Going Bovine Fate vs. Free Will Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"'Take my advice and live for a long, long time,'" Mom reads. "'Because the maddest thing a man can do in this life is to let himself die.'" (21.44)

Mom is quoting from Don Quixote here. DQ wasn't exactly the sanest dude on La Mancha, so his idea that you could control how and when you die is a bit wackadoo. But on the flipside, the concept of making the most out of your life seems rational, doesn't it?

Quote #5

"At first, we gave people a choice. But then we found they didn't like the blueberry as much as they thought they would or they wished they had gotten the strawberry instead, just like their best friends did. It was a big bummer. So we simplified things for them. Now, they can order whatever they want, but in the end, it's all the same flavor. You're guaranteed the same experience every single time. And you're having the same experience as everybody else. Cuts down on things like dissatisfaction, envy, competitiveness, longing, regret. All that bad stuff." (24.26)

The crazies at CESSNAB have removed the option for free will in order to eliminate "that bad stuff," but is doesn't actually make them happy. What does this say about people like Chet King who are made happier by believing that everyone has a fate they are already destined for?

Quote #6

Balder argues that you can never know about destiny: are the people you meet there to play a part in your destiny, or do you exist just to play a role in theirs? (31.11)

Is it possible for the answer to be both? This one's a real mind-bender—over to you, Shmoopers.