--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s this: that at a certain point in our…" description: "\"“It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our_624474.jpg" --- # It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose… ![“It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.” quote by Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our_624474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our_624474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our_624474.jpg) > ““It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”” [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Claims that believing life is controlled by fate is a deceptive comfort that hinders personal agency. **In simple terms:** Fate is a lie that steals our power. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions about control. Themes freedom responsibility self‑determination Mood reflective thought‑provoking Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - relationship decisions - goal setting Key Concepts determinism illusion personal agency Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept fate or shape your path? - What evidence challenges the “fate” belief? A Different Perspective Some may argue that external forces do impact outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controlled Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controlled-fate-1000675/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Greatest Lie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-lie-1227792/) [Inspirational quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-quotes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lives Controlled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-controlled-1057972/) [Lose Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-control/) ## Related quotes > [“It is said that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-said-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our-lives-we-lose-control-of/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/at-a-certain-point-in-our-lives-we-lose-control-of-what-s-happening-2/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“At a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and or lives become controlled by fate. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho-the-alchemist/at-a-certain-point-in-our-lives-we-lose-control-of-what-s-happening/) [Paulo Coelho The Alchemist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho-the-alchemist/) > [“What's the world's greatest lie?" the boy asked, completely surprised. "It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/what-s-the-world-s-greatest-lie-the-boy-asked-completely-surprised-it/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“what's the world's greatest lie? It's this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what happening to us, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/what-s-the-world-s-greatest-lie-it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What's the world's greatest lie? It is this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/what-s-the-world-s-greatest-lie-it-is-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What’s the world’s greatest lie?” the boy asked. “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coehlo/what-s-the-world-s-greatest-lie-the-boy-asked-it-s-this-that-at-a/) [Paulo Coehlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coehlo/) > [“At some point of our life, we will lose control of everything surrounds us and we will be controlled by the fate. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/at-some-point-of-our-life-we-will-lose-control-of-everything/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“All things in the world of Nature are not controlled by Fate for the soul has a principle of its own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iamblichus/all-things-in-the-world-of-nature-are-not-controlled-by-fate-for-the/) [Iamblichus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iamblichus/) > [“Hmm..." said the old man, looking at all sides of the book, as if it were some strange object. "This is an important book,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/hmm-said-the-old-man-looking-at-all-sides-of-the-book-as-if-it-were/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“And it ends up saying that everyone believes the world’s greatest lie.” “What’s the world’s greatest lie?” the boy asked, completely surprised. “It’s this:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/and-it-ends-up-saying-that-everyone-believes-the-world-s-greatest-lie/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Their little life is entirely controlled by the organization of the world. They think as the world thinks. They take their opinions ready-made from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/their-little-life-is-entirely-controlled-by-the-organization-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think all people's lives are controlled by their decisions. You look at people's lives - it's not their conditions, it's their decisions. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-think-all-people-s-lives-are-controlled-by-their-decisions-you-look/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“I have long believed the city, the country, indeed the world at large to be run by precisely the wrong kind of people. From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-barnes/i-have-long-believed-the-city-the-country-indeed-the-world-at-large/) [Jonathan Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-barnes/) > [I think a lot of people are afraid of freedom. They want their lives to be controlled, to be put into a box... Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-think-a-lot-of-people-are-afraid-of-freedom-they-want-their-lives/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) ## More by Paulo Coelho > [I have inside me the winds, the deserts, the oceans, the stars, and everything created in the universe. We were all made by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-have-inside-me-the-winds-the-deserts-the-oceans-the-stars-and/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Love will never separate a man from his personal legend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/love-will-never-separate-a-man-from-his-personal-legend/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/to-love-is-to-be-in-communion-with-the-other-and-to-discover-in-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It is not enough to dream of the Impossible Love - it is necessary to conquer it too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-enough-to-dream-of-the-impossible-love-it-is-necessary-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Eat when it is time to eat. And walk when it is time to walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/eat-when-it-is-time-to-eat-and-walk-when-it-is-time-to-walk/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [People are reading more and writing more because of the internet. So the virtual world is a way for me to listen to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/people-are-reading-more-and-writing-more-because-of-the-internet-so/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Joy is like sex – it begins and ends. I want pleasure. I want to be contended, but happiness? I no longer fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/joy-is-like-sex-it-begins-and-ends-i-want-pleasure-i-want-to-be/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Trudi se da zivis, sjecanja su za starije ljude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/trudi-se-da-zivis-sjecanja-su-za-starije-ljude/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [When someone leaves, it's because someone else is about to arrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/when-someone-leaves-it-s-because-someone-else-is-about-to-arrive/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [She didn't need to understand the meaning of life; it was enough to find someone who did, and then fall asleep in his arms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-didn-t-need-to-understand-the-meaning-of-life-it-was-enough-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The simpler the pose, the better; the more sober, the more beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-simpler-the-pose-the-better-the-more-sober-the-more-beautiful/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Explore all 3,665 Paulo Coelho quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) ## More Destiny quotes > [... War on the destiny of man! Doom on the sun! Before death takes you, O take back this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-on-the-destiny-of-man-doom-on-the-sun-before-death-takes-you-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anatomy is destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/anatomy-is-destiny/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [ Man blindly works the will of fate. \[Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-martin-wieland/man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-blindlings-that-er-blos-den/) [Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-martin-wieland/) > [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/) > [“It's morning now, and I miss the soft rasp of her voice already. Ugh. I'm in trouble, aren't I?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/it-s-morning-now-and-i-miss-the-soft-rasp-of-her-voice-already-ugh-i/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [You can't choose what stays and what stays away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/you-can-t-choose-what-stays-and-what-stays-away/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [“Failing to meet your true destiny is a tragic act of free will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/failing-to-meet-your-true-destiny-is-a-tragic-act-of-free-will/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [“In that instant it all seemed to come clear to him- it came in a grisly flash of light, and he realized that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-that-instant-it-all-seemed-to-come-clear-to-him-it-came-in-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“Destiny is the ordained intention God has sacredly prepared with your name on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-lynch/destiny-is-the-ordained-intention-god-has-sacredly-prepared-with-your/) [John S. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-lynch/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Fate and future both are servant to the determined, for they are nothing but creation of human determination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/fate-and-future-both-are-servant-to-the-determined-for-they-are/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) [Browse all 7,925 Destiny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paulo Coelho" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our-lives-we-lose-control-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Destiny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our-lives-we-lose-control-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our_624474.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our_624474.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49a/paulo-coelho-10_destiny_it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our_624474.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives…” — Paulo Coelho", "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": "Paulo Coelho", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It’s this: that at a certain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our-lives-we-lose-control-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-this-that-at-a-certain-point-in-our-lives-we-lose-control-of/#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 } } ] } ```