Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.
—William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925) American Political Leader, Diplomat, Politician
What do I know of man’s destiny? I could tell you more about radishes.
—Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) Irish Novelist, Playwright
We are not here on earth to change our destiny, but to fulfill it.
—Guy Finley
Death and life have their determined appointments; riches and honors depend upon heaven.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Destiny is always dark.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
What God writes on your forehead you will become.
—The Holy Quran Sacred Scripture of Islam
Both renunciation of action and the performance of action lead to Nirvana (Liberation); but these performance of action is superior to renunciation of action. The action of today becomes the destiny of tomorrow.
—Swami Chinmayananda (1916–93) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
The acts of this life are the destiny of the next.
—Eastern Proverb
More than anything else, I believe it’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
Destiny: A tyrant’s authority for crime and a fool’s excuse for failure.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Such as we are made of, such we be.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Philosopher, Musician, Physician
To accomplish our destiny it is not enough to merely guard prudently against road accidents. We must also cover before nightfall the distance assigned to each of us.
—Alexis Carrel (1873–1944) American Surgeon, Biologist
Every man carries with him the world in which he must live.
—Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) Italian-Born American Novelist, Writer
Destiny is an absolutely definite and inexorable ruler. Physical ability and moral determination count for nothing. It is impossible to perform the simplest act when the gods say “no.” I have no idea how they bring pressure to bear on such occasions; I only know that it is irresistible.
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) English Occultist, Mystic, Magician
And the high destiny of the individual is to serve rather than to rule, or to impose himself in any other way.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Man proposes, but God disposes.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
A strict belief in fate is the worst kind of slavery; on the other hand there is comfort in the thought that God will be moved by our prayers.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
No man of woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny – it is the light that guides your way.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Destiny bears us to our lot, and destiny is perhaps our own will.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
They who talk much of destiny, their birth-star, etc., are in a lower dangerous plane, and invite the evil they fear.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I must in the face of a storm, think, live and die as a king.
—Frederick II of Prussia (1712–86) Prussian Monarch
Blaming destiny is a poor out for those who don’t reach desired destinations.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Whatever you habitually think yourself to be, that you are. You must form, now, a greater and better habit; you must form a conception of yourself as a being of limitless power, and habitually think that you are that being. It is the habitual, not the periodical thought that decides your destiny.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves; we are underlings.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
But you can catch yourself entertaining habitually certain ideas and setting others aside; and that, I think, is where our personal destinies are largely decided.
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
The destiny of man is in his own soul.
—Herodotus (c.485–425 BCE) Ancient Greek Historian
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