This fearful concatenation of circumstances.

This fearful concatenation of circumstances.

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.

Thus we see, too, in the world that some persons assimilate only
what is ugly and evil from the read more

Thus we see, too, in the world that some persons assimilate only
what is ugly and evil from the same moral circumstances which
supply good and beautiful results--the fragrance of celestial
flowers--to the daily life of others.

Accidental and fortuitous concourse of atoms.

Accidental and fortuitous concourse of atoms.

It is circumstances (difficulties) which show what men are.

It is circumstances (difficulties) which show what men are.

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.

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.]

To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and
convenience of our lives.

To what fortuitous occurrence do we not owe every pleasure and
convenience of our lives.

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.