Caprice Quote by T. S. Eliot
“Destiny ... a word which means more than we can find any definitions for. It is a word which can have no meaning in a mechanical universe: if that which is wound up must run down, what destiny is there in that? Destiny is not necessitarianism, and it is not caprice: it is something essentially meaningful. Each man has his destiny, though some men are undoubtedly "men of destiny" in a sense in which most men are not.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Idea of a Person", 1939
Destiny is a meaningful, non‑mechanical force beyond deterministic or random forces.
In simple terms: Destiny is meaningful, not just fate or randomness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize personal purpose beyond determinism.
Themes
purpose
meaning
free will
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- career choices
- creative projects
- life planning
Key Concepts
existentialism
philosophy
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you feel your life follows a predetermined path?
- How does belief in destiny affect your decisions?
A Different Perspective
Deterministic views may conflict with belief in destiny.
![“the ordinary man's experience is chaotic, irregular, fragmentary. [He] falls in love or reads Spinoza, and these two experiences have nothing to do with each other, or with the noise of the typewriter, or the smell of cooking; in the mind of the poet these experiences are always forming new wholes” quote by T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18e/t-s-eliot-633_art_the-ordinary-man-s-experience-is-chaotic_93688.jpg)
