There Are No Coincidences/Quotes

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


I believe in coincidences. Coincidences happen every day. But I don't trust coincidences.

Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action.

Auric Goldfinger, Goldfinger

See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?

Graham Hess, Signs

No, shit don't just happen. Shit takes time. Shit takes effort. Twenty million dollars worth of effort.

Jung's theory of synchronicity says there are links between events beyond cause and effect. Patterns the conscious mind can't perceive. [pause] There is no such thing as coincidence or accident.

Doctor Tony Hill, Wire in The Blood

In the immortal words of Leroy Jethro Gibbs [puts on a deep voice] 'I don't believe in coincidences'.

Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS

Everything happens for a reason.

Laverne, Scrubs

Giles, there are two things that I don't believe in: coincidence and leprechauns.

Well, I don't believe in coincidences.

Solid Snake, Metal Gear Solid

Ha! Coincidence, you say? Divine providence, say I! The gods love us!

One's an anomaly, two's a trend. Rule 89, Boss.

Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner voice tells me that it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the 'old one'. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice.

Albert, stop telling God what to do.

Niels Bohr

Einstein would turn in his grave. Not only does God play dice, the dice are loaded.

Chairman Sheng-ji Yang, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, "Looking God in the Eye"
So Einstein was wrong when he said, "God does not play dice." Consideration of black holes suggests, not only that God does play dice, but that he sometimes confuses us by throwing them where they can't be seen.
...God moves in extremely mysterious, not to say, circuitous ways. God does not play dice with the universe. He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players (i.e., everybody), to being involved in an obscure and complex version of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.
—from Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
God doesn't play dice with the universe. He just plays hide and seek.
Woody Allen, Husbands and Wives

There is no such thing as coincidence in this world - there is only inevitability

Yuko Ichihara, ×××HOLiC

There are no coincidences. Only what is necessary.

Kaho Mizuki, Cardcaptor Sakura

Never ignore a coincidence. Unless you're busy, in which case, always ignore a coincidence.

The Eleventh Doctor, Doctor Who

Vexxarr: Really? Didn't you just tell me that the ship had to put down? And then POOF! A space station - ready to order!
Carl: What you are suggesting is irrational. The probability that some force is using random events to single you out for specific misery is... is too remote to calculate!
Vexxarr: Is it more remote than dropping out of hyperspace directly in front of a large ship repair facility?!
Carl: I don't know!!

Vexxarr: (flailing tentacles) Check your math!!!
I don't believe in coincidence. I don't trust coincidence where wizards are concerned.
Coincidences are spiritual puns.
The Phoenix sighed and said, "There are no such things as coincidences. You simply weren't paying enough attention."
—from Change, Grow, To Live, part 2 by Shaule Sachs