Chance Quotes | Beyond Motive 2/5

top of page

Chance Quotes

"Everybody deserves a second chance in this world. That's basically all I ask."

"Everybody deserves a second chance in this world. That's basically all I ask."

Shannen Doherty, American Actress

54

"Detroit was kind of a random thing where it was like a chance to be in a rock 'n' roll movie."

"Detroit was kind of a random thing where it was like a chance to be in a rock 'n' roll movie."

Edward Furlong, American Actor

54

"I don't really get a chance to watch much television. I mostly watch BBC Worldwide and repeats of Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond."

"I don't really get a chance to watch much television. I mostly watch BBC Worldwide and repeats of Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond."

Will Estes, American Actor

Chance, Television

54

"Chance is the nature of our universe. Madness represents a chaotic reservoir of surprises. Some surprises can be valuable."

"Chance is the nature of our universe. Madness represents a chaotic reservoir of surprises. Some surprises can be valuable."

Frank Herbert, American Writer

Chance, Chaos, Surprise, Values

54

"The only safe thing is to take a chance."

"The only safe thing is to take a chance."

Mike Nichols, German Director

53

"Giving a 10-year mandatory minimum for a second offense fist fight is not going to reduce the chance that someone will be stabbed 16 times when you are not funding any of the programs that are desperately needed to actually reduce juvenile crime."

"Giving a 10-year mandatory minimum for a second offense fist fight is not going to reduce the chance that someone will be stabbed 16 times when you are not funding any of the programs that are desperately needed to actually reduce juvenile crime."

Bobby Scott, American Politician

Chance, Crime, Fight, Giving

53

"The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong."

"The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong."

Andy Rooney, American Journalist

Chance, Right, Wrong

53

"If there is a 50-50 chance that something can go wrong, then 9 times out of ten it will."

"If there is a 50-50 chance that something can go wrong, then 9 times out of ten it will."

Paul Harvey, American Journalist

Chance, Will, Wrong

52

"Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned."

"Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned."

Emily Dickinson, American Poet

Chance, Fortune, Luck, Smile

52

"I had to wait a while to get the scans back but it shows nothing in terms of needing surgery which is good. I hurt my AC joint and I just need to strengthen it. There is an outside chance to start training by the end of this week and if not than the start of next week."

"I had to wait a while to get the scans back but it shows nothing in terms of needing surgery which is good. I hurt my AC joint and I just need to strengthen it. There is an outside chance to start training by the end of this week and if not than the start of next week."

Claudio Reyna, American Athlete

Chance, End, Hurt, Nothing

52

"There's only so much you can do, but if somebody doesn't give you a chance there is nothing you can do."

"There's only so much you can do, but if somebody doesn't give you a chance there is nothing you can do."

Charlize Theron, South African Actress

Chance, Nothing

51

"When your parent is a public idol, you never really have a chance to lay that parent to rest."

"When your parent is a public idol, you never really have a chance to lay that parent to rest."

Lorna Luft, American Actress

Chance, Public, Rest

51

"But at some point, we've got to have disciplined play and have got to coach better. I'm not putting it on the players. We've got to coach them to tackle and block better. It's as simple as that. If we can do those things, we'll have a chance."

"But at some point, we've got to have disciplined play and have got to coach better. I'm not putting it on the players. We've got to coach them to tackle and block better. It's as simple as that. If we can do those things, we'll have a chance."

Steve Spurrier, American Coach

51

"I'll be honest with you: not a chance in this world. But you know, stranger things have happened."

"I'll be honest with you: not a chance in this world. But you know, stranger things have happened."

Stacy Keach, American Actor

50

"There's only one test of a great children's book, or a great children's film, and that is this: If it can be read or viewed with pleasure by adults, then it has the chance to be a great children's film, or a great children's book."

"There's only one test of a great children's book, or a great children's film, and that is this: If it can be read or viewed with pleasure by adults, then it has the chance to be a great children's film, or a great children's book."

Chuck Jones, American Director

Chance, Children, Film, Pleasure

50

"Where observation is concerned, chance favors only the prepared mind."

"Where observation is concerned, chance favors only the prepared mind."

Louis Pasteur, French Scientist

Chance, Favors, Mind, Observation

50

"Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?"

"Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?"

Phyllis Diller, American Comedian

Chance, Housework

50

"When I started to pick up the bass, it was purely by random chance."

"When I started to pick up the bass, it was purely by random chance."

Eberhard Weber, German Musician

50

"The guy comes up to the plate, there's always a chance where he can get a grand slam and everybody forgets about all the times he missed."

"The guy comes up to the plate, there's always a chance where he can get a grand slam and everybody forgets about all the times he missed."

Brian McKnight, American Musician

50

"A great ballplayer is a player who will take a chance."

"A great ballplayer is a player who will take a chance."

Branch Rickey, American Athlete

50

"We were given no chance against them, but we held our own and we will be trying to do the same this summer."

"We were given no chance against them, but we held our own and we will be trying to do the same this summer."

Robbie Keane, Irish Athlete

Chance, Summer, Trying, Will

49

"A fool must now and then be right, by chance."

"A fool must now and then be right, by chance."

William Cowper, English Poet

Chance, Fool, Now, Right

49

"In front of us was not a line but a fortress position, twenty miles deep, entrenched and fortified, defended by masses of machine-gun posts and thousands of guns in a wide arc. No chance for cavalry!"

"In front of us was not a line but a fortress position, twenty miles deep, entrenched and fortified, defended by masses of machine-gun posts and thousands of guns in a wide arc. No chance for cavalry!"

Philip Gibbs, British Journalist

Chance, Deep, Machine

49

"Luck can be assisted. It is not all chance with the wise."

"Luck can be assisted. It is not all chance with the wise."

Baltasar Gracian, Spanish Philosopher

49

"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

William Jennings Bryan, American Lawyer

Chance, Choice, Destiny

49

"Children are our second chance to have a great parent-child relationship."

"Children are our second chance to have a great parent-child relationship."

Laura Schlessinger, American Writer

Chance, Children

48

"Ain't no chance if you don't take it."

"Ain't no chance if you don't take it."

Guy Clark, American Musician

48

"I've got big shoes to fill. This is my chance to do something. I have to seize the moment."

"I've got big shoes to fill. This is my chance to do something. I have to seize the moment."

Andrew Jackson, American President

48

"It's fun. I sit down every day and tell stories. Some folk would kill to get that chance."

"It's fun. I sit down every day and tell stories. Some folk would kill to get that chance."

Bernard Cornwell, British Novelist

Chance, Day, Folk, Fun

48

"I think dress, hairstyle and make-up are the crucial factors in projecting an attractive persona and give one the chance to enhance one's best physical features."

"I think dress, hairstyle and make-up are the crucial factors in projecting an attractive persona and give one the chance to enhance one's best physical features."

Vivienne Westwood, English Designer

47

"Chance, my dear, is the sovereign deity in child-bearing."

"Chance, my dear, is the sovereign deity in child-bearing."

Honore de Balzac, French Novelist

47

"The Round-Up is a wonderful community celebration, and I greatly enjoy the chance to visit with residents and see so many families enjoying the festivities offered throughout the week."

"The Round-Up is a wonderful community celebration, and I greatly enjoy the chance to visit with residents and see so many families enjoying the festivities offered throughout the week."

Greg Walden, American Politician

Chance, Community, Festivities, Visit

47

"We must, from here on in, all go down the same path... There may not be another chance."

"We must, from here on in, all go down the same path... There may not be another chance."

Maurice Strong, Canadian Businessman

47

"I grew up not far from where Motown was founded, maybe 300 miles from Detroit and I've always liked - I used to like the way they made records. I still do, I just haven't had a chance to hear as much. They used to entertain me."

"I grew up not far from where Motown was founded, maybe 300 miles from Detroit and I've always liked - I used to like the way they made records. I still do, I just haven't had a chance to hear as much. They used to entertain me."

Rick Danko, Canadian Musician

47

"Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish."

"Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish."

Ovid, Roman Poet

Chance, Fish, Will

47

"I believe that fate is choices - it's not chance."

"I believe that fate is choices - it's not chance."

Wayne Newton, American Musician

Chance, Choices, Fate

46

"Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything, to keep what you want from ending, do it. Pry the door open or, if need be, wedge your foot in that door and keep it open."

"Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything, to keep what you want from ending, do it. Pry the door open or, if need be, wedge your foot in that door and keep it open."

Pauline Kael, American Critic

Chance, Ending, Open, Want

46

"I never do anything by chance."

"I never do anything by chance."

Brigitte Bardot, French Actress

46

"We had a party with the rest of the skaters in our trailer and then the next day we were off to see Jimmy Carter. And then we had the World Championships the next weekend, so not a lot of chance to catch up."

"We had a party with the rest of the skaters in our trailer and then the next day we were off to see Jimmy Carter. And then we had the World Championships the next weekend, so not a lot of chance to catch up."

Eric Heiden, American Athlete

Chance, Day, Party, Rest

46

"The fundamental problem with program maintenance is that fixing a defect has a substantial chance of introducing another."

"The fundamental problem with program maintenance is that fixing a defect has a substantial chance of introducing another."

Frederick P. Brooks, Jr., American Computer Scientist

Chance, Frederick P. Brooks, Jr.

46

"If I had had a chance to tour with Van Halen before the record, I think it would have been a different record."

"If I had had a chance to tour with Van Halen before the record, I think it would have been a different record."

Gary Cherone, American Musician

46

"We stand our best chance of leaving a legacy to those who want to learn, our children, by standing firm. In matters of style, hey, swing with the stream. But in matters of principle, you need to stand like a rock."

"We stand our best chance of leaving a legacy to those who want to learn, our children, by standing firm. In matters of style, hey, swing with the stream. But in matters of principle, you need to stand like a rock."

Kevin Costner, American Actor

Chance, Children, Style, Want

46

"I'm here today because I refused to be unhappy. I took a chance."

"I'm here today because I refused to be unhappy. I took a chance."

Wanda Sykes, American Comedian

45

"You know you have more to offer, and it gets frustrating when you aren't given the chance."

"You know you have more to offer, and it gets frustrating when you aren't given the chance."

Mindy Cohn, American Actress

45

"Still, we view that old material very much like we view the new material so if this gives us a chance to go out and promote it then, yes we will go out and do that."

"Still, we view that old material very much like we view the new material so if this gives us a chance to go out and promote it then, yes we will go out and do that."

Geoff Downes, English Musician

Chance, Old, Will

45

"Alabama farmers want a chance to complete fairly in Japan, but they can't if the Japanese won't let us in."

"Alabama farmers want a chance to complete fairly in Japan, but they can't if the Japanese won't let us in."

Mike Rogers, American Politician

45

"If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability and democracy to Iraq, it will mean learning from our mistakes, not denying them and not ignoring them."

"If we have a chance of succeeding and bringing stability and democracy to Iraq, it will mean learning from our mistakes, not denying them and not ignoring them."

Carl Levin, American Politician

Chance, Democracy, Iraq, Learning

45

"I don't really get a chance to watch much television."

"I don't really get a chance to watch much television."

Will Estes, American Actor

Chance, Television

45

"The moral backbone of literature is about that whole question of memory. To my mind it seems clear that those who have no memory have the much greater chance to lead happy lives."

"The moral backbone of literature is about that whole question of memory. To my mind it seems clear that those who have no memory have the much greater chance to lead happy lives."

W. G. Sebald, German Writer

Chance, Literature, Memory, Mind

45

"Anyone who thus looks up has some chance of becoming worthy to be looked up to in turn."

"Anyone who thus looks up has some chance of becoming worthy to be looked up to in turn."

Irving Babbitt, American Critic

44

bottom of page