Fate steals along with silent tread, Found oftenest in what least we dread; Frowns in the storm with angry brow, But in the sunshine strikes the blow.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Men at sometime are the masters of their fate.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I see it only that thyself is here, and art and nature, hope and fate, friends, angels and the supreme being shall not be absent from the chamber where thou sittest.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
A bald man scorched by the rays on sun on his head, seeking shade, guided by his fate, took shelter under a palm tree hoping to get some relief. Even there, a big fruit fell from the tree, with a loud noise broke his head and killed him. Usually, troubles always follow an unlucky person wherever he goes.
—Neetishatakam
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
They… who await
No gifts from Chance, have conquered Fate.
—Matthew Arnold (1822–88) English Poet, Critic
If fate means you to lose, give him a good fight anyhow.
—William McFee (1881–1966) English Writer
Whatever the universal nature assigns to any man at any time is for the good of that man at that time.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
One must either be the hammer or the anvil.
—German Proverb
Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
We shun the rugged battle of fate where strength is born.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Seek not to know what must not be reveal, for joy only flows where fate is most concealed. A busy person would find their sorrows much more; if future fortunes were known before!
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
All human things are subject to decay,
And, when Fate summons, monarchs must obey;
This Flecknoe found, who like Augustus young
Was call’d to empire, and had govern’d long:
In prose and verse, was own’d, without dispute
Through all the realms of nonsense, absolute.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
I often feel, and ever more deeply I realize, that fate and character are the same conception.
—Novalis (1772–1801) German Romantic Poet, Novelist
It is the fate of the coconut husk to float, of the stone to sink.
—Malaysian Proverb
Destiny has two ways of crushing us—by refusing our wishes and by fulfilling them.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
A God without dominion, providence, and final causes, is nothing else but fate and nature.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
I have a wife, I have sons: all of them hostages given to fate.
—Lucian (c.120–c.200 CE) Greek Satirist, Rhetorician, Writer
Our fate, whatever it is to be, will be overcome by patience under it.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
The lofty pine is oftenest shaken by the winds; High towers fall with a heavier crash; And the lightning strikes the highest mountain.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
Fate is not satisfied with inflicting one calamity.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Whatever may happen to thee, it was prepared for thee from all eternity; and the implication of causes was, from eternity, spinning the thread of thy being, and of that which is incident to it.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
A door that seems to stand open must be a man’s size, or it is not the door that providence means for him.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Fate is the endless chain of causation, whereby things are; the reason or formula by which the world goes on.
—Zeno of Citium (c.334–c.265 BCE) Greek Philosopher
Fate throws fortune, but not everyone catches.
—Polish Proverb
Fate rules the affairs of men, with no recognizable order.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Destiny: A tyrant’s authority for crime and a fool’s excuse for failure.
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913) American Short-story Writer, Journalist
What fate imposes, men must needs abide; it boots not to resist both wind and tide.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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