"There are many spokes on the wheel of life. First, we're here to explore new possibilities"
About this Quote
The second sentence lands like a mission statement disguised as casual wisdom. “First” is doing a lot of work. It implies priorities: before legacy, before certainty, before the performance of having it all figured out, there’s the basic job of trying. “Explore new possibilities” is also a remarkably generous phrasing from an artist whose career was built on crossing boundaries that were policed hard in mid-century America. Charles fused gospel intensity with blues and country at a time when genres mapped onto racial and moral anxieties. Calling that fusion “exploration” reframes risk as purpose, not rebellion for its own sake.
The subtext is resilience without sanctimony. Charles, blind from childhood, navigated an industry that marketed him as a miracle while profiting from his labor. This line sidesteps inspiration clichés and instead insists on agency: your life isn’t defined by one limitation or one lane. Keep adding spokes. Keep the wheel turning.
Quote Details
| Topic | New Beginnings |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Charles, Ray. (2026, January 16). There are many spokes on the wheel of life. First, we're here to explore new possibilities. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-are-many-spokes-on-the-wheel-of-life-first-113349/
Chicago Style
Charles, Ray. "There are many spokes on the wheel of life. First, we're here to explore new possibilities." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-are-many-spokes-on-the-wheel-of-life-first-113349/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"There are many spokes on the wheel of life. First, we're here to explore new possibilities." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-are-many-spokes-on-the-wheel-of-life-first-113349/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.







