No man of woman born, coward or brave, can shun his destiny.
—Homer (751–651 BCE) Ancient Greek Poet
He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.
—French Proverb
Every man carries with him the world in which he must live.
—Francis Marion Crawford (1854–1909) Italian-Born American Novelist, Writer
Thoughts lead on to purpose, purpose leads onto actions, actions form habits, habits decide character, and character fixes our destiny.
—Tryon Edwards (1809–94) American Theologian, Author
What do I know of man’s destiny? I could tell you more about radishes.
—Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) Irish Novelist, Playwright
Control your destiny or somebody else will.
—Jack Welch (1935–2020) American Businessperson
It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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
The destiny of any nation at any given time depends on the opinion of its young people, those under twenty-five.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The acts of this life are the destiny of the next.
—Eastern Proverb
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
We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
Destiny is but a phrase of the weak human heart—the dark apology for every error.—The strong and virtuous admit no destiny.—On earth conscience guides; in heaven God watches.—And destiny is but the phantom we invoke to silence the one and dethrone the other.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
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
The law of the harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.
—George Boardman the Younger (1828–1903) American Clergyman, Author
Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
No love, no friendship can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever.
—Francois Mauriac (1885–1970) French Novelist
You control your future, your destiny. What you think about comes about. By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands: your own.
—Mark Victor Hansen (b.1948) American Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur
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
Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the desire to serve…Learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, you will achieve your destiny.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
Destiny is always dark.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
No wind favors him who has no destined port.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Alas! we are the sport of destiny.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
Destiny is our will, and our will is nature.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
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
Nothing can have as its destination anything other than its origin. The contrary idea, the idea of progress, is poison.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us to surrender our destiny to. The only way in which anyone can lead us is to restore to us the belief in our own guidance.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Not without a shudder may the human hand reach into the mysterious urn of destiny.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Nature is at work.. Character and destiny are her handiwork. She gives us love and hate, jealousy and reverence. All that is ours is the power to choose which impulse we shall follow.
—David Seabury (1885–1960) American Psychologist
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
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