--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything happens for a reason. I'm used…" description: "\"Everything happens for a reason. I'm used to it, I prepare for it. Like I say, at the end of the day, those in charge of their own destiny are going to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_everything-happens-for-a-reason-i-m-used_800022.jpg" --- # Everything happens for a reason. I'm used to it, I prepare… ![“Everything happens for a reason. I'm used to it, I prepare for it. Like I say, at the end of the day, those in charge of their own destiny are going to do what's right for them and their family.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_everything-happens-for-a-reason-i-m-used_800022.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_everything-happens-for-a-reason-i-m-used_800022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a34/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_everything-happens-for-a-reason-i-m-used_800022.jpg) > “Everything happens for a reason. I'm used to it, I prepare for it. Like I say, at the end of the day, those in charge of their own destiny are going to do what's right for them and their family.” [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life events have purpose; preparation and personal agency guide right actions for self and family. **In simple terms:** Events have purpose; prepare and act for yourself and family. Key Takeaway Take responsibility for your destiny. Themes purpose agency family preparation Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - parenting - health management - financial decisions Key Concepts life philosophy self‑determination family duty Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance fate and personal effort? - What role does luck play in your plans? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on destiny can ignore external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Happens for a reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens-for-a-reason/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [But if I've heard this saying once, I've heard it a thousand times- everything happens for a reason. And possibly it does. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-lawler/but-if-i-ve-heard-this-saying-once-i-ve-heard-it-a-thousand-times/) [Jerry Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-lawler/) > [Just remember everything happens for a reason. We just have to pick ourselves up, and look on the bright side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-smith/just-remember-everything-happens-for-a-reason-we-just-have-to-pick/) [Megan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-smith/) > [I don't believe in fate," he said carefully, "but... I do believe everything happens for a reason. That there is some plan, some meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-he-said-carefully-but-i-do-believe-everything/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [Everything happens for a reason, but they all lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-boosie/everything-happens-for-a-reason-but-they-all-lessons/) [Lil Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-boosie/) > [I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake-doremus/i-genuinely-believe-that-everything-happens-for-a-reason/) [Drake Doremus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake-doremus/) > [I'm trying to make some sense out of the phrase "Everything happens for a reason," and I think I've figured out what the reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/i-m-trying-to-make-some-sense-out-of-the-phrase-everything-happens/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [There is no luck in life, everything happens for a reason. Every little thing that you do... leads up to a bigger thing. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/there-is-no-luck-in-life-everything-happens-for-a-reason-every-little/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [I think that everything happens for a reason, everything happens when it's going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-think-that-everything-happens-for-a-reason-everything-happens-when/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“What I believe is that when it comes to big things in life, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/what-i-believe-is-that-when-it-comes-to-big-things-in-life-there-are/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [Something my mom taught me when I was little is that everything happens for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-johnson/something-my-mom-taught-me-when-i-was-little-is-that-everything/) [Shawn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-johnson/) > [Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes you won't be on the beneficial end of it but either way it's a blessing in disguise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/everything-happens-for-a-reason-sometimes-you-won-t-be-on-the/) [Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/) > [I think everything happens for a reason, so there is no such thing as fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-olsen/i-think-everything-happens-for-a-reason-so-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Mary-Kate Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-olsen/) > [Everybody dies. There’s nothing you can do about it. Whether or not you eat six almonds a day. Whether or not you believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/everybody-dies-there-s-nothing-you-can-do-about-it-whether-or-not-you/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [I always say that things are meant to be and everything happens for a reason, so I don't have any regrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-pietersen/i-always-say-that-things-are-meant-to-be-and-everything-happens-for-a/) [Kevin Pietersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-pietersen/) > [Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes, that might be difficult to understand, especially when things don't go the way we plan or expect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-landin/everything-happens-for-a-reason-and-sometimes-that-might-be-difficult/) [Betsy Landin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-landin/) ## More by Shaquille O'Neal > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-don-t-send-messages-i-m-not-a-fax-machine/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-our-guys-they-must-not-have-cable-because-antoine-walker-knows/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I was really upset. I felt like they tried to limit me, whoever 'they' may be. So I just said to myself third quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-was-really-upset-i-felt-like-they-tried-to-limit-me-whoever-they/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm still the baddest expletive in the world. Yeah, I'm getting older, but Kareem got older. Hakeem got older. I don't need Earthlings' respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-still-the-baddest-expletive-in-the-world-yeah-i-m-getting-older/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Write this: Since my boy is the coach, I'm going to try out for the Dolphins next year. Tight end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/write-this-since-my-boy-is-the-coach-i-m-going-to-try-out-for-the/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Why don't you bring your face up here and let me punch it? Then you can tell me (if I'm stronger).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/why-don-t-you-bring-your-face-up-here-and-let-me-punch-it-then-you/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm known as The Big Baryshnikov.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-known-as-the-big-baryshnikov/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Enunciation, diction, all that stuff. None of that is in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/enunciation-diction-all-that-stuff-none-of-that-is-in-my-personality/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-leonard-in-the-immortal-words-of-tom-cruise-in-mission/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Stats don't matter. I care about winning, not stats. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. If I score 50, 60…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/stats-don-t-matter-i-care-about-winning-not-stats-if-i-score-0-points/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) [Explore all 422 Shaquille O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everything happens for a reason. 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