The manner in which a man views his fate is more important than what his fate is.

Wilhelm von Humboldt
Baron Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767–1835) German philologist, diplomat
Letter to Charlotte von Stein (6 Sep 1825) [tr. Stebbing (1849)]

Full text.

Alt. trans.:

  • "It is far more important how we accept our fortune than what that fortune really may be." [tr. Couper (1824)]
  • "How a person masters his fate is more important than what his fate is."

See also this earlier letter.


 
Added on 1-Feb-04 | Last updated 16-Sep-10
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