--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically, being alive means keeping…" description: "\"Basically, being alive means keeping yourself ready for the sky to fall in on you at any time. If you start from the assumption that existence is only ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/yasmina-khadra-8341_alive_basically-being-alive-means-keeping-your_2177427.jpg" --- # Basically, being alive means keeping yourself ready for… ![“Basically, being alive means keeping yourself ready for the sky to fall in on you at any time. If you start from the assumption that existence is only an ordeal, a test we have to pass, then you’re equipped to deal with its sorrows and its surprises. If you persist in expecting it to give you…” quote by Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/yasmina-khadra-8341_alive_basically-being-alive-means-keeping-your_2177427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/yasmina-khadra-8341_alive_basically-being-alive-means-keeping-your_2177427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b4/yasmina-khadra-8341_alive_basically-being-alive-means-keeping-your_2177427.jpg) > “Basically, being alive means keeping yourself ready for the sky to fall in on you at any time. If you start from the assumption that existence is only an ordeal, a test we have to pass, then you’re equipped to deal with its sorrows and its surprises. If you persist in expecting it to give you something it can’t give, that just proves that you haven’t understood anything. Take things as they come; don’t turn them into a drama. You’re not piloting the ship, you’re following the course of your destiny.” [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life should be approached with readiness for unexpected hardships, accepting reality without demanding impossible gifts, and flowing with destiny rather than forcing outcomes. **In simple terms:** Accept life as it is, stay prepared, avoid drama. Key Takeaway Embrace reality, stay adaptable. Themes acceptance resilience destiny mindfulness Mood reflective calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal crises - career setbacks - health challenges - relationship issues Key Concepts existentialism stoicism acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance acceptance with taking initiative? - What expectations cause unnecessary drama? A Different Perspective It may overlook the value of proactive change and personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Assumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assumption/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-destiny/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Your destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-destiny/) ## Related quotes > [Live on in your blessings, your destiny's been won. But ours calls us on from one ordeal to the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/live-on-in-your-blessings-your-destiny-s-been-won-but-ours-calls-us/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [So far as I am concerned, poetry and every other art was and is and forever will be strictly and distinctly a question of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/so-far-as-i-am-concerned-poetry-and-every-other-art-was-and-is-and/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [That's the reason you want to become a star as an actor, to be able to have more control of your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-cranston/that-s-the-reason-you-want-to-become-a-star-as-an-actor-to-be-able-to/) [Bryan Cranston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-cranston/) > [All day long the thoughts that occupy your mind, your Secret Place, as Jesus calls it, are moulding your destiny for good or evil;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/all-day-long-the-thoughts-that-occupy-your-mind-your-secret-place-as/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [You may not plan for some things in life but your destiny will take you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-zahara/you-may-not-plan-for-some-things-in-life-but-your-destiny-will-take/) [Rita Zahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-zahara/) > [To step toward your destiny, you may have to step away from your security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/to-step-toward-your-destiny-you-may-have-to-step-away-from-your/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [Respect your curses, for they are the instruments of your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/respect-your-curses-for-they-are-the-instruments-of-your-destiny/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Names have a mysterious transforming power. Like a ring on a finger, a name may at first seem merely accidental, committing you to nothing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/names-have-a-mysterious-transforming-power-like-a-ring-on-a-finger-a/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [Sometimes your friends take you ten steps backwards for every step you take forward. Sometimes misplaced loyalty ruins your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/sometimes-your-friends-take-you-ten-steps-backwards-for-every-step/) [Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/) > [If the errors of my life have profited me one great truth it is this: believe. Believe in your destiny and the star from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-the-errors-of-my-life-have-profited-me-one-great-truth-it-is-this/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [If you have a strong mind and plant in it a firm resolve, you can change your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/if-you-have-a-strong-mind-and-plant-in-it-a-firm-resolve-you-can/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [You didn't accidentally get your personality, looks and gifts. You were designed on purpose to be the way you are. You have what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-didn-t-accidentally-get-your-personality-looks-and-gifts-you-were/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I just want to get my voice heard again and to allow people to know me outside of a group situation. I also want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letoya-luckett/i-just-want-to-get-my-voice-heard-again-and-to-allow-people-to-know/) [LeToya Luckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letoya-luckett/) > [You must attach yourself spiritually to what you have placed in your imagination as a future fact, and never allow anyone, anything, any circumstance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-attach-yourself-spiritually-to-what-you-have-placed-in-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't change your life. This mode in literature goes against the more middle-brown mode, which is about shaping your destiny, changing it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mccarthy/you-can-t-change-your-life-this-mode-in-literature-goes-against-the/) Tommy McCarthy ## More by Yasmina Khadra > [It seems that the whole world is beginning to decay, and that its putrefaction has chosen to spread outward from here, from the land…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/it-seems-that-the-whole-world-is-beginning-to-decay-and-that-its/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [I was depressed. I knew I was lost, but I had no idea how to find myself again. It was as though I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/i-was-depressed-i-knew-i-was-lost-but-i-had-no-idea-how-to-find/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“He took a fine fresh fig from his pocket and washed it meticulously in a glass of water; then he peeled it open before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/he-took-a-fine-fresh-fig-from-his-pocket-and-washed-it-meticulously/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [Get a grip on yourself. there's only one god here on earth, and that's you. If you don't like the world, make one you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/get-a-grip-on-yourself-there-s-only-one-god-here-on-earth-and-that-s/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [Culture is always about politics in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/culture-is-always-about-politics-in-the-end/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [Of course, I'm aware of the animosities destroying brain cells on both sides, and I know all about the obstinacy of the warring parties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/of-course-i-m-aware-of-the-animosities-destroying-brain-cells-on-both/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“In the eyes of Popes and Imams we are Us and Them, but in the eyes of the Lord we are one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/in-the-eyes-of-popes-and-imams-we-are-us-and-them-but-in-the-eyes-of/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“This land does not belong to you. It belongs to that ancient shepherd whose ghost is standing next to you, though you refuse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/this-land-does-not-belong-to-you-it-belongs-to-that-ancient-shepherd/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [You can know all there is to know about life and mankind, but what do you really know about yourself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/you-can-know-all-there-is-to-know-about-life-and-mankind-but-what-do/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“The can take everything you own- your property, your best years, all your joys, all your good works, everything down to your last shirt-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/the-can-take-everything-you-own-your-property-your-best-years-all/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“An isolated person is doomed beyond remedy." Yasmina Khadra, Swallows of Kabul”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/an-isolated-person-is-doomed-beyond-remedy-yasmina-khadra-swallows-of/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“Anyone who tells you that a greater symphony exists than the breath in your body is lying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/anyone-who-tells-you-that-a-greater-symphony-exists-than-the-breath/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“Quand on ne trouve pas la solution à son malheur, on lui cherche un coupable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/quand-on-ne-trouve-pas-la-solution-son-malheur-on-lui-cherche-un/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“El mundo es de quienes van a buscarlo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/el-mundo-es-de-quienes-van-a-buscarlo/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) > [“I hate wars and revoloutions and these dramas of redemptive violence that turn upon themselves like endlessly long screws and haul entire generations through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmina-khadra/i-hate-wars-and-revoloutions-and-these-dramas-of-redemptive-violence/) [Yasmina Khadra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) [Explore all 49 Yasmina Khadra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmina-khadra/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Basically, being alive means keeping yourself ready for the sky to fall in on you at any time. If you start from the assumption that existence is only an ordeal, a test we have to pass, then you’re equipped to deal with its sorrows and its surprises. If you persist in expecting it to give you something it can’t give, that just proves that you haven’t understood anything. Take things as they come; don’t turn them into a drama. 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