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.]

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.

F.M. The Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr.
------ and declines to interfere in circumstances over which read more

F.M. The Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr.
------ and declines to interfere in circumstances over which he
has no control.

The happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.

The happy combination of fortuitous circumstances.

Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own.

Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own.

Circumstances alter cases.

Circumstances alter cases.

This fearful concatenation of circumstances.

This fearful concatenation of 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.