"for nothing"

[helphope]

Hi to everybody.
This is my first post.

I was wondering if the following sentence "nothing ever happens for nothing" (that is, "everything always happens by design") is comprehensible or if I need to make it clearer and use different words ("nothing ever happens by chance").

thanks

[LeighS]

Hi,
We generally say 'everything happens for a reason'

[helphope]

Thanks for answering.
So I guess that the "for nothing" sentence sounds awkward.

[LeighS]

a little, yes