W. Somerset Maugham Quotes

For us, destiny always feels... if you obey, it's almost a passive thing.

Men are not yet ready to shape their own destinies, to control and direct world events, of which -- instead -- they become the victims.

Men are able to assist fortune but not to thwart her. They can weave her designs, but they cannot destroy them.

I think some things are just meant to happen; you can't change your fate. Maybe we have a small amount of control.

So many things happen for every event, and if you try to manipulate it, it means you are struggling against the whole universe, and that's just silly.

We are only puppets, our strings are being pulled by unknown forces.

Money: power at its most liquid.

Putin recognized that if he could get enough money, everything would be under control.

I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.

When you have an almost unlimited amount of money, you can pay people to do almost anything.

I never want to be the all-knowing god of the story, manipulating what's to happen or the action.

I realized that there are no certainties in life. You can't manipulate fate.

Though you rise early, yet the day comes at his time, and not till then.

Fate carries its own clock.

No cause has he to say his doom is harsh, who's made the master of his destiny.

We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and defeat!

Fate does not seek our consent.

You speak of destiny as if it was fixed.

We are all puppets in the hands of fate and seldom see the strings.

Certainly. My whole life has been decided by fate. I think something more powerful than we are decides our fates for us. I know one thing – I've never planned anything that ever happened to me.

It's the same with menus and men and just about anything else: we think we're choosing things for ourselves, but in fact we may not be choosing anything. It could be that everthing's being decided in advance and we pretend we're making choices. Free will may be an illusion. I often think that.

Whatever is destined not to happen will not happen, try as you may. Whatever is destined to happen will happen, do what you may to prevent it. This is certain. The best course, therefore, is to remain silent.

A man destined to hang can never drown

In accordance with the prarabdha of each, the One whose function it is to ordain makes each to act. What will not happen will never happen, whatever effort one may put forth. And what will happen will not fail to happen, however much one may seek to prevent it. This is certain. The part of wisdom therefore is to stay quiet.

He wants you to smile and smell sweet and be his lady love. He wants to hear you recite all your pretty little words the way the septa taught you. He wants you to love him... and fear him.