The lives of all are in the hands of Him who knows best whether to preserve it or no, and to His will do I resign myself. My character and good name are in my own keeping. Life with disgrace is dreadful. A glorious death is to be envied, and, if anything happens to me recollect death is a debt we must all pay, and whether now or in a few years hence can be but of little consequence.
Horatio Nelson
The god’s offer to Achillies: A long life, but uneventful, or one short, but glorious!
There is such a thing as fate. And if your mother is a goddess and she dips you in the River Styx I guess it’s not going to end with you as a dirt farmer in Thessaly.