Accidental and fortuitous concourse of atoms.

Accidental and fortuitous concourse of atoms.

Who does the best that circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly, angels could no more.

Who does the best that circumstance allows,
Does well, acts nobly, angels could no more.

The long arm of coincidence.

The long arm of coincidence.

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

Men's plans should be regulated by the circumstances, not
circumstances by the plans.
[Lat., Consilia res magis dant read more

Men's plans should be regulated by the circumstances, not
circumstances by the plans.
[Lat., Consilia res magis dant hominibus quam homines rebus.]

And grasps the skirts of happy chance,
And breasts the blows of circumstance.

And grasps the skirts of happy chance,
And breasts the blows of circumstance.

The changeful change of circumstances.
[Lat., Varia sors rerum.]

The changeful change of circumstances.
[Lat., Varia sors rerum.]

I am the very slave of circumstance
And impulse--borne away with every breath.

I am the very slave of circumstance
And impulse--borne away with every breath.

The circumstances of others seem good to us, while ours seem good
to others.
[Lat., Aliena nobis, nostra read more

The circumstances of others seem good to us, while ours seem good
to others.
[Lat., Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent.]