“Every living thing is, from the cosmic perspective, incredibly lucky simply to be alive. Most, 90 percent and more, of all the organisms that have ever lived have died without viable offspring, but not a single one of your ancestors, going back to the dawn of life on Earth, suffered that normal misfortune. You spring from an unbroken line of winners.” LifeEarthLinesAlivePerspectiveLuckyNormalSpringPercentDiedWinnerDawnMisfortunesCosmicAncestorOrganismsLiving ThingsOffspringUnbroken Author:Daniel Dennett
“Has it ever occurred to you how lucky you are to be alive? More than 99 percent of all the creatures that have ever lived have died without progeny, but not a single one of your ancestors falls into that group! ... Not a single one of your ancestors, all the way back to the bacteria, succumbed to predation before reproducing, or lost out in the competition for a mate.” WayFallLostAliveGroupsAtheismLuckyCreaturesPercentDiedCompetitionPositive AtheismMatesAncestorBacteriaLucky YouProgenyReproducing Author:Daniel Dennett
“I had already made a decision early on that I would be a plain girl with tons of personality, and accepting it made everything a lot easier. If you are lucky, there is a moment in your life when you have some say as to what your currency is going to be. I decided early on it was not going to be my looks. I have spent a lifetime coming to terms with this idea and I would say I am about 15 to 20 percent there.Decide what your currency is early. Let go of what you will never have. People who do this are happier and sexier.” PeopleIfsLooksMadeIdeasMomentsWould BeGirlTermDecisionAcceptingPersonalityEasierLuckyLetting GoPercentDecidedLifetimeCurrency Author:Amy Poehler
“I love to cook when I have the time. I don't cook French or Mexican food with exact recipes. I just go to the supermarket and buy things that look good, and I mix it all together and invent something. Ninety-five percent of the time, I'm lucky. Sometimes not so lucky, and I say, 'Let's go out to dinner.'” LooksSometimesTogetherFiveLuckyPercentDinnerCooksRecipesNinetyMexicanSupermarketsSo LuckyMexican Food Author:Salma Hayek
“I have no lucky charm. I am 100 percent superstition-free, and I take nothing for granted.” LuckyPercentGrantedCharmSuperstitionsTake Nothing For GrantedLucky Charms Author:Jeff Bridges
“I'm in a very lucky position. You have to remember that 95 percent of all actors aren't working. I'm actually able to go to France and work. It's a situation I couldn't have dreamt up.” AbleRememberActorsSituationPositionLuckyPercentFranceWorking It Author:Mads Mikkelsen
“I often think about my Music Man guitars being 100 million percent tailored to my needs as a player and how lucky I am.” ThinkingMenNeedsMillionsPlayerLuckyPercentGuitarTailoredMusic Man Author:John Petrucci
“Most actors don't understand acting. I think it's an art form that craft is out the window. I don't think people get it at all, most of the time. Or they get some of it, not all of it. If you get an Academy Award nomination, you think 95 percent of the profession is unemployed at any given time, most people will never even find work as an actor, and the ones who do will probably make $50,000 a year at the most if they're lucky. Some will never do Broadway. Some will never do a major role. And a really, really, really small percentage of them maybe will be nominated for a major award.” PeopleIfsThinkingYearsArtFormActorsGivenActingRolesLuckyMajorsPercentWindowProfessionCraftsAwardsBroadwayPercentagesAcademyUnemployedNominationsAcademy Awards Author:Viola Davis
“In a growing number of states, you're actually expected to pay back the costs of your imprisonment. Paying back all these fees, fines, and costs may be a condition of your probation or parole. To make matters worse, if you're one of the lucky few who actually manages to get a job following release from prison, up to 100% of your wages can be garnished to pay back all those fees, fines and court costs. One hundred percent.” IfsMayMatterStatesJobsNumbersPayGrowingConditionsFineCostLuckyPercentHundredCourtPrisonFollowingExpectedManageReleaseWagesFeesImprisonmentParoleProbation Author:Michelle Alexander
“When I got to college, the fake ID thing wasn't that important, since pretty much everyone could get away with drinking in New Orleans. But the drugs, well, that was a different story altogether, because drugs are every bit as illegal in New Orleans as anywhere else--at least, if you're black and poor, and have the misfortune of doing your drugs somewhere other than the dorms at Tulane University. But if you are lucky enough to be living at Tulane, which is a pretty white place, especially contrasted with the city where it's located, which is 65 percent black, then you are absolutely set.” IfsWellsImportantDifferentEnoughStoriesBitsBlackWhitePoorCitiesCollegeDrugLuckyPercentDrinkingUniversityFakeGet AwayIllegalMisfortunesNew OrleansDorms Author:Tim Wise