No man knocks himself down; if his destiny knocks him down, his destiny must pick him up again.
 Charles Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop (1841). copy citation

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Author Charles Dickens
Source The Old Curiosity Shop
Topic destiny
Date 1841
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink https://www.gutenberg.org/files/700/700-h/700-h.htm

Context

“no support from Fred, who seems to turn steady all at once; notice to quit the old lodgings—staggerers, three, four, five, and six! Under an accumulation of staggerers, no man can be considered a free agent. No man knocks himself down; if his destiny knocks him down, his destiny must pick him up again. Then I’m very glad that mine has brought all this upon itself, and I shall be as careless as I can, and make myself quite at home to spite it. So go on my buck,’ said Mr Swiveller, taking his leave of the ceiling with a significant nod, ‘and let us see which of us will be tired first!’” source