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Circumstances Quotes

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Circumstances Quotes

“Surely one of the peculiar habits of circumstances is the way they follow, in their eternal recurrence, a single course. If an event happens once in a life, it may be depended upon to repeat later its general design.”

Ifs Way May Happens Courses Events Design Habit Circumstances Eternal Repeats Peculiar Recurrence

Author:Ellen Glasgow

“The circumstances with which every thing in this world is begirt, give every thing in this world its size and shape;--and by tightening it, or relaxing it, this way or that, make the thing to be, what it is--great--little--good--bad--indifferent or not indifferent, just as the case happens.”

World Way Life Giving Littles Happens Change Cases This World Circumstances Shapes Size Life Changing Indifferent

Book:The Works of Laurence Sterne: Containing the Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gent., Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, Sermons, Letters, &c. With a Life of the Author Written by Himself

Source: The Works of Laurence Sterne: Containing the Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gent., Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, Sermons, Letters, &c. With a Life of the Author Written by Himself

“It's not what happens to us that makes the difference in our lives. What makes the difference is our attitude towards what happens. The idea of luck is a powerful way of illustrating the importance of our basic attitudes in affecting whether or not we find our Element.”

Way Ideas Happens Motivational Differences Powerful Attitude Our Lives Circumstances Elements Importance Luck Illustrating

Book:The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Source: The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

“One of the great arts in living is to learn the art of accurately appraising values. Everything that we think, that we earn, that we have given to us, that in any way touches our consciousness, has its own value. These values are apt to change with the mood, with time, or because of circumstances. We cannot safely tie to any material value. The values of all material possessions change continually, sometimes over night. Nothing of this nature has any permanent set value. The real values are those that stay by you, give you happiness and enrich you. They are the human values.”

“The obsession with gold, actually and politically, occurs among those who regard economics as a branch of morality. Gold is solid, gold is durable, gold is rare, gold is even (in certain very peculiar circumstances) convertible. To believe in thrift, solidity and soundness is to believe in some way in the properties of gold.”

Way Believe Certain Money Circumstances Morality Economics Gold Regard Property Obsession Branches Peculiar Thrift Solidity Soundness

Author:Christopher Hitchens

“Mothers and fathers act in mostly similar ways toward their young children. Psychologists are still highlighting small differencesrather than the overwhelming similarities in parents' behaviors. I think this is a hangover from the 1950s re-emergence of father as a parent. He has to be special. The best summary of the evidence on mothers and fathers with their babies is that young children of both sexes, in most circumstances, like both parents equally well. Fathers, like mothers, are good parents first and gender representatives second.”

“God seems to have a delightful way of upsetting the things we have calculated on without taking Him into account. We get into circumstances which were not chosen by God, and suddenly we find we have been calculating without God; He has not entered in as a living factor. The one thing that keeps us from the possibility of worrying is bringing God in as the greatest factor in all our calculations.”

Way Has Beens Seems Worry One Thing Possibility Circumstances Accounts Chosen Factors Upset Delightful Calculations Without God Calculating Chosen By God

Book:My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

Source: My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

“Science is the most durable and nondivisive way of thinking about the human circumstance. It transcends cultural, national, and political boundaries. You don't have American science versus Canadian science versus Japanese science.”

Thinking Way Humans Political Circumstances Boundaries Versus Way Of Thinking

Author:Sam Harris

“The generality of men are so bound within the sphere of their circumstances that they have not even the courage to get out of them through their ideas, and if we see a few whom, in a way, speculation over great things makes incapable of mean ones, we find still more with whom the practice of small things takes away the feeling for great ones.”

Ifs Men Way Mean Stills Ideas Feelings Practice Circumstances Bounds Great Things Spheres Incapable Speculation Small Things Great Ones Generalities

Author:Luc de Clapiers

“Principles are concepts that can be applied over and over again in similar circumstances as distinct from narrow answers to specific questions. Every game has principles that successful players master to achieve winning results. So does life. Principles are ways of successfully dealing with the laws of nature or the laws of life. Those who understand more of them and understand them well know how to interact with the world more effectively than those who know fewer of them or know them less well.”

“The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens. As Americans, we are blessed with circumstances that protect our human rights and our religious freedom, but for many people around the world, deprivation and persecution have become a way of life.”

People World Way Life Humans Found Religious Freedom Rights Citizens Circumstances Protect Treats Blessed Human Rights Around The World Helpless Persecution Religious Freedom Deprivation

Author:Jimmy Carter

“There are more similarities than differences when it comes to preparation of a performance. You're using some lyrics, you have a relationship with them, they apply to different parts of your life and different circumstances, different memories, different stories you have in your head. You form personal relationships with the song. I think that's very similar, in a way, to prepping a character. You pour your own personality, in a sense, into the character, you sympathize with a character in a way that's similar to the way you might sympathize with a song.”

Thinking Way Different Character Stories Might Form Song Differences Memories Personality Circumstances Performances Preparation Similarity Personal Relationships

Author:Scarlett Johansson

“I'm against divorce. I think the Bible teaches that divorce is wrong, but at the same time, I also believe that the Bible has a leave way; Jesus said that a person should not be divorced and should not be separated. But in the Old Testament, men could have more than one wife under certain circumstances. And there must be reasons for that. And I think that some of them are valid reasons.”

Thinking Men Way Should Believe Persons Said Reason Certain Jesus Teach Wife Circumstances Divorce Testament Divorced Old Testament

Author:Billy Graham

“The ways of change are dictated by the circumstances of each country, each place and each time. I don't think that arrogant intellectuals should be dictating to the people which way they should be heading. I think we should be listening to the people, see in which directions things are developing. People are walking where they can, not where they want to. But they are walking!”

People Thinking Way Want Should Country Listening Circumstances Walking Developing Arrogant Can Not Headings Dictating

Author:Eduardo Galeano

“I am not a psychological novelist, and I try very hard not to allow the reader to see the plight or circumstances of the characters as individual psychological plights. That's my preference; still, a lot of people do read my novels as psychological studies, and they're right to read them that way too, if that's what they mean to them.”

People Ifs Way Trying Mean Stills Hard Character Individual Novel Study Reader Circumstances Psychological Novelists Preference Plight

Author:Alix Kates Shulman

“I want to live the way I choose. It's all about happiness. I'm a happy person. But to find true happiness, peace within yourself and the world, that is something achieved in the moment. No matter the circumstance.”

World Way Want Persons Matter Moments Circumstances True Happiness Happy Person Peace Within

Author:Brett Dennen

“A truly unselfish act is not mine, but God's. It cannot be obstructed. Only for my own plans, my own wishes to study, to work, to rest, eat, or do a service to my fellowman- can some external circumstance "get in the way," and then I am grieved.”

Way Wish My Own Study Plans Mines Circumstances Unselfish Asceticism Unselfish Acts

Book:Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth

Source: Way of the Ascetics: The Ancient Tradition of Discipline and Inner Growth

“No matter what I've written, someone somewhere has come up to me and said, "Me too." The truth can be offensive, but it's always nourishing, in a way. You recognize it. You can feel it. And even if [readers] think, "My god, I would never get in those situations," within those ridiculous circumstances that I have created for myself, they know the way I respond is probably what they would do too.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Way Feels Said Matter Situation Written Reader Circumstances No Matter What Come Up Ridiculous Offensive

Author:Augusten Burroughs

“We all have to learn, in one way or another, that neither men nor boys get second chances in this world. We all get new chances to the end of our lives, but not second chances in the same set of circumstances; and the great difference between one person and another is how he takes hold and uses his first chance, and how he takes his fall if it is scored against him.”

Ifs Men World Way Life Firsts Persons Ends Use Fall Differences Chance Boys Learning Our Lives This World Circumstances One Way Second Chance

Book:True Manliness

Source: True Manliness

“Circumstances cause us to act the way we do. We should always bear this in mind before judging the actions of others. I realized this from the start during World War II.”

World Way Should Mind War Action Causes Judging Bears Circumstances I Realized War Of The Worlds World War Ii

Author:Thor Heyerdahl

“Whatever character you play, whatever film it is, whatever story it is, for me, in my training it's always something that gives you a layered character, it's understanding the secret of that character, and so whatever comes up as "Oh, I thought that person was that," you are always carrying that within you. So actually what you're playing all the way through is both and it's just what comes out in the scene or the circumstance.”

Way Giving Persons Play Character Stories Film Understanding Secret Circumstances Scene Training Come Up Within You

Author:Julia Ormond

“Well I can tell you that for me generally speaking that I think things that I deal with are all to do with not accepting things, not excepting life on life's terms. My life becomes a lot easier when I'm willing to just accept. I don't have to like circumstances as they are, but I have to accept them and that's where I always seem to get thrown, when I try to will my way instead of accept things the way they are.”

Thinking Way Trying Wells I Can Seems Term Deals Accepting Willing Circumstances Easier My Way Thrown Accepting Things

Author:Matt Dillon

“As an actor, you can really play the intensity and gravity and seriousness of the moment, and just rely on the circumstances being funny. The joke is kind of the situation you're in, or the way you're reacting to something, as opposed to the characters just saying something witty.”

Way Kind Play Moments Character Actors Situation Circumstances Jokes Witty Rely Intensity Gravity Seriousness Reacting Just Saying Being Funny

Author:Ed Helms

“I work within the framework of a very concerted, purely driven Protestant Christian mindset. I had dark early circumstances. I went inward. I have a sturdy will. I have a big heart. I'm a decent guy. And I have a great gift. It's blunted me to the world in many ways.”

World Way Heart Bigs Christian Guy Dark Circumstances Mindset Driven Decent Inward Framework Protestants Great Gifts Sturdy Big Heart Decent Guys

Author:James Ellroy

“I think that everything in the world around us is a reflection of what is going on inside of us. So each of us as an individual creates a life - we draw to us certain people and events and circumstances that reflect what's going on inside of us, so we can literally look at our life and see a mirror of our own consciousness. And if that's true on an individual level, it's also true that what's going on in the world in a bigger way is a reflection of the collective consciousness.”

People Ifs Thinking World Way Looks Certain Individual Levels Consciousness Our Lives Events Circumstances Draws Reflection Bigger Mirrors Collectives Collective Consciousness

Author:Shakti Gawain

“Healing... is an active and internal process that includes investigating one's attitudes, memories and beliefs with the desire to release all negative patterns that prevent one's full emotional and spiritual recovery. This internal review inevitably leads one to review one's external circumstances in an effort to recreate one's life in a way that serves activation of will - the will to see and accept truths about one's life and how one has used one's energies; and the will to begin to use energy for the creation of love, self-esteem, and health.”

Source: Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing

“I think circumstance plays a big part in terms of what I do. For example, if I wasn't ever able to show in an art gallery I probably wouldn't really make very much sculpture. But I've had the opportunity to show in big spaces, so I want to fill up that space in the same way you might want to fill up a page.”

Ifs Thinking Way Want Art Play Shows Bigs Might Able Opportunity Term Space Example Circumstances Pages Sculpture Gallery Art Galleries

Author:David Shrigley

“To me, the fun part of both jobs is to always try to push the discussion and debate forward in some way. The most fun part of being a theater critic for the Times was always to try and champion something that maybe other people didn't like, or that was produced under obscure circumstances or had to fight for its life. And I would say in the column what I try to do is in some ways related in that I'm trying to fight for a point of view. I'm not trying to be a kingmaker in either job, and don't want to be, and shouldn't be.”

People Way Want Trying Jobs Fighting Fun Views Circumstances Theater Critics Point Of View Debate Discussion Champion Related Obscure Columns

Author:Frank Rich

“You do what you do - in the circumstances in which you find yourself - because of the way you are. So if you're going to be ultimately responsible for what you do, you're going to have to be ultimately responsible for the way you are - at least in certain mental respects. But you can't be ultimately responsible for the way you are (for the reasons just given). So you can't be ultimately responsible for what you do.”

Ifs Way Reason Certain Given Circumstances Responsible Finding Yourself

Author:Galen Strawson

“There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment: 'Judge not.'”

Knows Way Heart Reason Might Christian Religious Knowing Judging Circumstances Intention Criticize Commandments Criticise Bad Intentions

Author:Thomas S. Monson

“Your challenge is not your challenge. Your challenge is the way you think about your challenge. Your problem is not your problem; it is the way you look at it.”

Thinking Way Looks Problem Process Challenges Circumstances

Author:Max Lucado

“The way to feel better about your own situation is to improve someone else’s circumstances.”

Way Feels Situation Circumstances Feel Better

Book:Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

Source: Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

“Acting is broad enough a church that you can pick your races, decide which way you want to go at different times.I think that the story and circumstance tends to dictate the most and then what you do with your own approach after that.”

Thinking Way Want Different Enough Stories Church Acting Race Circumstances Approach Picks Broads Different Times

Author:Ben Mendelsohn

“I like a person who knows his own mind and sticks to it; who sees at once what is to be done in given circumstances and does it. He does not beat about the bush for difficulties or excuses, but goes the shortest and most effectual way to work to attain his own ends, or to accomplish a useful object.”

Knows Way Mind Persons Doe Ends Done Given Objects Circumstances Beats Difficulty Sticks Excuse Accomplish

Book:Table talk

Source: Table talk

“The most reliable ways to make oneself miserable are attempting to change people and not attempting to change circumstances.”

People Way Circumstances Oneself Miserable Attempting

Author:Carolyn Hax

“The Bible is not a book that you can open and say, 'Now, Lord, put some magic into my soul that will open up the meaning of this book.' There is only one way really to understand the Word, and that is through wrestling with the circumstances and happenings of life.”

Way Book Soul Lord Magic Circumstances Happenings My Soul One Way Wrestling

Book:Devotions for a Deeper Life

Source: Devotions for a Deeper Life

“The free market opens the way for men to operate at their moral best, and all observation confirms that the poor fare better under these circumstances than when the way is closed, as it is under socialism.”

Men Way Poor Moral Circumstances Socialism Observation Free Market

Author:Leonard Read

“Remember, no matter what you background is and what your current circumstances are, you have the capacity to take action. This is one of the golden threads of humanity - we all have the power to act in a way that will improve the quality of our lives.”

Way Matter Action Remember Humanity Quality Our Lives Circumstances Capacity No Matter What Currents Backgrounds Golden Thread

Author:Robin Sharma

“We have our core values as a family, and we've kept them, that's our number one priority is making sure our kids know that so they also will have the same values, no matter what circumstances come your way.”

Knows Way Matter Kids Values Numbers Circumstances No Matter What Priorities Core Core Values

Author:Missy Robertson

“The only way a man can remain consistent amid changing circumstances is to change with them while preserving the same dominating purpose.”

Men Way Purpose Circumstances Consistent Dominating

Book:Great destiny: sixty years of the memorable events in the life of the man of the century recounted in his own incomparable words

Source: Great destiny: sixty years of the memorable events in the life of the man of the century recounted in his own incomparable words

“I think there's always pieces of yourself that bleed into your character. That's inevitable. In some ways, we have similarities, but in other ways, we're completely different. It's hard to say because I'm an actor living in a world where we're all pretty privileged, and this guy is fighting for his life. They're very different circumstances. Within those circumstances, there are probably ways that we react to certain situations that are similar.”

Thinking World Way Different Hard Character Guy Certain Fighting Actors Situation Pieces Circumstances Inevitable Privileged This Guy Similarity

Author:Dustin Clare

“But the web is to some degree a broth of psychopaths seeing what they can get away with in circumstances of anonymity. Look, we live in a world where one is unsafe in various ways because of the Internet. Anything can be said. Someone can look at your house from space.”

World Way Looks Said House Space Seeing Internet Circumstances Degrees Various Get Away Anonymity Psychopath Unsafe

Author:William Monahan

“It appears that the way people perceive the world is much more important to happiness than objective circumstances.”

People World Way Important Circumstances Objectives Perceive

Author:Ed Diener

“I'm interested in everything about what it means to be a human being, so every role is an excuse to delve into a different way of life, a different socio-economic background, and a different tragic or comedic circumstance.”

Way Humans Mean Different Human Beings Roles Economic Circumstances Excuse Backgrounds Different Ways Tragic Comedic

Author:Rachelle Lefevre

“With everything you're letting go, I'm sure it's going to have a different value to you. And every time you let go you're going to be a different age or there's going to be different circumstances. So I think the best way to do it is to simply wish the best for that thing.”

Thinking Way Different Age Values Wish Circumstances Letting Go Best Way Different Ages Different Values

Author:Jason Mraz

“There are many ways to cover up our sin. We may justify or minimize it by blaming circumstances and others people. However, real repentance first admits sin as sin and takes full responsibility. True confession and repentance begins when blame shifting ends...Just as real repentance begins only where blame shifting ends, so it also begins where self-pity ends, and we start to turn from our sin out of love for God rather than mere self-interest.”

People Way Firsts May Real Ends Self Turns Interest Sin Responsibility Circumstances Blame Mere Pity God Love Justify Repentance Confession Shifting Self Interest Self Pity Cover Ups

Author:Timothy Keller

“In the first stage of insight-building, all that researchers can do is observe phenomena. Second, they classify the phenomena in a way that helps them simplify the apparent complexities of the world so they can ignore the meaningless differences and draw connections between the things that really seem to matter. Third, based on the classification system, they propose a theory. The theory is a statement of what causes what and why, and under what circumstances.”

“One reason there are so many short-lived management fads is that their prescriptions were derived and advocated in precisely this way. So managers read about a fad and try it, find that it doesn't work, abandon the effort, and move on to the next thing. In reality, it is usually the case that the faddish prescription was indeed sound advice in certain circumstances, but actually was poor advice in other circumstances.”

Way Trying Reason Reality Moving Certain Next Sound Poor Effort Cases Advice Circumstances Management Managers Abandon Prescriptions Fads Short Lived Sound Advice

Author:Clayton Christensen

“King Hussein never lost his faith, no matter how difficult and unbearable and cruel the circumstances could be. I always remember that. It helps me get through everything. It's a way of trying to keep that positive spirit alive for as many people as we can touch. I think that's good for the world.”

People Thinking World Way Trying Matter Helping Remember Spirit Lost Difficult Alive Kings Circumstances Help Me Hussein Unbearable

Author:Queen Noor of Jordan

“Even if leftists were able to get control of every institution they want to destroy, what they want is not possible. The circumstances for life on this planet that they want are not possible to achieve. The closest they can get to it is communism and tyranny where they have to force everybody to live the way they want.”

Ifs Way Want Able Force Achieve Planets Circumstances Institutions Tyranny Communism Closest Leftists

Author:Rush Limbaugh