Tempted fate will leave the loftiest star.

Tempted fate will leave the loftiest star.

Destiny has two ways of crushing us -- by refusing our wishes and by fulfilling them.

Destiny has two ways of crushing us -- by refusing our wishes and by fulfilling them.

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.

There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.

There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.

Stern fate and time
Will have their victims; and the best die first,
Leaving the bad still read more

Stern fate and time
Will have their victims; and the best die first,
Leaving the bad still strong, though past their prime,
To curse the hopeless world they ever curs'd
Vaunting vile deeds, and vainest of the worst.

Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.

Fate leads the willing and drags along the unwilling.

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

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

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.

Fate steals along with silent tread,
Found oftenest in what least we dread;
Frowns in the storm read more

Fate steals along with silent tread,
Found oftenest in what least we dread;
Frowns in the storm with angry brow,
But in the sunshine strikes the blow.