---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death was to be my glory, but destiny has…"
description: "\"Death was to be my glory, but destiny has refused it.\" — Pierre Corneille"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/pierre-corneille-2033_death_death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has_2304695.jpg"
---

#  Death was to be my glory, but destiny has refused it.

![“Death was to be my glory, but destiny has refused it.” quote by Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/pierre-corneille-2033_death_death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has_2304695.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/pierre-corneille-2033_death_death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has_2304695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/pierre-corneille-2033_death_death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has_2304695.jpg)

> “Death was to be my glory, but destiny has refused it.”

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes a heroic death that was expected but denied by fate.

**In simple terms:** Destiny denied a glorious death.

Key Takeaway

Accept that fate can alter expectations.

Themes

fate honor destiny

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

dramatic philosophical

When to use this quote

- career setbacks
- unmet ambitions
- life planning

Key Concepts

tragedy heroism free will

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you reconcile ambition with uncertainty?
- What does honor mean to you?

A Different Perspective

May foster fatalism over agency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-glory-2692265/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Destiny Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny-refused-5456631/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Glory Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory-destiny-5456632/) [Refused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refused/)

## Related quotes

> [“I will suffer nothing as great as death without glory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/i-will-suffer-nothing-as-great-as-death-without-glory/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“God is a God of glory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/god-is-a-god-of-glory/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/the-man-who-glories-in-his-luck-may-be-overthrown-by-destiny/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [“I did not want to have a descendent to recite an elegy one day for me in the desert.” “What’s that?” “I wouldn’t have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-al-koni/i-did-not-want-to-have-a-descendent-to-recite-an-elegy-one-day-for-me/)

[Ibrahim al-Koni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-al-koni/)

> [“But what would be our readers’ reaction if we simply refused to get to the bottom of that question?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/but-what-would-be-our-readers-reaction-if-we-simply-refused-to-get-to/)

[Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/)

> [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [While receiving radiation treatment for a thyroid illness, I had refused to take beta-blockers - a medication that would have eased its side effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-devers/while-receiving-radiation-treatment-for-a-thyroid-illness-i-had/)

[Gail Devers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-devers/)

> [“He had been willing to die because he refused to take a life. But me, I contemplated shooting everyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tintera/he-had-been-willing-to-die-because-he-refused-to-take-a-life-but-me-i/)

[Amy Tintera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tintera/)

> [I was born to love - but none of you wanted to believe it, and that misunderstanding was crucial in forming my character. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-was-born-to-love-but-none-of-you-wanted-to-believe-it-and-that/)

[George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/)

> [“The candidate who billed himself as a billionaire—ten times over—refused even to invest his own money in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/the-candidate-who-billed-himself-as-a-billionaire-ten-times-over/)

[Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/)

> [I draw the line at some things. Some things I won't do for any amount of money. Like for instance, there's a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-draw-the-line-at-some-things-some-things-i-won-t-do-for-any-amount/)

[Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/)

> [“She refused to know love again. The thought of another heartbreak was far too much for her to bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-a-o-neal/she-refused-to-know-love-again-the-thought-of-another-heartbreak-was/)

[Terry a O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-a-o-neal/)

> [Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/every-champion-was-once-a-contender-that-refused-to-give-up/)

[Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/)

> [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [I had only two offers of marriage in my life, and I refused both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/i-had-only-two-offers-of-marriage-in-my-life-and-i-refused-both/)

[Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/)

## More by Pierre Corneille

> [Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/sir-what-does-it-matter-whom-i-serve-so-long-as-i-am-right/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-himself-to-be-insulted-deserves-to-be/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [Flee an enemy who knows your weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/flee-an-enemy-who-knows-your-weakness/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [Such is the caprice of Romans... who reject kings in name but not in practice, and accept an Emperor mightier than a hundred kings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/such-is-the-caprice-of-romans-who-reject-kings-in-name-but-not-in/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster; either condemn or crown your hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/to-take-revenge-halfheartedly-is-to-court-disaster-either-condemn-or/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/they-who-overcome-their-desires-once-can-overcome-them-always/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [ By speaking of our misfortunes we often relieve them. \[Fr., A raconter ses maux souvent on les soulage.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/by-speaking-of-our-misfortunes-we-often-relieve-them-fr-a-raconter/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [Self-love is the source of all our other loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/self-love-is-the-source-of-all-our-other-loves/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [As our self-interests differ, so do our feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/as-our-self-interests-differ-so-do-our-feelings/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [I don't know how to defend myself: surprised innocence cannot imagine being under suspicion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/i-don-t-know-how-to-defend-myself-surprised-innocence-cannot-imagine/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [He who allows me to rule is in fact my master](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-allows-me-to-rule-is-in-fact-my-master/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [All great virtues become great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/all-great-virtues-become-great-men/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [He who forgives readily only invites offense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-forgives-readily-only-invites-offense/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [For souls nobly born, valor doesn't await the passing of years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/for-souls-nobly-born-valor-doesn-t-await-the-passing-of-years/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

> [It is the gift of heaven and not of reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/it-is-the-gift-of-heaven-and-not-of-reason/)

[Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

[Explore all 181 Pierre Corneille quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/)

## More Death quotes

> [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/)

[Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/)

> [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/)

[Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/)

> [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/)

[Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/)

> [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/)

[J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/)

> [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/)

[Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/)

> [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/)

[Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/)

> [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/)

[Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/)

[Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/)

> [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/)

[Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/)

[Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Death was to be my glory, but destiny has refused it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pierre Corneille"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has-refused-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Death"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has-refused-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/pierre-corneille-2033_death_death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has_2304695.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/pierre-corneille-2033_death_death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has_2304695.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/pierre-corneille-2033_death_death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has_2304695.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Death was to be my glory, but destiny has refused it.” — Pierre Corneille",
                "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": "Pierre Corneille",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Death was to be my glory,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has-refused-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/death-was-to-be-my-glory-but-destiny-has-refused-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
