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.

The happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.

The happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.

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.

This fearful concatenation of circumstances.

This fearful concatenation of circumstances.

So runs the round of life from hour to hour.

So runs the round of life from hour to hour.

Man, without religion, is the creature of circumstances.

Man, without religion, is the creature of circumstances.

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.

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.

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.]