Destiny Quote by Thomas Wolfe
““A destiny that leads the English to the Dutch is strange enough; but one that leads from Epsom into Pennsylvania, and thence into the hills that shut in Altamont over the proud coral cry of the cock, and the soft stone smile of an angel, is touched by that dark miracle of chance which makes new magic in a dusty world. Each of us is all the sums he has not counted: subtract us into nakedness and night again, and you shall see begin in Crete four thousand years ago the love that ended yesterday in Texas. The seed of our destruction will blossom in the desert, the alexin of our cure grows by a mountain rock, and our lives are haunted by a Georgia slattern, because a London cutpurse went unhung. Each moment is the fruit of forty thousand years. The minute-winning days, like flies, buzz home to death, and every moment is a window on all time. This is a moment:””
About This Quote
The excerpt reflects on the randomness of fate, linking disparate places and times, suggesting history is shaped by chance and hidden connections.
In simple terms: Life’s events are linked by chance across time and space.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the role of chance in history.
Themes
fate
history
chance
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- historical research
- creative writing
- strategic planning
Key Concepts
philosophy
literary analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How does chance influence personal destiny?
- Can we find meaning in random events?
A Different Perspective
It may overemphasize randomness, downplaying agency.
![“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_blindly_man-blindly-works-the-will-of-fate-ger-b_3452.jpg)
