--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A coincidence is a trend we have decided…" description: "\"A coincidence is a trend we have decided not to take seriously.\" — Philip Slater" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/philip-slater-29509_coincidence_a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided_1206004.jpg" --- # A coincidence is a trend we have decided not to take… ![“A coincidence is a trend we have decided not to take seriously.” quote by Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/philip-slater-29509_coincidence_a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided_1206004.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/philip-slater-29509_coincidence_a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided_1206004.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/philip-slater-29509_coincidence_a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided_1206004.jpg) > “A coincidence is a trend we have decided not to take seriously.” [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that dismissing coincidences overlooks emerging patterns. **In simple terms:** Ignore patterns at your own risk. Key Takeaway Take coincidences seriously. Themes critical thinking patterns skepticism Mood cautious inquisitive Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - research analysis - personal decision‑making - trend spotting Key Concepts probability theory cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When should you trust a coincidence? - How to differentiate random from meaningful? 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We like stories that go somewhere, and therefore we like trends - because trends are things that either get better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/people-are-storytelling-creatures-we-like-stories-that-go-somewhere/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [The trend that should definitely die is following trends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemp-muhl/the-trend-that-should-definitely-die-is-following-trends/) [Kemp Muhl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemp-muhl/) > [It's hard to go with a trend. As soon as it's out, everyone picks it up. It's important to stay true to yourself. 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Its message is:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/individualism-may-be-the-greatest-boon-to-authoritarianism-since-the/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [We seek more and more privacy, and feel more and more alienated and lonely when we get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/we-seek-more-and-more-privacy-and-feel-more-and-more-alienated-and/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [People can bear anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/people-can-bear-anything/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) > [The rule in our society is that while those who kill once make wretched a single person are severely punished, those (heads of state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/the-rule-in-our-society-is-that-while-those-who-kill-once-make/) [Philip Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) [Explore all 18 Philip Slater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/) ## More Coincidence quotes > [“Symbols are miracles we have recorded into language.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-kelley-harrell/symbols-are-miracles-we-have-recorded-into-language/) [S. Kelley Harrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-kelley-harrell/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. 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I often wished it had been different, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-kaczmarek/it-was-an-odd-coincidence-that-my-career-took-off-the-same-decade-as/) [Jane Kaczmarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-kaczmarek/) > [“Every emotion in the world wishes to be expressed, every task desires to be done. Coincidence is the perfect texture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-geary/every-emotion-in-the-world-wishes-to-be-expressed-every-task-desires/) [Patricia Geary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-geary/) > [It's not coincidence that these attacks come at the exact same moment, and all together at the same time as WikiLeaks releases documents exposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-not-coincidence-that-these-attacks-come-at-the-exact-same-moment/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“You wonder if that really constitutes being ‘a coincidence’ but don’t press her on the issue, instead sticking your hand down your pocket to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-kerkhoven/you-wonder-if-that-really-constitutes-being-a-coincidence-but-don-t/) [Rudolf Kerkhoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-kerkhoven/) > [A thrumming of piano-strings beyond the gardens and through the elms. 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And how can one ever be certain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-ostlere/we-cannot-see-how-our-lives-will-unfold-what-is-destiny-and-what-is/) [Cathy Ostlere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-ostlere/) > [When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect with the underlying field of infinite possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-live-your-life-with-an-appreciation-of-coincidences-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s amazing how many coincidences occur when one begins to pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hybels/it-s-amazing-how-many-coincidences-occur-when-one-begins-to-pray/) [Bill Hybels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hybels/) > [“Premonitions are coincidences waiting to happen,” he said, without looking up. “I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/premonitions-are-coincidences-waiting-to-happen-he-said-without/) [Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/) > [“A friend of mine once said that she didn't believe in coincidence, that it was God working in her life, not a coincidence every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cameron/a-friend-of-mine-once-said-that-she-didn-t-believe-in-coincidence/) [Barbara Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cameron/) > [Some people suggested that I should try something else. 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Nothing felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-kim/some-people-suggested-that-i-should-try-something-else-it-was-a-lot/) [Claudia Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-kim/) [Browse all 823 Coincidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A coincidence is a trend we have decided not to take seriously.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Slater" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided-not-to-take-seriously/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coincidence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided-not-to-take-seriously/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/philip-slater-29509_coincidence_a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided_1206004.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/philip-slater-29509_coincidence_a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided_1206004.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/215/philip-slater-29509_coincidence_a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided_1206004.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A coincidence is a trend we have decided not to take seriously.” — Philip Slater", "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": "Philip Slater", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-slater/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A coincidence is a trend we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided-not-to-take-seriously/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-slater/a-coincidence-is-a-trend-we-have-decided-not-to-take-seriously/#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 } } ] } ```