Destiny quotes
2.4K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
Explore further
Browse quotes that often appear alongside destiny — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
Quote collection
Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.
"Then he knew that they had rounded the cape of good hope, and he took her large, soft hand again and covered it with forlorn little kisses, first the hard metacarpus, the long, discerning fingers, the diaphanous nails, and then the hieroglyphics of her destiny on her perspiring palm."
"When Eleanor's arm touched his he felt his hands grow cold with deadly fear lest he should lose the shadow brush with which his imagination was painting wonders of her. He watched her from the corners of his eyes as ever he did when he walked with her-- she was a feast and a folly and he wished it had been his destiny to sit forever on a haystack and see life through her green eyes."
"The extraordinary thing is not that people in a lifetime turn out worse or better than we had prophesied; particularly in America that is to be expected. The extraordinary thing is how people keep their levels, fulfill their promises, seem actually buoyed up by an inevitable destiny."
"The affairs of war, like the destiny of battles, as well as empires, hang upon a spiders thread."
"Wisdom and policy dictate that we must do as destiny demands and keep peace with the irresistible march of events."
"It is my unshakable belief that India's destiny is to deliver the message of nonviolence to mankind."
"Man is the maker of his own destiny, and I therefore ask you to become makers of your own destiny."
"Before we can aspire to guide the destinies of India, we shall have to adopt the habit of fearlessness."
"To find truth completely is to realize oneself and one's destiny, i.e. to become perfect."
"In a plan of life based on nonviolence, woman has as much right to shape her own destiny as man has to shape his."
"Going back to the origin is called peace; it means reversion to destiny. Reversion to destiny is called eternity. Those who know eternity are called enlightened."
"For me at this time in my life I recognize that everything is about moving closer to that which is God. And without a full, spiritual center - and I am not talking about religion, I am talking about without understanding the fullness from which you've come you can't really fulfill your supreme moment of destiny."
"I believe that education is freedom. It provides the tools to affect one's own destiny."
"The cornerstones of this country's operation are economic and political strength and power. The black man doesn't have the economic strength - and it will take time for him to build it. But right now the American black man has the political strength and power to change his destiny overnight."
"[My mother] was the oldest of two sisters and two brothers, and she grew up with her brothers, who were about her age. She grew up, to the age of ten, like a wild colt, and then all of a sudden that was over. They had forced on her her 'woman's destiny' by saying, 'This isn't done, this isn't good, this isn't worthy of a lady.'"
"We know very well that India's destiny is linked to world peace."
"The true dividing line between people is whether they are capable of being in love with their destiny."
"It is obvious: if you do not accept something that assumes the form of ‘destiny,’ you not only change its ‘natural laws’ but also the laws of the enemy playing the role of fate."
"Against destiny I fulfilled my duty. Uselessly? No, for I fulfilled it."
"Thy destiny is only that of man, but thy aspirations may be those of a god."
