--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things rarely turn out the way we want…" description: "\"Things rarely turn out the way we want them to.\" — Robert De Niro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/robert-de-niro-3745_decision_things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-t_2467185.jpg" --- # Things rarely turn out the way we want them to. ![“Things rarely turn out the way we want them to.” quote by Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/robert-de-niro-3745_decision_things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-t_2467185.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/robert-de-niro-3745_decision_things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-t_2467185.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/robert-de-niro-3745_decision_things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-t_2467185.jpg) > “Things rarely turn out the way we want them to.” [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life often deviates from our expectations, requiring adaptability. **In simple terms:** Things rarely go as planned. Key Takeaway Cultivate flexibility and resilience. Themes life expectations adaptability Mood reflective pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career setbacks - personal relationships - project management Key Concepts uncertainty psychology resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you cope when plans fail? - What strategies help adjust expectations? A Different Perspective Not all outcomes can be controlled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Rarely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rarely/) [Rarely Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rarely-turn-721491/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Things Rarely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-rarely-268398/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [One of the things I rarely do is write about sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/one-of-the-things-i-rarely-do-is-write-about-sex/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [Things are rarely as exciting or dramatic as we make them out to be in the press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/things-are-rarely-as-exciting-or-dramatic-as-we-make-them-out-to-be/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“Things are rarely as random as they appear”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/things-are-rarely-as-random-as-they-appear/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [Things rarely get fixed the way they need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/things-rarely-get-fixed-the-way-they-need-to-be/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Divisiveness leads to a lot of things. Rarely are any of them good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/divisiveness-leads-to-a-lot-of-things-rarely-are-any-of-them-good/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Substantial progress toward better things can rarely be taken without developing new evils requiring new remedies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/substantial-progress-toward-better-things-can-rarely-be-taken-without/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [“Last times are funny things, because you rarely know it's a last time until it's too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shalanda-stanley/last-times-are-funny-things-because-you-rarely-know-it-s-a-last-time/) [Shalanda Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shalanda-stanley/) > [“things rarely happen the way you expect them to. 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I'm sure they're decent people. I mean they gotta be if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-guess-the-only-thing-to-do-now-is-meet-his-parents-i-m-sure-they-re/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I like to visit L.A., but I wouldn't want to live there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-like-to-visit-l-a-but-i-wouldn-t-want-to-live-there/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [You don't need words to express feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/you-don-t-need-words-to-express-feelings/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [You don't just play a part. You've got to earn the right to play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/you-don-t-just-play-a-part-you-ve-got-to-earn-the-right-to-play-it/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I've been in so many movies that I automatically know what's happening on the set. Things that I don't even remember consciously I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-ve-been-in-so-many-movies-that-i-automatically-know-what-s/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [There is a certain combination of anarchy and discipline in the way I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/there-is-a-certain-combination-of-anarchy-and-discipline-in-the-way-i/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [The hardest thing about being famous is that ... in a conversation everybody's agreeing with what you're saying. ... You need people who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/the-hardest-thing-about-being-famous-is-that-in-a-conversation/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I mean, the actors that I admired were Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, an actress named Barbara Harris. And Greta Garbo. They were great actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-mean-the-actors-that-i-admired-were-marlon-brando-montgomery-clift/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [It's important not to indicate. People don't try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/it-s-important-not-to-indicate-people-don-t-try-to-show-their/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I hurt someone's feelings once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-hurt-someone-s-feelings-once/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [As I get older, I think that things have been pre-determined for me, whether I liked it or wanted it, wished for it, whatever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/as-i-get-older-i-think-that-things-have-been-pre-determined-for-me/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [New York is more exciting, I guess, than even Paris or London. New York's the center of something; I don't know what, really -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/new-york-is-more-exciting-i-guess-than-even-paris-or-london-new-york/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I'm not a big football person at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-m-not-a-big-football-person-at-all/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [I will not hesitate. Not for a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/i-will-not-hesitate-not-for-a-second/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) [Explore all 123 Robert De Niro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) ## More Decision 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/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things rarely turn out the way we want them to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert De Niro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-them-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decision" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-them-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/robert-de-niro-3745_decision_things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-t_2467185.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/robert-de-niro-3745_decision_things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-t_2467185.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/robert-de-niro-3745_decision_things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-t_2467185.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Things rarely turn out the way we want them to.” — Robert De Niro", "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": "Robert De Niro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Things rarely turn out the way...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-them-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/things-rarely-turn-out-the-way-we-want-them-to/#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 } } ] } ```