--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That has been my entire life story…" description: "\"That has been my entire life story. Running against the current and running with the current. Sometimes running with the current is underestimated. The..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/rem-koolhaas-5371_acceptance_that-has-been-my-entire-life-story-runni_1038959.png" --- # That has been my entire life story. Running against the… ![“That has been my entire life story. Running against the current and running with the current. Sometimes running with the current is underestimated. The acceptance of certain realities doesn’t preclude idealism. It can lead to certain breakthroughs.” quote by Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/rem-koolhaas-5371_acceptance_that-has-been-my-entire-life-story-runni_1038959.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/rem-koolhaas-5371_acceptance_that-has-been-my-entire-life-story-runni_1038959.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10e/rem-koolhaas-5371_acceptance_that-has-been-my-entire-life-story-runni_1038959.png) > “That has been my entire life story. Running against the current and running with the current. Sometimes running with the current is underestimated. The acceptance of certain realities doesn’t preclude idealism. It can lead to certain breakthroughs.” [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life involves moving with and against prevailing forces; embracing reality doesn’t kill idealism and can spark breakthroughs. **In simple terms:** Go with and against currents; reality can inspire idealism. Key Takeaway Use reality as a springboard for innovation. Themes adaptability idealism realism innovation Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - design projects - career pivots - social movements - personal growth Key Concepts architecture philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does adapting compromise your core values? - How can resistance become a catalyst? A Different Perspective Idealism may clash with pragmatic constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Breakthrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breakthrough/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain Breakthroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-breakthroughs-2417233/) [Certain Realities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-realities-980725/) [Currents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currents/) [Entire life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-life/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Idealism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism/) [Idealism Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealism-lead-1539101/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-story/) [Realities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realities/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Underestimated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimated/) ## Related quotes > [The acceptance of certain realities doesn't preclude idealism. It can lead to certain breakthroughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/the-acceptance-of-certain-realities-doesn-t-preclude-idealism-it-can/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [There are just certain realities about our world and I just happen to be creative within it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grier/there-are-just-certain-realities-about-our-world-and-i-just-happen-to/) [Pam Grier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grier/) > [There are certain realities we must speak of with our children that were not present when I was a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/there-are-certain-realities-we-must-speak-of-with-our-children-that/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [There are certain realities about the world we live in. Syria and Iraq are just not going to get on air every day. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arwa-damon/there-are-certain-realities-about-the-world-we-live-in-syria-and-iraq/) [Arwa Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arwa-damon/) > [“I think that one of the benefits of optimism and idealism is that they lead you into things you would never have tried if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rom-o-dallaire/i-think-that-one-of-the-benefits-of-optimism-and-idealism-is-that/) [Roméo Dallaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rom-o-dallaire/) > [That has been my entire life story, running against the current and running with the current. Sometimes running with the current is underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/that-has-been-my-entire-life-story-running-against-the-current-and-2/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Certain realities of life we only see through eyes cleansed by our tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-of-life-we-only-see-through-eyes-cleansed-by-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“I'm just a regular guy who up until a few years ago totally underestimated what I felt I was capable of. Since then my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-zahab/i-m-just-a-regular-guy-who-up-until-a-few-years-ago-totally/) [Ray Zahab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-zahab/) > [ As a whole, \[changing\] is deflation force that is being underestimated. Whether each person thinks of it in the context of the word deflation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-moelis/as-a-whole-changing-is-deflation-force-that-is-being-underestimated/) [Ken Moelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-moelis/) > [I underestimated the difference of fighting in a cage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirko-cro-cop/i-underestimated-the-difference-of-fighting-in-a-cage/) [Mirko Cro Cop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirko-cro-cop/) > [It's always good to be underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/it-s-always-good-to-be-underestimated/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Mysticism, poor mysticism! When it is underestimated and oversimplified, it comes down from its original sphere and stands beside religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/mysticism-poor-mysticism-when-it-is-underestimated-and-oversimplified/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [I think I've explained earlier on in the year that I kind of underestimated how important experience was in this series, especially when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-wheldon/i-think-i-ve-explained-earlier-on-in-the-year-that-i-kind-of/) [Dan Wheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-wheldon/) > [I didn't know what I was in for when I joined 'The X Factor' - I underestimated it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-cole/i-didn-t-know-what-i-was-in-for-when-i-joined-the-x-factor-i/) [Cheryl Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-cole/) > [I don't think I should be underestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-davenport/i-don-t-think-i-should-be-underestimated/) [Lindsay Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-davenport/) ## More by Rem Koolhaas > [ That has been another interesting discovery: that basically a city \[Lagos\] could recover from a really deep, deep, deep pit. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/that-has-been-another-interesting-discovery-that-basically-a-city/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Manhattan has generated a shameless architecture that has been loved in direct proportion to its defiant lack of self-hatred, has been respected exactly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/manhattan-has-generated-a-shameless-architecture-that-has-been-loved/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [In a script, you have to link various episodes together, you have to generate suspense and you have to assemble things - through editing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/in-a-script-you-have-to-link-various-episodes-together-you-have-to/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [ The beauty of my profession \[architecture\] lies in its randomness and surprise. And don't think I can choose my projects. I have to build… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/the-beauty-of-my-profession-architecture-lies-in-its-randomness-and/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Our office acts like a kind of educational establishment and we are very careful who we educate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/our-office-acts-like-a-kind-of-educational-establishment-and-we-are/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [We discovered a person in Lagos who had a fish stall, and within a single square metre she carried two children all the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/we-discovered-a-person-in-lagos-who-had-a-fish-stall-and-within-a/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [ Nigeria \[in 1990\] was all rumour, an unbelievable amount of rumour - largely about crime and almost mythical manifestations of evil. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/nigeria-in-1990-was-all-rumour-an-unbelievable-amount-of-rumour/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Let's put it this way: One can be happy or unhappy in a building. But some buildings make us more depressed than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/let-s-put-it-this-way-one-can-be-happy-or-unhappy-in-a-building-but/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Nigeria was a blank on the map - there weren't even any maps. The US State Department, everyone said don't go there. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/nigeria-was-a-blank-on-the-map-there-weren-t-even-any-maps-the-us/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [The City is an addictive machine from which there is no escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/the-city-is-an-addictive-machine-from-which-there-is-no-escape/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [The work in S, M, L, XL was almost suicidal. It required so much effort that our office almost went bankrupt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/the-work-in-s-m-l-xl-was-almost-suicidal-it-required-so-much-effort/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Manhattan has no choice but the skyward extrusion of the Grid itself; only the Skyscraper offers business the wide-open spaces of a man-made Wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/manhattan-has-no-choice-but-the-skyward-extrusion-of-the-grid-itself/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [The stronger the identity, the more it imprisons, the more it resists expansion, interpretation, renewal, contradiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/the-stronger-the-identity-the-more-it-imprisons-the-more-it-resists/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [Why I talked about political correctness: the colonial is now such a major taboo that any achievement of the colonial period, or any generosity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/why-i-talked-about-political-correctness-the-colonial-is-now-such-a/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) > [The thing is that I have a really intense, almost compulsive need to record. But it doesn't end there, because what I record is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rem-koolhaas/the-thing-is-that-i-have-a-really-intense-almost-compulsive-need-to/) [Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) [Explore all 101 Rem Koolhaas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rem-koolhaas/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [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/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That has been my entire life story. Running against the current and running with the current. Sometimes running with the current is underestimated. The acceptance of certain realities doesn’t preclude idealism. 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