For our success to happen, millions of billions of things, the vast majority of which were neither in our control nor in our awareness, needed not only to happen but also to happen how, when, where, and—in some cases—for how long, they have happened; and to happen to the things and the people to whom they have happened.

Some of the best things that have ever happened to us wouldn’t have happened to us, if it weren’t for some of the worst things that have ever happened to us.

Our survival is a result, not of caution or wisdom, but of pure luck.

Some people would not have remained with their partners, if the unfortunate things that have happened to them had happened to their partners, or if the fortunate things that have happened to their partners had happened to them.

Some lives were saved by accident; some, by an accident.