Yet what are they, the learned and the great?
Awhile of longer wonderment the theme!
Who shall read more

Yet what are they, the learned and the great?
Awhile of longer wonderment the theme!
Who shall presume to prophesy their date,
Where nought is certain save the uncertainty of fate?
- Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher,

Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends.

Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends.

All human things are subject to decay,
And when fate summons, monarchs must obey.

All human things are subject to decay,
And when fate summons, monarchs must obey.

Fate is not an eagle, it creeps like a rat.

Fate is not an eagle, it creeps like a rat.

Let those deplore their doom,
Whose hope still grovels in this dark sojourn:
But lofty souls, who read more

Let those deplore their doom,
Whose hope still grovels in this dark sojourn:
But lofty souls, who look beyond the tomb,
Can smile at Fate, and wonder how they mourn.

'Tis Fate that flings the dice,
And as she flings
Of kings makes peasants,
read more

'Tis Fate that flings the dice,
And as she flings
Of kings makes peasants,
And of peasants kings.

Here's a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate;
And whatever read more

Here's a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate;
And whatever sky's above me,
Here's a heart for every fate.

Fate is nothing but the deeds committed in a prior state of existence.

Fate is nothing but the deeds committed in a prior state of existence.

No power or virtue of man could ever have deserved that what has
been fated should not have taken read more

No power or virtue of man could ever have deserved that what has
been fated should not have taken place.
[Lat., Nulla vis humana vel virtus meruisse unquam potuit, ut,
quod praescripsit fatalis ordo, non fiat.]