From my schooldays I remember a Victorian poem, Invictus by William Ernest Henley, which ended with the lines;
"I am the captain of my soul
I am the master of my fate"
Another very memorable couplet was;
"I thank whatever gods there be
For my unconquerable soul"
I always used to feel that it was splendidly resonant although rather arrogant, but I seem to be in a minority. Apparently Nelson Mandela was inspired by it, and it is very widely quoted inspirationally in other works.
"I am the captain of my soul
I am the master of my fate"
Another very memorable couplet was;
"I thank whatever gods there be
For my unconquerable soul"
I always used to feel that it was splendidly resonant although rather arrogant, but I seem to be in a minority. Apparently Nelson Mandela was inspired by it, and it is very widely quoted inspirationally in other works.