On page 17 of The Last Lecture, Randy writes, "we cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." What might this say about Randy and the type of person he is? How might you apply this motto to your own life?

The quotation shows us that, despite everything, Randy's still a very positive person. He's been diagnosed with terminal cancer and doesn't have much longer to live. That's what he means when he says he's been dealt a bad hand in life.
However, instead of feeling sorry for himself, Randy uses what little time he has left on this earth to share his profound insights on life with others so that they may make the most of the time that's left to them, however long that is. Far from seeing his terminal illness as a curse, Randy sees it in some respects as a blessing, giving him opportunities to understand life, the universe, and everything that would not otherwise have been available to him. In other words, he's taken a very bad hand and played it as well as anyone could.