The Quotes canon

Sourced and curated.

Every quote has been curated by hand and carefully authenticated.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Fate25 quotes
Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfillment. — Homer · 700 BCThe best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft a-gley, An' lea'e us nought but grief and pain, For promis'd joy. — Robert Burns · 1785I often feel, and ever more deeply I realize, that Fate and character are the same conception. — Novalis · 1802By heaven, man, we are turned round and round in this world, like yonder windlass, and Fate is the handspike. — Herman Melville · 1851Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. — William Shakespeare · 1599Our destiny rules over us, even when we are not yet aware of it; it is the future that makes laws for our to-day. — Friedrich Nietzsche · 1878All 25 quotes →
Free will4 quotes
Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. — William Shakespeare · 1599Whatever befalls you was prepared for you beforehand from eternity, and the thread of causes was spinning from everlasting both your existence and this which befalls you. — Marcus Aurelius · 180Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie Which we ascribe to heaven. — William Shakespeare · 1616There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will. — William Shakespeare · 1616
God and man3 quotes
Zeus does not bring all men's plans to fulfillment. — Homer · 700 BCDo not try to find out-we're forbidden to know-what end the gods may bestow on me or you. — Horace · 23 BCDo your duty, and leave the outcome to the Gods. — Pierre Corneille · 1640
Time’s the king of men. He’s both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave. — William Shakespeare · 1608I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both get happening at the same time. — Forrest Gump · 1994
By heaven, man, we are turned round and round in this world, like yonder windlass, and Fate is the handspike. — Herman Melville · 1851Just so you know, judging from my little experience last night, I do think there is such a thing as fate. It just works in really fucked up ways sometimes. — Denise Fleming · 1998
It is very strange that I, a boy brought up in the woods, and seeing, as it were, but little of the world, should be drifted into the very apex of this great event. — Abraham Lincoln · 1864
Character1 quote
I often feel, and ever more deeply I realize, that Fate and character are the same conception. — Novalis · 1802
Be happy, drink, think each day your own as you live it and leave the rest to fortune. — Euripides · 438 BC
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft a-gley, An' lea'e us nought but grief and pain, For promis'd joy. — Robert Burns · 1785
Destiny1 quote
Our destiny rules over us, even when we are not yet aware of it; it is the future that makes laws for our to-day. — Friedrich Nietzsche · 1878
Do your duty, and leave the outcome to the Gods. — Pierre Corneille · 1640
Duty1 quote
Do your duty, and leave the outcome to the Gods. — Pierre Corneille · 1640
Whom the gods love dies young. — Menander · 290 BC
Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. — William Shakespeare · 1599
Happiness1 quote
Be happy, drink, think each day your own as you live it and leave the rest to fortune. — Euripides · 438 BC
Letting go1 quote
Be happy, drink, think each day your own as you live it and leave the rest to fortune. — Euripides · 438 BC
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie Which we ascribe to heaven. — William Shakespeare · 1616
Love1 quote
I never forgot. Not for one moment. I knew I'd find you in the end. It's our destiny. — Youngest Jamal · 2008
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft a-gley, An' lea'e us nought but grief and pain, For promis'd joy. — Robert Burns · 1785
Mortality1 quote
Time’s the king of men. He’s both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave. — William Shakespeare · 1608
Time’s the king of men. He’s both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave. — William Shakespeare · 1608
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie Which we ascribe to heaven. — William Shakespeare · 1616
We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us. — John Lewis · 2006
Politics1 quote
We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us. — John Lewis · 2006
Progress1 quote
We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us. — John Lewis · 2006
I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both get happening at the same time. — Forrest Gump · 1994
Randomness1 quote
I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it’s both. Maybe both get happening at the same time. — Forrest Gump · 1994
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie Which we ascribe to heaven. — William Shakespeare · 1616
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft a-gley, An' lea'e us nought but grief and pain, For promis'd joy. — Robert Burns · 1785
Time1 quote
Time’s the king of men. He’s both their parent, and he is their grave, And gives them what he will, not what they crave. — William Shakespeare · 1608