Destiny is but a phrase of the weak human heart—the dark apology for every error. The strong and virtuous admit no destiny. On earth conscience guides; in heaven God watches. And destiny is but the phantom we invoke to silence the one and dethrone the other.

About Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (; 25 May 1803 – 18 January 1873) was an English writer and politician. He served as a Whig member of Parliament from 1831 to 1841 and a Conservative from 1851 to 1866. He was Secretary of State for the Colonies from...

More quotations from Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Refuse to be ill. Never tell people you are ill; never own it to yourself. Illness is one of those things which a man should resist on principle.

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

A life of pleasure makes even the strongest mind frivolous at last.

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

life mind pleasure work exertion

She was discovering once again that reading and writing were not the same-you couldn't just soak it up then squeeze it out again.

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

writing

What a mistake to suppose that the passions are strongest in youth! The passions are not stronger, but the control over them is weaker! They are more easily excited, they are more violent and apparent; but they have less energy, less durability, less intense and concentrated power than in the maturer life.

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

youth

There is no such thing as luck. It's a fancy name for being always at our duty, and so sure to be ready when good time comes.

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

duty

More quotations tagged with “destiny”

Destiny waits alike for the free man as well as for him enslaved by another's might.

—Aeschylus

destiny

We are face to face with our destiny and we must meet it with high and resolute courage. For us is the life of action, of strenuous performance of duty; let us live in the harness, striving mightily; let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.

—Theodore Roosevelt

risk striving actions destiny duty

The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.

—Albert Ellis

life problems blame control destiny

You have to choose the life you want. You have to take action and realize that you create your own destiny by making choices and sticking to them.

—Robin Bielman in Wild About Her Wingman

action power choices control destiny

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public-relations officers.

—Daniel Boorstin

perception greatness public relations destiny

History

11 Jul 2015 Added
26 Oct 2026 Wording changed

Previous wording

Destiny is but a phrase of the weak human heart - the dark apology for every error. The strong and virtuous admit no destiny. On earth conscience guides; in heaven God watches. And destiny is but the phantom we invoke to silence the one and dethrone the other.