---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are those who think that life has…"
description: "\"“There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance A planet of play things We dance on ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/rush-17924_freewill_there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has_1386867.jpg"
---

#  There are those who think that life has nothing left to…

![“There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance A planet of play things We dance on the strings Of powers we cannot perceive 'The stars aren't aligned Or the gods are malign...' Blame is better to give than receive You can choose a…” quote by Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/rush-17924_freewill_there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has_1386867.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/rush-17924_freewill_there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has_1386867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/rush-17924_freewill_there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has_1386867.jpg)

> ““There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance A planet of play things We dance on the strings Of powers we cannot perceive 'The stars aren't aligned Or the gods are malign...' Blame is better to give than receive You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill I will choose a path that's clear I will choose freewill There are those who think That they were dealt a losing hand The cards were stacked against them They weren't born in Lotus Land All preordained A prisoner in chains A victim of venomous fate Kicked in the face You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly estate Each of us A cell of awareness Imperfect and incomplete Genetic blends With uncertain ends On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet””

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The lyrics explore tension between fatalism and free will, urging personal agency despite uncertainty and unseen forces.

**In simple terms:** Life feels predetermined but we can still choose our actions.

Key Takeaway

Embrace agency, reject passive blame.

Themes

free will determinism agency existentialism choice

Mood

reflective determined hopeful

Type

lyilosophical motivational existential

When to use this quote

- personal decision making
- overcoming fatalism
- creative problem solving
- mindfulness practice

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology spirituality

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you attribute outcomes to destiny or effort?
- How can you act when you cannot see all influences?

A Different Perspective

Believing in fate can limit motivation and lead to resignation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choose A Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-a-path/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Freewill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freewill/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rush/)

## Related quotes

> [I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose freewill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-will-choose-a-path-that-s-clear-i-will-choose-freewill/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice. If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/you-can-choose-a-ready-guide-in-some-celestial-voice-if-you-choose/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [“All preordained A prisoner in chains A victim of venomous fate Kicked in the face You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/all-preordained-a-prisoner-in-chains-a-victim-of-venomous-fate-kicked/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [“I get up at seven yeah and I go to work at nine. I got no time for livin'. Yes I'm workin' all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/i-get-up-at-seven-yeah-and-i-go-to-work-at-nine-i-got-no-time-for/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [“A memo to a higher office Open letter to the powers that be To a god, a king, a head of state A captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/a-memo-to-a-higher-office-open-letter-to-the-powers-that-be-to-a-god/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [“As I see it then, the formula runs something like this: a man must choose a path which will let his ABILITIES function at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-i-see-it-then-the-formula-runs-something-like-this-a-man-must/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you want to experience abundance, then don't choose a path that ensures scarcity or limitation. Choose a path that has a shot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/if-you-want-to-experience-abundance-then-don-t-choose-a-path-that/)

[Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/)

> [If you only try to please others, you're going to resent those people you're trying to please; the ones who are often closest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/if-you-only-try-to-please-others-you-re-going-to-resent-those-people/)

[Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/)

> [Sooner or later we all choose a path. Sometimes you never look back, and sometimes life forces you to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-pas/sooner-or-later-we-all-choose-a-path-sometimes-you-never-look-back/)

Andrew Pas

> [War is a great destroyer. And human history has arrived at a pivotal moment. We can choose a path built on cooperation, where our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-hand/war-is-a-great-destroyer-and-human-history-has-arrived-at-a-pivotal/)

Judith Hand

> [“You don't understand,” I said, growing irritated. “I don't have the slightest idea what the Lethani really is! It's not a path, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/you-don-t-understand-i-said-growing-irritated-i-don-t-have-the/)

[Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/)

> [I have learned to know God. I have recast my social belief... All my admirers are married; most of my friends are dead; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/i-have-learned-to-know-god-i-have-recast-my-social-belief-all-my/)

[Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/)

> [To know how to choose a path with heart is to learn how to follow intuitive feeling. Logic can tell you superficially where a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-shinoda-bolen/to-know-how-to-choose-a-path-with-heart-is-to-learn-how-to-follow/)

[Jean Shinoda Bolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-shinoda-bolen/)

> [Each of us is free to move our consciousness through that infinite pattern of possibilities as we please. If we're filled with fears, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/each-of-us-is-free-to-move-our-consciousness-through-that-infinite/)

[Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/)

> [At a certain point, we need to figure out how to reward those who choose a path that offers, often, almost no reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/at-a-certain-point-we-need-to-figure-out-how-to-reward-those-who/)

[Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/)

## More by Rush

> [In a dog's brain a constant buzz of low level static, one sniff at the hydrant and the answer is automatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/in-a-dog-s-brain-a-constant-buzz-of-low-level-static-one-sniff-at-the/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [Though it's just a memory, some memories last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/though-it-s-just-a-memory-some-memories-last-forever/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [I've seen the tip of the iceberg and I worry about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/i-ve-seen-the-tip-of-the-iceberg-and-i-worry-about-you/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [“A memo to a higher office Open letter to the powers that be To a god, a king, a head of state A captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/a-memo-to-a-higher-office-open-letter-to-the-powers-that-be-to-a-god/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [A modern day warrior mean mean stride, today's Tom Sawyer mean mean pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/a-modern-day-warrior-mean-mean-stride-today-s-tom-sawyer-mean-mean/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand. Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/quick-to-judge-quick-to-anger-slow-to-understand-ignorance-and/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [“The point of the journey is not to arrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/the-point-of-the-journey-is-not-to-arrive/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [There is a tic and toc in atomic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/there-is-a-tic-and-toc-in-atomic/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [If the future's looking dark, we're the ones who have to shine. If there's no one in control, we're the ones who draw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/if-the-future-s-looking-dark-we-re-the-ones-who-have-to-shine-if/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [Will they read of us with sadness, for the seeds that we let grow?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/will-they-read-of-us-with-sadness-for-the-seeds-that-we-let-grow/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [The most endangered species, the honest man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/the-most-endangered-species-the-honest-man/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [“I've got my own moral compass to steer by A guiding star beats a spirit in the sky And all the preaching voices -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/i-ve-got-my-own-moral-compass-to-steer-by-a-guiding-star-beats-a/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [“Though we might have precious little It's still precious I like that song about this wonderful world It's got a sunny point of view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/though-we-might-have-precious-little-it-s-still-precious-i-like-that/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [For the words of the profits are written on the studio wall, concert halls, and echoes of the sounds of salesmen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/for-the-words-of-the-profits-are-written-on-the-studio-wall-concert/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

> [Science, like nature, must also be tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/science-like-nature-must-also-be-tamed/)

[Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

[Explore all 36 Rush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/)

## 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. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/)

[Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [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/)

> [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. Dockens

> [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/)

[Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/)

> [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/)

[Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/)

> [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

[Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance A planet of play things We dance on the strings Of powers we cannot perceive 'The stars aren't aligned Or the gods are malign...' Blame is better to give than receive You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill I will choose a path that's clear I will choose freewill There are those who think That they were dealt a losing hand The cards were stacked against them They weren't born in Lotus Land All preordained A prisoner in chains A victim of venomous fate Kicked in the face You can't pray for a place In heaven's unearthly estate Each of us A cell of awareness Imperfect and incomplete Genetic blends With uncertain ends On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rush"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has-nothing-left-to-chance-a-host/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has-nothing-left-to-chance-a-host/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/rush-17924_freewill_there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has_1386867.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/rush-17924_freewill_there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has_1386867.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50d/rush-17924_freewill_there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has_1386867.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are those who think that life has nothing left to chance A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless…” — Rush",
                "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": "Rush",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“There are those who think that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has-nothing-left-to-chance-a-host/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/there-are-those-who-think-that-life-has-nothing-left-to-chance-a-host/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
