--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Woulda, shoulda, coulda. It's human…" description: "\"“Woulda, shoulda, coulda. It's human nature to assume that we have that sort of control over what happens to us, but the truth is... life happens and s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/rachel-van-dyken-1239_choice_woulda-shoulda-coulda-it-s-human-nature_3222051.jpg" --- # Woulda, shoulda, coulda. It's human nature to assume that… ![“Woulda, shoulda, coulda. It's human nature to assume that we have that sort of control over what happens to us, but the truth is... life happens and sometimes you're too late. Hell, sometimes you're too early. Sometimes you make the wrong choice just like sometimes you make the right one. The only…” quote by Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/rachel-van-dyken-1239_choice_woulda-shoulda-coulda-it-s-human-nature_3222051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/rachel-van-dyken-1239_choice_woulda-shoulda-coulda-it-s-human-nature_3222051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/rachel-van-dyken-1239_choice_woulda-shoulda-coulda-it-s-human-nature_3222051.jpg) > ““Woulda, shoulda, coulda. It's human nature to assume that we have that sort of control over what happens to us, but the truth is... life happens and sometimes you're too late. Hell, sometimes you're too early. Sometimes you make the wrong choice just like sometimes you make the right one. The only time people ever use those three is when things don't go the right way. People don't question themselves when things are going well. They question themselves when things have gone to hell.”” [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People only question themselves when things go wrong, revealing a bias toward control and self‑criticism during failure. **In simple terms:** We doubt ourselves more when we fail. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and practice balanced self‑reflection. Themes control self‑criticism failure human nature psychology Mood introspective thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal relationships - creative projects - health challenges Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑awareness resilience Questions to Reflect On - When have you examined your actions during success? - How can you cultivate constructive doubt before crises? A Different Perspective It may overgeneralize; not all failures trigger deep self‑questioning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Happens Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-late-4332298/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Life happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-happens/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Too early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-early/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) [Wrong choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-choice/) ## Related quotes > [The best conversation usually happens late nights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/the-best-conversation-usually-happens-late-nights/) [Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/) > [I definitely made the wrong choices. 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Nothing for me is too early or too late, which is in due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/everything-harmonizes-with-me-which-is-harmonious-to-thee-o-universe/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Its risky in a marriage for a man to come home too late, but it can sometimes pose an even greater risk if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-achard/its-risky-in-a-marriage-for-a-man-to-come-home-too-late-but-it-can/) [Marcel Achard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-achard/) > [“If you go to bed too early and get up too late you probably won't sleep especially well. This could show up as either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-a-lewis/if-you-go-to-bed-too-early-and-get-up-too-late-you-probably-won-t/) [Penelope A. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-a-lewis/) ## More by Rachel Van Dyken > [“You think I don’t notice,” I said, smirking. “But I see what you and your Kindle do at night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/you-think-i-don-t-notice-i-said-smirking-but-i-see-what-you-and-your/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [“Watching someone you love go through difficult times is like being trapped in your own body but paralyzed. You want to yell at them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/watching-someone-you-love-go-through-difficult-times-is-like-being/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [“love ice cream, I love pancakes, I love the color blue — bullshit. 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His kiss could get a girl pregnant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/the-man-has-a-mouth-on-him-let-me-tell-you-his-kiss-could-get-a-girl/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [“The danger is never in loving someone — but losing your identity in the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/the-danger-is-never-in-loving-someone-but-losing-your-identity-in-the/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but I can make a promise to you right now. Your hand’s going to be in mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/we-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-happen-but-i-can-make-a-promise-to-you/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [“It’s important to keep your options open. It’s important to live and not get so hung up on the past. 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It simply went into hibernation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/evil-never-died-down-it-simply-went-into-hibernation/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) [Explore all 266 Rachel Van Dyken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. 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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/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. 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