--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The truth of it was, I'd been running the…" description: "\"“The truth of it was, I'd been running the wrong experiment my whole life, and while Cassidy was the first person to realize, she didn't add the elemen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/robyn-schneider-8121_different-path_the-truth-of-it-was-i-d-been-running-the_1538283.jpg" --- # The truth of it was, I'd been running the wrong experiment… ![“The truth of it was, I'd been running the wrong experiment my whole life, and while Cassidy was the first person to realize, she didn't add the elements that allowed me to proceed down a different path. She lent a spark, perhaps, or tendered the flame, but the arson was mine. Oscar Wilde once said…” quote by Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/robyn-schneider-8121_different-path_the-truth-of-it-was-i-d-been-running-the_1538283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/robyn-schneider-8121_different-path_the-truth-of-it-was-i-d-been-running-the_1538283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/508/robyn-schneider-8121_different-path_the-truth-of-it-was-i-d-been-running-the_1538283.jpg) > ““The truth of it was, I'd been running the wrong experiment my whole life, and while Cassidy was the first person to realize, she didn't add the elements that allowed me to proceed down a different path. She lent a spark, perhaps, or tendered the flame, but the arson was mine. Oscar Wilde once said that to live is the rarest thing in the world, because most people just exist, and that’s all. I don’t know if he’s right, but I do know that I spend a long time existing, and now, I intend to live.”” [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He realizes his past efforts were misguided until a catalyst sparked a new direction, emphasizing personal agency in shaping life. **In simple terms:** Past mistakes can lead to new paths with personal effort. Key Takeaway Take control and pursue authentic goals. Themes self-discovery growth agency mistakes inspiration Mood determined hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career change - artistic projects - personal development - overcoming stagnation Key Concepts personal responsibility creative spark life purpose Questions to Reflect On - What experiment will you design for your life? - How can you own the “arson” of your destiny? A Different Perspective External influences may not provide the needed change; internal resolve is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Different path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-path/) [First person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-person/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Oscar Wilde said that the gods punish us in two ways: first, they don't give us what we want, then, they do. He forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-brass/oscar-wilde-said-that-the-gods-punish-us-in-two-ways-first-they-don-t/) [Perry Brass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-brass/) > [I remember when I posed as a customs officer so that I could meet Oscar Wilde. I said to him "Have you anything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-munnery/i-remember-when-i-posed-as-a-customs-officer-so-that-i-could-meet/) [Simon Munnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-munnery/) > [“Oscar Wilde said: 'Biography lends to death a new terror.' Well, memoir adds that same promise to parenting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oscar-wilde-said-biography-lends-to-death-a-new-terror-well-memoir/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dr. Seuss said, 'No one can be you-er than you,' and Oscar Wilde said, 'Be yourself because everyone else is taken.' So I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/dr-seuss-said-no-one-can-be-you-er-than-you-and-oscar-wilde-said-be/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [“Oscar Wilde said it's never the question that's indiscreet, only the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/oscar-wilde-said-it-s-never-the-question-that-s-indiscreet-only-the/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Oscar Wilde said the rich and the poor are equal - they can both sleep under the bridge. Right? Do they have a right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-lewis/oscar-wilde-said-the-rich-and-the-poor-are-equal-they-can-both-sleep/) [Al Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-lewis/) > [As Oscar Wilde should have said, when bad ideas have nowhere else to go, they emigrate to America and become university courses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-raphael/as-oscar-wilde-should-have-said-when-bad-ideas-have-nowhere-else-to/) [Frederic Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-raphael/) > [You know what Oscar Wilde said, ma'am? He said, "nothing that is worth knowing can be taught". Nothing personal, ma'am... Carry on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/you-know-what-oscar-wilde-said-ma-am-he-said-nothing-that-is-worth/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [The Chinese general Sun Tzu said that all war was based on deception. Oscar Wilde said the same thing of romance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-tempest/the-chinese-general-sun-tzu-said-that-all-war-was-based-on-deception/) [Marco Tempest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-tempest/) > [Oscar Wilde once said that to live is the rarest thing in the world, because most people just exist, and that's all. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oscar-wilde-once-said-that-to-live-is-the-rarest-thing-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“- Oscar Wilde said that we always destroy the thing we love the most. And it is true. The simple possibility of achieving that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/oscar-wilde-said-that-we-always-destroy-the-thing-we-love-the-most/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“Change is the nature of life, Cassidy. Some of it's good, like new babies being born and children growing up and leaving home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-vogel-frederick/change-is-the-nature-of-life-cassidy-some-of-it-s-good-like-new/) [Heather Vogel Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-vogel-frederick/) > [“The only unforgivable crime is to cut short the experiment of one’s own life before its natural end. To do so is a weakness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-only-unforgivable-crime-is-to-cut-short-the-experiment-of-one-s/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [any experiment of interest in life will be carried out at your own expense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilmot/any-experiment-of-interest-in-life-will-be-carried-out-at-your-own/) [John Wilmot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilmot/) > [I think what my father appreciated was the science experiment of life. He had these kids, and they had their own experiences. He wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmet-zappa/i-think-what-my-father-appreciated-was-the-science-experiment-of-life/) [Ahmet Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmet-zappa/) ## More by Robyn Schneider > [“Sometimes I think that everyone has a tragedy waiting for them, that the people buying milk in their pajamas or picking their noses at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/sometimes-i-think-that-everyone-has-a-tragedy-waiting-for-them-that/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“It was the answer to the wrong mystery--the mystery I didn't ever want to solve. And so we sat there in the sickening sillage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/it-was-the-answer-to-the-wrong-mystery-the-mystery-i-didn-t-ever-want/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“Breathing: the miracle cure everyone's been looking for." -Lane-”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/breathing-the-miracle-cure-everyone-s-been-looking-for-lane/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“We have all been fooled into believing in people who are entirely imaginary--made-up prisoners in a hypothetical panopticon. But the point isn't whether or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/we-have-all-been-fooled-into-believing-in-people-who-are-entirely/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“Delete,” he said. “I keep telling you.” But I couldn’t. Even though I wasn’t sure what the point was anymore. No one kept in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/delete-he-said-i-keep-telling-you-but-i-couldn-t-even-though-i-wasn-t/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“How many beers do y'all think it takes before one internationally scientist turns to another and says, 'Dude, bet you twenty bucks I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/how-many-beers-do-y-all-think-it-takes-before-one-internationally/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“And that was when I saw what Cassidy had done to herself: the gold and red ribbing on her sweater-vest, the matching stripes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/and-that-was-when-i-saw-what-cassidy-had-done-to-herself-the-gold-and/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“Eastwood was distorted for me, a picturesque place meant to lull its residents into believing that behind our gates and beyond our curfew, nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/eastwood-was-distorted-for-me-a-picturesque-place-meant-to-lull-its/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“Imaginary prisoners are still prisoners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/imaginary-prisoners-are-still-prisoners/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“...but I didn't care, because the magnificent possibility of kissing Cassidy Thorpe had turned into an indisputable fact of my daily existence...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/but-i-didn-t-care-because-the-magnificent-possibility-of-kissing/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“I do know that I spent a long time existing, and now, I intend to live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/i-do-know-that-i-spent-a-long-time-existing-and-now-i-intend-to-live/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“Words could betray you if you chose the wrong ones, or mean less if you used too many. Jokes could be grandly miscalculated, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/words-could-betray-you-if-you-chose-the-wrong-ones-or-mean-less-if/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“Sorry,' I apologized, realizing she was the sort of girl who got upset when someone used an unfamiliar word, rather than learning what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/sorry-i-apologized-realizing-she-was-the-sort-of-girl-who-got-upset/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“I’ll keep going. Because that’s all you can do in this world, no matter how strong the current beats against you, or how heavy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/i-ll-keep-going-because-that-s-all-you-can-do-in-this-world-no-matter/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) > [“I finally got up around noon, after having decided that, as far as monogamous relationships go, I could probably do worse than marrying my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-schneider/i-finally-got-up-around-noon-after-having-decided-that-as-far-as/) [Robyn Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) [Explore all 82 Robyn Schneider quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-schneider/) ## More Different path quotes > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“AUSTRALIA, LIKE THE UNITED STATES, experienced a different path to inclusive institutions than the one taken by England. The same revolutions that shook England…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/australia-like-the-united-states-experienced-a-different-path-to/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [Sometimes you climb the mountain, and you fall and fail. Maybe there is a different path that will take you up. Sometimes a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/sometimes-you-climb-the-mountain-and-you-fall-and-fail-maybe-there-is/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [“Ever since the day of the mistake with my Match. I've never known which life is my true one. Even with the reassurances of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/ever-since-the-day-of-the-mistake-with-my-match-i-ve-never-known/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [Different victims, different survivors of different crimes will choose to pursue different paths. And hopefully, over time, we can collectively transform our culture into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesa-boudin/different-victims-different-survivors-of-different-crimes-will-choose/) [Chesa Boudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesa-boudin/) > [You have so many different paths you can go down, but when you're in makeup or you're in hair and you're trusted for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-mondo/you-have-so-many-different-paths-you-can-go-down-but-when-you-re-in/) [Brad Mondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-mondo/) > [There are a lot of different paths through the jungle, but...the simplest thing you can do is make yourself useful. Be easy to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/there-are-a-lot-of-different-paths-through-the-jungle-but-the/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) > [“Do you remember the books from our childhood? Those were you could decide yourself what the character should do next? I always loved those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-goetz/do-you-remember-the-books-from-our-childhood-those-were-you-could/) Lena Goetz > [“WISE God decides different paths for us, That a single soul to follow. He trains us through our journeys to earth, And gives us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dipak-mukhopadhyay/wise-god-decides-different-paths-for-us-that-a-single-soul-to-follow/) Dipak Mukhopadhyay > [I have a unique history. There's no way to ever separate what your life would have been like if you had taken a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-plumb/i-have-a-unique-history-there-s-no-way-to-ever-separate-what-your/) [Eve Plumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-plumb/) > [The book of 'The Hobbit' was given to me to read by a friend of my mother when I was about 12 years old:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-stevens/the-book-of-the-hobbit-was-given-to-me-to-read-by-a-friend-of-my/) [Conan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-stevens/) > [You came by but I lost you in different path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sashalabetta/you-came-by-but-i-lost-you-in-different-path/) SashaLabetta > [“Maybe, if I had lied all those years ago, my life could have followed a very different path. But as it is I faithfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-pugh/maybe-if-i-had-lied-all-those-years-ago-my-life-could-have-followed-a/) [Rosie Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-pugh/) > [I have chosen a different path when talking about the failings of the Republican leadership. I don't make it personal, and many other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-have-chosen-a-different-path-when-talking-about-the-failings-of-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“My past was and is who I am. What I am. You can’t just forget the very thing that molded you and gave you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-grey/my-past-was-and-is-who-i-am-what-i-am-you-can-t-just-forget-the-very/) Autumn Grey [Browse all 248 Different path quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-path/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The truth of it was, I'd been running the wrong experiment my whole life, and while Cassidy was the first person to realize, she didn't add the elements that allowed me to proceed down a different path. She lent a spark, perhaps, or tendered the flame, but the arson was mine. Oscar Wilde once said that to live is the rarest thing in the world, because most people just exist, and that’s all. 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