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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