--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe we're standing like coins on the…" description: "\"“Maybe we're standing like coins on the edge?\" Allie considered this. \"Meaning?\" \"Meaning, we might be able to shake things up a little, and find a way..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neal-shusterman-412_heads_maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-e_362991.png" --- # Maybe we're standing like coins on the edge?" Allie… ![“Maybe we're standing like coins on the edge?" Allie considered this. "Meaning?" "Meaning, we might be able to shake things up a little, and find a way to come up heads." "Or tails," suggested Allie. "What are you talking about?" said Lief. "Life and death.” quote by Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neal-shusterman-412_heads_maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-e_362991.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neal-shusterman-412_heads_maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-e_362991.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neal-shusterman-412_heads_maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-e_362991.png) > ““Maybe we're standing like coins on the edge?" Allie considered this. "Meaning?" "Meaning, we might be able to shake things up a little, and find a way to come up heads." "Or tails," suggested Allie. "What are you talking about?" said Lief. "Life and death.”” [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dialogue uses coin imagery to explore life's binary choices, suggesting that small actions can shift outcomes and that uncertainty can be embraced as a chance to influence destiny. **In simple terms:** Life is like a coin toss, choices matter. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty, act to shape outcomes. Themes choice uncertainty agency probability Mood hopeful contemplative Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career decisions - relationships - creative projects - risk assessment Key Concepts determinism free will Questions to Reflect On - What small action could change your current situation? - How do you view chance in your life? A Different Perspective Outcomes are not fixed; effort can tip the balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allie Considered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allie-considered-3329480/) [Allie Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allie-talking-3329481/) [Edge Allie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/edge-allie-3329483/) [Heads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heads/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-death/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Suggested Allie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggested-allie-3329482/) [Tails](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tails/) ## Related quotes > [Heads I win, tails I don’t lose much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohnish-pabrai/heads-i-win-tails-i-don-t-lose-much/) [Mohnish Pabrai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohnish-pabrai/) > [“Heads:It goes weel. Tails:It doesn't”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-schroeder/heads-it-goes-weel-tails-it-doesn-t/) [Lisa Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-schroeder/) > [“The Coin of Life example: Say you have a coin with heads on one side and tails on the other side. One side would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-kalyana-mittata-iordache/the-coin-of-life-example-say-you-have-a-coin-with-heads-on-one-side/) [Virgil Kalyana Mittata Iordache](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-kalyana-mittata-iordache/) > [Liver, lungs, heads, tails, kidneys, testicles, all of these things which are traditional, delicious and nutritious parts of our gastronomy go to waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristram-stuart/liver-lungs-heads-tails-kidneys-testicles-all-of-these-things-which/) [Tristram Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristram-stuart/) > [I would never butt heads with Rob Zombie. I don't know anybody that's in acting that ever butted heads with Rob Zombie. I adore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-would-never-butt-heads-with-rob-zombie-i-don-t-know-anybody-that-s/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [In this industry, all the heads of labels are men, but every artist has to prove themselves, regardless of their sex. I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/in-this-industry-all-the-heads-of-labels-are-men-but-every-artist-has/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I think generally the heads of terrorist groups are very, very smart people. They're also great manipulators. I would presume that cult leaders are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-napoleoni/i-think-generally-the-heads-of-terrorist-groups-are-very-very-smart/) [Loretta Napoleoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-napoleoni/) > [“Real kings and queens are people whose heads are crowned with dreams as they sit on the throne of passion. They rule with visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/real-kings-and-queens-are-people-whose-heads-are-crowned-with-dreams/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Our present time is indeed a criticizing and critical time, hovering between the wish, and the inability to believe. Our complaints are like arrows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-temple/our-present-time-is-indeed-a-criticizing-and-critical-time-hovering/) [William Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-temple/) > [I think we are all interested in end-times ideas and also in the current climate that we are all living in, where money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/i-think-we-are-all-interested-in-end-times-ideas-and-also-in-the/) [Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/) > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [Ambition devours gold and drinks blood and climbs so high by other men's heads, that at the length in the fall, it breaks its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/ambition-devours-gold-and-drinks-blood-and-climbs-so-high-by-other/) [Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/) > [“Some of us think with our heads, others with our hearts. Though neither is good or bad, it seems that one solves problems while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-p-mauro-sr/some-of-us-think-with-our-heads-others-with-our-hearts-though-neither/) [Anthony P. Mauro, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-p-mauro-sr/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Some people you speak to you speak into their heads. It's logical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/some-people-you-speak-to-you-speak-into-their-heads-it-s-logical/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) ## More by Neal Shusterman > [“Picking locks was not a skill he had ever cultivated, but he persisted day after day, turning the tip of his talon into different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/picking-locks-was-not-a-skill-he-had-ever-cultivated-but-he-persisted/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“If you come anywhere near my daughter, I will see to it that you are taken apart piece by bloody piece. Do I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-come-anywhere-near-my-daughter-i-will-see-to-it-that-you-are/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [Dead kids are put on pedestals, but mentally ill kids get hidden under the rug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/dead-kids-are-put-on-pedestals-but-mentally-ill-kids-get-hidden-under/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The fear of not living is a deep, abiding dread of watching your own potential decompose into irredeemable disappointment when “should be” gets crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-fear-of-not-living-is-a-deep-abiding-dread-of-watching-your-own/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [That's wisdom you can take to the grave, and dig up when you need it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/that-s-wisdom-you-can-take-to-the-grave-and-dig-up-when-you-need-it/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“And you know the darkness beyond despair, just as intimately as you know the soaring heights. Because in this and all universes, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/and-you-know-the-darkness-beyond-despair-just-as-intimately-as-you/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [You may feel a tugging sensation near your ankles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/you-may-feel-a-tugging-sensation-near-your-ankles/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“while an adult could rarely be universally loved, everyone could love the right kid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/while-an-adult-could-rarely-be-universally-loved-everyone-could-love/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“It's like art, you know? Picasso had to prove to the world he can paint the right way, before he goes putting both eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/it-s-like-art-you-know-picasso-had-to-prove-to-the-world-he-can-paint/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [The way I see it, the impossible happens all the time; but we're so good at taking it for granted, we forget it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-way-i-see-it-the-impossible-happens-all-the-time-but-we-re-so/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“a true leader never puts his ego ahead of his assets.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/a-true-leader-never-puts-his-ego-ahead-of-his-assets/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [If you have to ask then you don't deserve an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/if-you-have-to-ask-then-you-don-t-deserve-an-answer/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“There was never anything wrong with my life. Perhaps that was the problem... The crack in my life was the fact that I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/there-was-never-anything-wrong-with-my-life-perhaps-that-was-the/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“But fate is a freak when it comes to messing with your future in ways you don't see coming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/but-fate-is-a-freak-when-it-comes-to-messing-with-your-future-in-ways/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [“The sad truth about humanity, Risa was quick to realize, is that people believe what they are told. Maybe not the first time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-sad-truth-about-humanity-risa-was-quick-to-realize-is-that-people/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) [Explore all 573 Neal Shusterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) ## More Heads quotes > [Some people you speak to you speak into their heads. It's logical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/some-people-you-speak-to-you-speak-into-their-heads-it-s-logical/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [Your head's like mine, like all our heads; big enough to contain every god and devil there ever was. Big enough to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/your-head-s-like-mine-like-all-our-heads-big-enough-to-contain-every/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [“Some of us think with our heads, others with our hearts. Though neither is good or bad, it seems that one solves problems while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-p-mauro-sr/some-of-us-think-with-our-heads-others-with-our-hearts-though-neither/) [Anthony P. Mauro, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-p-mauro-sr/) > [Ambition devours gold and drinks blood and climbs so high by other men's heads, that at the length in the fall, it breaks its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/ambition-devours-gold-and-drinks-blood-and-climbs-so-high-by-other/) [Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-wentworth-1st-earl-of-strafford/) > [The three of us just try put our heads down and stay creative. The awards truly are just cake. It's one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-scott/the-three-of-us-just-try-put-our-heads-down-and-stay-creative-the/) [Hillary Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-scott/) > [I think we are all interested in end-times ideas and also in the current climate that we are all living in, where money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-monaghan/i-think-we-are-all-interested-in-end-times-ideas-and-also-in-the/) [Dominic Monaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-monaghan/) > [Our present time is indeed a criticizing and critical time, hovering between the wish, and the inability to believe. Our complaints are like arrows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-temple/our-present-time-is-indeed-a-criticizing-and-critical-time-hovering/) [William Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-temple/) > [“Real kings and queens are people whose heads are crowned with dreams as they sit on the throne of passion. They rule with visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/real-kings-and-queens-are-people-whose-heads-are-crowned-with-dreams/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I think generally the heads of terrorist groups are very, very smart people. They're also great manipulators. I would presume that cult leaders are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-napoleoni/i-think-generally-the-heads-of-terrorist-groups-are-very-very-smart/) [Loretta Napoleoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-napoleoni/) > [In this industry, all the heads of labels are men, but every artist has to prove themselves, regardless of their sex. I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-ora/in-this-industry-all-the-heads-of-labels-are-men-but-every-artist-has/) [Rita Ora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-ora/) > [I would never butt heads with Rob Zombie. I don't know anybody that's in acting that ever butted heads with Rob Zombie. I adore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-wallace/i-would-never-butt-heads-with-rob-zombie-i-don-t-know-anybody-that-s/) [Dee Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dee-wallace/) > [There are certain people whose heads are on a different plane than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-payton/there-are-certain-people-whose-heads-are-on-a-different-plane-than/) [Sean Payton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-payton/) > [Although skin color is undoubtedly the most salient signal of racial identity in America, other actual or imagined bodily features have also been seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-kennedy/although-skin-color-is-undoubtedly-the-most-salient-signal-of-racial/) [Randall Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-kennedy/) > [When everyone else is losing their heads, it is important to keep yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoinette/when-everyone-else-is-losing-their-heads-it-is-important-to-keep-yours/) [Marie Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoinette/) > [Most robotic heads have 20 motors. Mine have 32.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hanson/most-robotic-heads-have-20-motors-mine-have-32/) [David Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hanson/) [Browse all 338 Heads quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heads/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Maybe we're standing like coins on the edge?\" Allie considered this. \"Meaning?\" \"Meaning, we might be able to shake things up a little, and find a way to come up heads.\" \"Or tails,\" suggested Allie. \"What are you talking about?\" said Lief. \"Life and death.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal Shusterman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-edge-allie-considered-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Heads" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-edge-allie-considered-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neal-shusterman-412_heads_maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-e_362991.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neal-shusterman-412_heads_maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-e_362991.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neal-shusterman-412_heads_maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-e_362991.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Maybe we're standing like coins on the edge?\" Allie considered this. \"Meaning?\" \"Meaning, we might be able…” — Neal Shusterman", "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": "Neal Shusterman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Maybe we're standing like coins on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-edge-allie-considered-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/maybe-we-re-standing-like-coins-on-the-edge-allie-considered-this/#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 } } ] } ```