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 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. 
 How comes it to pass, if they be only moved by chance and 
accident, that such regular mutations and read more 
 How comes it to pass, if they be only moved by chance and 
accident, that such regular mutations and generations should be 
begotten by a fortuitous concourse of atoms. 
 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. 
 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. 
Circumstances beyond my individual control.
Circumstances beyond my individual control.
 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.] 
 Condition, circumstance, is not the thing;
 Bliss is the same in subject or in king.  
 Condition, circumstance, is not the thing;
 Bliss is the same in subject or in king. 
Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own.
Thus neither the praise nor the blame is our own.
 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.