To me this quote means, sometimes you are given problems you can't control but that doesn't mean to give up on life in general.  There are alot of obsticals in life I have been given that would make it so easy to think that the rest of my life is ruined because it would be so easy to give up. You can't control where you came from, there are alot of things early in life you can't control, your parents, their rules, what they expose you to, how they treat you, health issues. You can control where you are going, you are living your own life don't let everybody, or anything run your life for you. Live your life don't let your life live you.