"People without firmness of character love to make up a fate for themselves; that relieves them of the necessity of having their own will and of taking responsibility for themselves"

This quote by Ivan Turgenev speaks to the concept that individuals who lack a strong sense of self and character typically prefer to think that their lives are predetermined by fate, instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. This allows them to avoid having to make hard decisions and take responsibility for the effects of their options. It is a method of avoiding the pain of needing to make their own decisions and take responsibility for their own lives. This quote suggests that those who do not have a strong sense of character are more likely to count on fate as a method of avoiding the duty of making their own choices. It is a pointer that we all have the power to shape our own lives and that we should take duty for our own actions.