"Circumstances define us; they force us onto one road or another, and then they punish us for it"

This quote by Ivan Turgenev talks to the concept that our lives are mostly identified by the situations we find ourselves in. We are often presented with choices, however the alternatives available to us are frequently restricted by our environment and the resources we have access to. This can lead to us making choices that we might not have chosen if we had more liberty. Additionally, these decisions can have effects that we might not have prepared for, and we can be punished for them. This quote highlights the idea that our lives are largely figured out by our situations, which we can be held liable for the choices we make. It is a reminder that we must be mindful of the decisions we make and the repercussions that might follow.