“The problem is not the harshness of Fate, for anything we want strongly enough we get. The trouble is rather that when we have it we grow sick of it, and then we should never blame Fate, only our own desire.” WantShouldEnoughProblemDesireGrowsFateTroubleSickBlameHarshness Author:Cesare Pavese
“My wants are simple. I have no desire to latch onto a monster symbol of fate and power and prove my manhood in titanic piscine war. But sometimes I do like a couple of cooperative fish of frying size.” WantWarSometimesDesireSimpleFateSeaCoupleProveRiversSizeFishesMonstersBoatSymbolsLakesFishingManhoodCooperativesFryingLatches Author:John Steinbeck
“I knock unbidden once at every gate-- If sleeping, wake--if feasting, rise before I turn away--it is the hour of fate, And they who follow me reach every state Mortals desire, and conquer every foe Save death, but those who doubt of hesitate, Condemned to failure, penury and woe, Seek me in vain and uselessly implore, I answer not, and I return no more.” IfsStatesDesireTurnsOpportunityHoursSleepAnswersDoubtFateReturnMortalsConquerVainGatesWoeFoeFollow MeFeastingOpportunity Knocking Author:John James Ingalls
“We must pass like smoke or live within the spirit's fire; For we can no more than smoke unto the flame return If our thought has changed to dream, our will unto desire, As smoke we vanish though the fire may burn.” IfsMayDreamSpiritDesireFireFateChangedReturnSmokeFlamesOur Thoughts Book:Selected poems Source: Selected poems
“I have a simple answer to any American patriot who claims that there is no conflict between his love of country and his desire to hitch our fate to the United Nations: “You're mistaken.” And, therefore, I'm thinking of adding this corollary to my General Rule of patriotism: The more intellectually consistent and pro-U.N. you are, the less patriotic you are likely to be. I haven't thought that all the way through, but it seems right to me.” ThinkingWayCountrySeemsDesireNationsSimpleAnswersUnitedFateHavensConflictClaimsConsistentPatrioticPatriotMistakenUnited NationsHis LoveAmerican Patriot Author:Jonah Goldberg