The massive gates of circumstance
Are turned upon the smallest hinge,
And thus some seeming pettiest chance
read more

The massive gates of circumstance
Are turned upon the smallest hinge,
And thus some seeming pettiest chance
Oft gives our life its after-tinge.
The trifles of our daily lives,
The common things, scarce worth recall,
Whereof no visible trace survives,
These are the mainsprings after all.

The long arm of coincidence.

The long arm of coincidence.

The happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.

The happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.

For these attacks do not contribute to make us frail but rather
show us to be what we are.

For these attacks do not contribute to make us frail but rather
show us to be what we are.

So runs the round of life from hour to hour.

So runs the round of life from hour to hour.

What the discordant harmony of circumstances would and could
effect.
[Lat., Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors.]

What the discordant harmony of circumstances would and could
effect.
[Lat., Quid velit et possit rerum concordia discors.]

And I endeavour to subdue circumstances to myself, and not myself
to circumstances.
[Lat., Et mihi res, non read more

And I endeavour to subdue circumstances to myself, and not myself
to circumstances.
[Lat., Et mihi res, non me rebus, subjungere conor.]

Accidental and fortuitous concourse of atoms.

Accidental and fortuitous concourse of atoms.

Epicureans, that ascribed the origin and frame of the world not
to the power of God, but to the read more

Epicureans, that ascribed the origin and frame of the world not
to the power of God, but to the fortuitous concourse of atoms.