Destiny Quote by Jacques Ellul
“Fate operates when people give up”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Meaning of the City, 1953
When people abandon personal agency, destiny seems to take over, but it is actually a surrender to external forces.
In simple terms: Giving up leads to feeling fate is in control.
Key Takeaway
Maintain agency and resist passive resignation.
Themes
determinism
personal responsibility
existentialism
choice
agency
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- personal relationships
- political activism
- health choices
Key Concepts
free will
social conditioning
psychological surrender
Questions to Reflect On
- What areas of your life feel predetermined?
- How can you reclaim agency?
A Different Perspective
Believing in fate can limit proactive problem‑solving.
![“Man blindly works the will of fate. [Ger., Blindlings that er blos den Willen des Geschickes.]” quote by Christoph Martin Wieland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/661/christoph-martin-wieland-35565_dens_man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-b_3452.jpg)
