Ever stare up at the stars and wonder if your path is already mapped out every twist and turn predetermined? Or do you believe your choices carve the road ahead one decision at a time? It’s a huge question isn't it? This whole idea of destiny and fate can feel a bit like a cosmic riddle. Are we passengers or are we pilots of our own lives?
I get it. Sometimes life throws things at us that make us seriously wonder. Maybe you're facing a tough challenge right now or perhaps you're at a crossroads unsure which way to turn. You might feel like things are just happening to you. And that’s okay. We all feel that way sometimes. Stephen Montagne the founder of GoodExistence.com often shares how he felt trapped by unhealthy habits like gaming binge eating and laziness. It could have easily felt like a fixed negative destiny.
But what if these moments of questioning are actually invitations? Invitations to explore what destiny and fate truly mean for us individually. To help with that exploration here are some thoughts and quotes that might offer a fresh perspective or a bit of comfort.
25 Quotes to Spark Your Thoughts on Destiny and Fate
Here’s a collection of words from wise folks throughout history. Let them wash over you. See which ones resonate.
- "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." – William Shakespeare
- "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
- "Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for it is a thing to be achieved." – William Jennings Bryan
- "Watch your thoughts they become your words; watch your words they become your actions; watch your actions they become your habits; watch your habits they become your character; watch your character it becomes your destiny." – Lao Tzu
- "The best way to predict your future is to create it." – Abraham Lincoln
- "Fate is like a strange unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like." – Lemony Snicket
- "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." – William Ernest Henley
- "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." – Henry David Thoreau
- "Your destiny is woven from the threads of your decisions." – Unknown
- "What is meant to be will always find its way." – Trisha Yearwood
- "Man is not the creature of circumstances circumstances are the creatures of men." – Benjamin Disraeli
- "A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams." – John Barrymore
- "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt
- "It is destiny that shapes our ends but our wills that shape our destinies." – Seneca
- "The decisions you make today will determine your destiny tomorrow." – Unknown
- "Destiny smiles upon the bold." – Unknown
- "Every man has his own destiny: the only imperative is to follow it to accept it no matter where it leads him." – Henry Miller
- "You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future." – Steve Jobs
- "Destiny has two ways to crush us – by refusing our wishes and by fulfilling them." – Henri Frederic Amiel
- "Sow a thought reap an action; sow an action reap a habit; sow a habit reap a character; sow a character reap a destiny." – Samuel Smiles
- "Character is destiny." – Heraclitus
- "Control your own destiny or someone else will." – Jack Welch
- "Our destiny is not written for us but by us." – Barack Obama
- "There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn." – Albert Camus
- "Once you make a decision the universe conspires to make it happen." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
You Hold More Power Than You Think
Many of these quotes from Shakespeare to Emerson to Obama shout one clear message: you are a powerful creator in your own life. It’s easy to feel like a leaf in the wind especially when things are tough. But what if those challenges are actually opportunities to grab the steering wheel?
Think about Stephen’s journey. Losing over 110 pounds (that's more than 50 kilograms!) didn't happen because his "fate" suddenly changed. It happened because he started making different choices. He chose a healthy meal instead of binge eating. He chose a short burst of focused work instead of succumbing to laziness. He chose to move his body instead of staying on the couch. These weren't giant leaps of faith every day. They were small consistent decisions. Like William Jennings Bryan said "Destiny…is a thing to be achieved."
It reminds me that even when life feels overwhelming we often have control over our next small step. You don't have to overhaul your entire life overnight.
Try this: What’s one tiny choice you can make today that aligns with the kind of life you want to live? Maybe it’s drinking a glass of water choosing a healthy snack or taking five minutes for quiet reflection. Small wins build momentum.
The Interplay of Character and Circumstance
Quotes like "Character is destiny" (Heraclitus) or Lao Tzu's wisdom about thoughts becoming destiny highlight something really important. Our inner world shapes our outer reality. It’s not just about what happens to us but who we are in response to it.
When Stephen decided to build a productive routine with short bursts of deep work (just 2–4 hours sometimes) it wasn't just about managing time. It was about cultivating discipline and focus – aspects of character. When he started practicing daily gratitude it shifted his perspective helping him see the good even amidst struggles. This internal shift made his external actions more powerful and purposeful.
This doesn't mean blaming ourselves when things go wrong. Life is complex. But it does mean recognizing that by working on our thoughts attitudes and habits we can influence the "circumstances" we find ourselves in as Benjamin Disraeli suggested.
Think about: Is there a recurring negative thought pattern you have? What’s one small way you could start to challenge or reframe it today? Maybe it’s changing "I can't do this" to "I can try to do this one step at a time."
Trusting the Journey and Finding Purpose
Now some quotes like Trisha Yearwood's "What is meant to be will always find its way" or Steve Jobs' famous "connect the dots looking backwards" hint at a larger flow a sense that some things unfold in ways we don't always control or understand at the moment. This isn't about being passive. It’s more about trust and finding meaning.
For Stephen strengthening his Christian Orthodox faith became a huge part of this. It wasn't about waiting for God to magically fix everything. It was about finding a deeper purpose a guiding presence that helped him navigate challenges and see his journey as something meaningful. His faith provided strength and perspective helping him understand that even difficulties could be part of a larger plan leading to growth and a closer relationship with God. This closer relationship helped him find his 'why' which in turn fueled his 'how'.
Sometimes our "destiny" isn't about a fixed endpoint but about the journey itself and who we become along the way. We might not always choose our circumstances but we can choose how we respond and the meaning we make.
Reflect on this: Look back at a past challenge. How did it shape you? Can you see now how it might have been a necessary part of your journey even if it was painful at the time?
What's Your Next Chapter?
So is destiny something written in stone or something we write ourselves? Maybe it’s a bit of both. Perhaps destiny provides the outline and our choices fill in the vibrant colors.
These quotes aren't meant to give you all the answers. They're here to make you think and feel. They remind us that while we can't control everything we have immense power to shape our lives our character and our path forward.
Don't let the big questions paralyze you. Instead let them inspire you. What’s one insight from these quotes that you can carry with you today? What small action can you take to step towards a life that feels more aligned with your true self and the destiny you hope to create? Your story is still being written. Make it a good one.
