--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was very fierce and very driven at…" description: "\"I was very fierce and very driven at eighteen. But my basic philosophy I think has stayed the same, I'm still an atheist, I still believe strongly in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/tobsha-learner-18271_atheist_i-was-very-fierce-and-very-driven-at-eig_2848254.jpg" --- # I was very fierce and very driven at eighteen. But my… ![“I was very fierce and very driven at eighteen. But my basic philosophy I think has stayed the same, I'm still an atheist, I still believe strongly in the power of free will (despite the mysticism in my prose). I don't believe in the notion of a pre-ordained destiny, and I think because of the…” quote by Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/tobsha-learner-18271_atheist_i-was-very-fierce-and-very-driven-at-eig_2848254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/tobsha-learner-18271_atheist_i-was-very-fierce-and-very-driven-at-eig_2848254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cf/tobsha-learner-18271_atheist_i-was-very-fierce-and-very-driven-at-eig_2848254.jpg) > “I was very fierce and very driven at eighteen. But my basic philosophy I think has stayed the same, I'm still an atheist, I still believe strongly in the power of free will (despite the mysticism in my prose). I don't believe in the notion of a pre-ordained destiny, and I think because of the sudden death of my father at sixteen I learnt then that it is essential to live life to the fullest as it could be snatched away at any second.” [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates living fully, rejecting predestination, emphasizing free will and the urgency of life's impermanence. **In simple terms:** Live fully, embrace free will, and cherish each moment. Key Takeaway Embrace free will and live fully. Themes free will impermanence existentialism atheism personal growth Mood determined reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal health - creative pursuits Key Concepts Philosophy psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing life's fragility shape your choices? - What does free will mean to you? A Different Perspective Belief in free will may clash with societal determinism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheist Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist-believe-558302/) [Basic Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-philosophy-513664/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Of My Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-of-my-father/) [Despite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite/) [Despite Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despite-mysticism-3774806/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Don't believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-believe/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Eighteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighteen/) [Essentials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentials/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Fierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fierce/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [I still believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-still-believe/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life To The Fullest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-to-the-fullest/) [Live life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-life/) [Live life to the fullest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-life-to-the-fullest/) [Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysticism/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Sixteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sixteen/) [Stayed Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stayed-atheist-3774807/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Sudden death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sudden-death/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [With the death of my father, it wasn't just the objects of everyday life that had changed; even the most ordinary street scenes had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/with-the-death-of-my-father-it-wasn-t-just-the-objects-of-everyday/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [“If there was one thing I feared as I was growing up . . . No, that's stupid. I feared hundreds of things: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinto/if-there-was-one-thing-i-feared-as-i-was-growing-up-no-that-s-stupid/) [Jerry Pinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinto/) > [The death of my father is probably the biggest thing that I ever faced. Daddy and I were best friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-death-of-my-father-is-probably-the-biggest-thing-that-i-ever/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“I blame Charles Dickens for the death of my father'.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-blame-charles-dickens-for-the-death-of-my-father/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I had wanted to be a novelist for so long, but I didn't have a story. That story came from the death of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-had-wanted-to-be-a-novelist-for-so-long-but-i-didn-t-have-a-story/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I don't mean to sound like a touchy-feely California type here, but I knew that I could finally get over the death of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/i-don-t-mean-to-sound-like-a-touchy-feely-california-type-here-but-i/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [My life comes down to three moments: the death of my father, meeting my husband, and the birth of my daughter. Everything I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/my-life-comes-down-to-three-moments-the-death-of-my-father-meeting-my/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [Upon the death of my father, our family and myself were emotionally and financially exhausted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-sheppard/upon-the-death-of-my-father-our-family-and-myself-were-emotionally/) [Sam Sheppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-sheppard/) > [I am very emotional. It took me many years to recover from the death of my father. Even when I was playing cricket, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-am-very-emotional-it-took-me-many-years-to-recover-from-the-death/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [My mother's one idea was to sacrifice her life to her children and she had done nothing else since the death of my father.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-guggenheim/my-mother-s-one-idea-was-to-sacrifice-her-life-to-her-children-and/) [Peggy Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-guggenheim/) > [When I was young, the early death of my father cast a shadow over me - and I was afraid to die before all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/when-i-was-young-the-early-death-of-my-father-cast-a-shadow-over-me/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [The basic philosophy of stoicism is that you have nothing real external to your own consciousness, that the only thing real is in fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-avary/the-basic-philosophy-of-stoicism-is-that-you-have-nothing-real/) [Roger Avary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-avary/) > [My cloud photographs are equivalents of my most profound life experiences, my basic philosophy of life. All art is an equivalent of the artist’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/my-cloud-photographs-are-equivalents-of-my-most-profound-life/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [Since the death of my father four years ago, our lives have become difficult, and I must help my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/since-the-death-of-my-father-four-years-ago-our-lives-have-become/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The Bible talks about how God uses difficult situations to develop our character and get us stronger. The death of my father is probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-bible-talks-about-how-god-uses-difficult-situations-to-develop/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## More by Tobsha Learner > [Intelligence is power; it is the flame behind the spark of intrigue. Find out all the facts and stamp out the fire. Demystify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/intelligence-is-power-it-is-the-flame-behind-the-spark-of-intrigue/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [Everything flows from God, but we are limited by imposing our human perceptions upon him. Man designs God according to his own image and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/everything-flows-from-god-but-we-are-limited-by-imposing-our-human/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [“...I vow that nothing- no law, no army, no faith- will keep me from your side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/i-vow-that-nothing-no-law-no-army-no-faith-will-keep-me-from-your-side/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [Humiliation scars deeper than the lash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/humiliation-scars-deeper-than-the-lash/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [Indeed, you become what you eat. In which case I am an onion. Layered, slightly sour and guaranteed to bring tears to the eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/indeed-you-become-what-you-eat-in-which-case-i-am-an-onion-layered/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [“I think the nature of faith is love an love of the goodness in man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/i-think-the-nature-of-faith-is-love-an-love-of-the-goodness-in-man/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [Two bones fell down my chimney and into the bedroom this morning. Hysterical thing to happen to a thriller writer. Murderous ravens perhaps?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/two-bones-fell-down-my-chimney-and-into-the-bedroom-this-morning/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [To be desired by those who are themselves highly desirable is in itself an aphrodisiac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/to-be-desired-by-those-who-are-themselves-highly-desirable-is-in/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [“A man who denies his past is a man who truly denies himself a future, for he refuses to know himself, and to deny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/a-man-who-denies-his-past-is-a-man-who-truly-denies-himself-a-future/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [As a reader I like both great characterization and fast moving plots. The challenge is to balance the both and not compromise one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/as-a-reader-i-like-both-great-characterization-and-fast-moving-plots/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [Starting a new novel is a little like starting a new relationship - you have to be prepared to commit for at least three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/starting-a-new-novel-is-a-little-like-starting-a-new-relationship-you/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [It seems to me that women are freed from their responsibilities only when they are merry widows or eccentric old spinsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/it-seems-to-me-that-women-are-freed-from-their-responsibilities-only/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [Living is a hazardous profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/living-is-a-hazardous-profession/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [So many of man's actions appear to have no immediate consequence but, concealed, do their work until finally all catches up and forms a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/so-many-of-man-s-actions-appear-to-have-no-immediate-consequence-but/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) > [“Believe, my child. Faith is the food of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobsha-learner/believe-my-child-faith-is-the-food-of-survival/) [Tobsha Learner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) [Explore all 35 Tobsha Learner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobsha-learner/) ## More Atheist quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. 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