pure Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pure-chance-1309171/) [Road Traveled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/road-traveled-704586/) [Roads Diverged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roads-diverged-1368334/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robert-frost/) [Traveled Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traveled-lives-5801580/) [Two roads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-roads/) ## Related quotes > [“Two roads diverged in the middle of my life, I heard a wise man say I took the road less traveled by And that’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-paul-young/two-roads-diverged-in-the-middle-of-my-life-i-heard-a-wise-man-say-i/) [William Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-paul-young/) > [“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. "The Road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/two-roads-diverged-in-a-wood-and-i-i-took-the-one-less-traveled-by/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/two-roads-diverged-in-a-yellow-wood-and-sorry-i-could-not-travel-both/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence; Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/i-shall-be-telling-this-with-a-sigh-somewhere-ages-and-ages-hence-two-2/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/two-roads-diverged-in-a-wood-and-i-took-the-one-less-traveled-by-and/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/i-shall-be-telling-this-with-a-sigh-somewhere-ages-and-ages-hence-two/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/somewhere-ages-and-ages-hence-two-roads-diverged-in-a-wood-and-i-i/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [“Two roads diverged in Delhi and Jish Guha took the one that led straight to a seedy bar in Paharganj.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-deshpande/two-roads-diverged-in-delhi-and-jish-guha-took-the-one-that-led/) [Nikita Deshpande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-deshpande/) > [I can't understand how people can settle for having just one life. I remember we were in English class and we were talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/i-can-t-understand-how-people-can-settle-for-having-just-one-life-i/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, but I chose neither one. Instead, I set sail in my little boat to watch a sunset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/two-roads-diverged-in-a-yellow-wood-but-i-chose-neither-one-instead-i/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/the-road-not-taken-two-roads-diverged-in-a-yellow-wood-and-sorry-i/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less traveled by and they CANCELLED MY FRIKKIN' SHOW. I totally shoulda took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/two-roads-diverged-in-a-wood-and-i-took-the-road-less-traveled-by-and/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost's familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/we-stand-now-where-two-roads-diverge-but-unlike-the-roads-in-robert/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [There are no road signs to help navigate. And, in fact, no one has yet determined which side of the road we're supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-case/there-are-no-road-signs-to-help-navigate-and-in-fact-no-one-has-yet/) [Steve Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-case/) > [“Henry liked to put to himself when he was a schoolboy: what are the chances of this particular fish, from that shoal, off that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/henry-liked-to-put-to-himself-when-he-was-a-schoolboy-what-are-the/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) ## More by Milton Friedman > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [To really understand something you've got to reduce it to its principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/to-really-understand-something-you-ve-got-to-reduce-it-to-its/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The people in one district can choose not to reelect their member of Congress, but that will not change the composition of the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-people-in-one-district-can-choose-not-to-reelect-their-member-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The government doesn't have any money. The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/well-first-of-all-tell-me-is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I think almost every economist would agree that government gets itself in trouble when it tries to interfere with voluntary behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-almost-every-economist-would-agree-that-government-gets/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is most attractive about the US to people and countries with wealth is that it can provide security, insurance really, against political instability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-most-attractive-about-the-us-to-people-and-countries-with/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Hong Kong is the bellwether. If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Explore all 444 Milton Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [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/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I have been enormously impressed by the role that pure chance plays in determining our life history. 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