The plain working truth is that it is not only good for people to be shocked occasionally, but absolutely necessary to the progress of society that they should be shocked pretty often.

Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.

The beauty of life is its sudden changes. No one knows what is going to happen next, and so we are constantly being surprised and entertained.

Randomness, chaos, uncertainty, and chance are all a part of our lives. They reside at the ill-defined boundaries between what we know, what we can know, and what is beyond our knowing. They make life interesting.

Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.

Many things are linked to being able to live with uncertainty, ...with paradoxes. But this can be a strength of an organisation and a situation.

Chance is the nature of our universe. […] madness represents a chaotic reservoir of surprises. Some surprises can be valuable.

Shock is a merciful condition. It allows you to get through disaster with a necessary distance between you and your feelings.

I like to be surprised. Fresh implications and plot twists erupt as a story unfolds. Characters develop backgrounds, adding depth and feeling. Writing feels like exploring.

I now cherish the ability to be surprised by things that come up unexpectedly, by beautiful things and new perspectives that emerge out of the blue, even in the most conventional and repetitive settings. The ability to be surprised surprises me.

every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage.

Life for the most part is full of surprises. It can be difficult, but it is also an opportunity. Every crisis brings with it an opportunity. It makes things clearer, removes what is not essential.

Important benefits often accrue to states that behave in an unexpected way.

You can always find a shock of beauty or meaning in what life you have left.