--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Destiny is not a strange power which…" description: "\"Destiny is not a strange power which determines what shall happen to me. It is myself as given, formed by nature, history, and myself. My destiny is th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/paul-tillich-3183_bases_destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-det_2183656.jpg" --- # Destiny is not a strange power which determines what shall… ![“Destiny is not a strange power which determines what shall happen to me. It is myself as given, formed by nature, history, and myself. My destiny is the basis of my freedom; my freedom participates in shaping my destiny.” quote by Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/paul-tillich-3183_bases_destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-det_2183656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/paul-tillich-3183_bases_destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-det_2183656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/paul-tillich-3183_bases_destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-det_2183656.jpg) > “Destiny is not a strange power which determines what shall happen to me. It is myself as given, formed by nature, history, and myself. My destiny is the basis of my freedom; my freedom participates in shaping my destiny.” [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Destiny is not an external force but the result of personal nature, history, and choices; freedom both shapes and is shaped by this self‑determined destiny. **In simple terms:** Destiny comes from self, history, and freedom. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑knowledge and intentional action. Themes freedom identity existence Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - moral decision‑making Key Concepts self‑determination philosophy of agency Questions to Reflect On - In what ways do societal factors limit personal destiny? - How can one balance freedom with responsibility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on individual control can ignore structural constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Destiny Basis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny-basis-4727126/) [Destiny Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny-strange-4727127/) [Determine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determine/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-destiny-597920/) [My destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-destiny/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Shaping Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaping-destiny-772745/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Strange Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange-power-578799/) ## Related quotes > [Continue single-mindedly to take small but significant steps in the shaping of your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/continue-single-mindedly-to-take-small-but-significant-steps-in-the/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [Being satisfied to drink the dregs from the cup of human progress will not demonstrate our fitness as a people to exist alongside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/being-satisfied-to-drink-the-dregs-from-the-cup-of-human-progress/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [He who only wishes and hopes does not interfere actively with the course of events and with the shaping of his own destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/he-who-only-wishes-and-hopes-does-not-interfere-actively-with-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Fate and self-help share equally in shaping our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indian-proverb/fate-and-self-help-share-equally-in-shaping-our-destiny/) [Indian Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indian-proverb/) > [All along, you've been shaping your destiny unconsciously. But you can also work on it consciously. If you make the effort to access your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/all-along-you-ve-been-shaping-your-destiny-unconsciously-but-you-can/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [I want to define success by redefining it. For me it isn't that solely mythical definition glamour, allure, power of wealth, and the privilege…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/i-want-to-define-success-by-redefining-it-for-me-it-isn-t-that-solely/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [“The beauty of life lies in our ability to recognize that we have freedom of choice, that we have a hand in shaping our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shieya/the-beauty-of-life-lies-in-our-ability-to-recognize-that-we-have/) [Shieya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shieya/) > [Inanimate objects sometimes appear endowed with a strange power of sight. A statue notices, a tower watches, the face of an edifice contemplates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/inanimate-objects-sometimes-appear-endowed-with-a-strange-power-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [There is the strange power we have of changing facts by the force of the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/there-is-the-strange-power-we-have-of-changing-facts-by-the-force-of/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [A series of accidents creates a positively light-hearted state, out of consideration for this strange power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/a-series-of-accidents-creates-a-positively-light-hearted-state-out-of/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [I often feel I am being burned at the stake just because I have always refused to give up that wonderful strange power I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-carrington/i-often-feel-i-am-being-burned-at-the-stake-just-because-i-have/) [Leonora Carrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-carrington/) > [Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power, After offence returning, to regain Love once possess'd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/yet-beauty-though-injurious-hath-strange-power-after-offence/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“How strange it was to have the power to cause others to feel something she herself did not feel; and then catch the hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/how-strange-it-was-to-have-the-power-to-cause-others-to-feel/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [The strange power of art is sometimes it can show that what people have in common is more urgent than what differentiates them. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/the-strange-power-of-art-is-sometimes-it-can-show-that-what-people/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [Also, as I lay there thinking of my vision, I could see it all again and feel the meaning with a part of me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/also-as-i-lay-there-thinking-of-my-vision-i-could-see-it-all-again/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) ## More by Paul Tillich > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Faith is the state of being ultimately concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/faith-is-the-state-of-being-ultimately-concerned/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [ \[American\] conformism might approximate collectivism, not so much in economic respects, and not too much in political respects, but very much in the pattern… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/american-conformism-might-approximate-collectivism-not-so-much-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [There is no condition for forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/there-is-no-condition-for-forgiveness/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/he-who-risks-and-fails-can-be-forgiven-he-who-never-risks-and-never/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Symbols have one characteristic in common with signs; they point beyond themselves to something else. The red sign at the street corner points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/symbols-have-one-characteristic-in-common-with-signs-they-point/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [In those who rest on their unshakable faith, pharisaism and fanaticism are the unmistakable symptoms of doubt which has been repressed. Doubt is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/in-those-who-rest-on-their-unshakable-faith-pharisaism-and-fanaticism/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [When you love someone and you love them with your heart, it never disappears when you're apart. Anh when you love someone and you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/when-you-love-someone-and-you-love-them-with-your-heart-it-never/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/being-religious-means-asking-passionately-the-question-of-the-meaning/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [The joy about our work is spoiled when we perform it not because of what we produce but because of the pleasure with which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/the-joy-about-our-work-is-spoiled-when-we-perform-it-not-because-of/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [In the courageous standing of uncertainty, faith shows most visibly its dynamic character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/in-the-courageous-standing-of-uncertainty-faith-shows-most-visibly/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [For love ... is the blood of life, the power of reunion in the separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/for-love-is-the-blood-of-life-the-power-of-reunion-in-the-separated/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [Man's ultimate concern must be expressed symbolically, because symbolic language alone is able to express the ultimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-s-ultimate-concern-must-be-expressed-symbolically-because/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [man is free, in so far as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature. Man is free even from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-is-free-in-so-far-as-he-has-the-power-of-contradicting-himself/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/the-citizens-of-a-city-are-not-guilty-of-the-crimes-committed-in/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) [Explore all 136 Paul Tillich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) ## More Bases quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/) [Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/) [Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Destiny is not a strange power which determines what shall happen to me. It is myself as given, formed by nature, history, and myself. My destiny is the basis of my freedom; my freedom participates in shaping my destiny.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Tillich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-determines-what-shall-happen-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bases" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-determines-what-shall-happen-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/paul-tillich-3183_bases_destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-det_2183656.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/paul-tillich-3183_bases_destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-det_2183656.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/291/paul-tillich-3183_bases_destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-det_2183656.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Destiny is not a strange power which determines what shall happen to me. It is myself as given, formed by…” — Paul Tillich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paul Tillich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Destiny is not a strange power...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-determines-what-shall-happen-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/destiny-is-not-a-strange-power-which-determines-what-shall-happen-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```