fate leads the willing and drags (along|) the unwilling/fˈeɪt lˈiːdz ðə wˈɪlɪŋ ænd dɹˈæɡz ɐlˈɑːŋ ɔːɹ ðɪ ʌnwˈɪlɪŋ/sentence
used to imply that while fate may guide people toward their destined path, their willingness to cooperate with their circumstances and take action can greatly impact the outcomes they experience
"He resisted change but ended up being pulled along — fate leads the willing and drags the unwilling."
"The new system was adopted across the company — fate leads the willing and drags the unwilling, as the IT manager noted."
if it is meant to be, it will be/ɪf ɪt ɪz mˈɛnt tə bˈiː ɪt wɪl bˈiː/sentence
used to imply that some things are beyond human control and that events will unfold according to a predetermined plan or fate
"Do not force it — if it is meant to be, it will be."
"She stopped stressing about the outcome and reminded herself that if it is meant to be, it will be."
if you are born to be hanged, then you will never be drowned/ɪf juː ɑːɹ bˈɔːɹn təbi hˈæŋd ðˈɛn juː wɪl nˈɛvɚ biː dɹˈaʊnd/sentence
used to emphasize that a person's fate is predetermined and unchangeable, and that they will inevitably experience the fate that has been determined for them
"He survived every danger thrown at him — if you are born to be hanged, you will never be drowned."
"Despite every setback, he seemed untouchable — if you are born to be hanged, then you will never be drowned."
man proposes, (heaven|God) disposes/mˈæn pɹəpˈoʊzᵻz hˈɛvən ɡˈɑːd dɪspˈoʊzᵻz/sentence
used to suggest that while people can make plans and decisions, ultimately the outcome of events is determined by fate or a higher power
"We make plans, but life decides — man proposes, God disposes."
"The carefully laid strategy collapsed within a month — man proposes, heaven disposes."
you plan and God laughs/juː plˈæn ænd ɡˈɑːd lˈæfz/sentence
used to imply that despite one's careful planning and preparations, unforeseen circumstances or events may disrupt or alter one's intended outcomes
"He had everything planned perfectly, then life changed it all — you plan and God laughs."
"The business model was flawless on paper — you plan and God laughs, as the founder later admitted."
every bullet has (a|its) billet/ˈɛvɹi bˈʊlɪt hɐz ɐ ɪts bˈɪlɪt/sentence
used to imply that destiny or fate determines who shall be killed, rather than chance or random occurrence
"Fate decides who dies."
"During the war, soldiers understood that every bullet has its billet, accepting their predetermined fates."
every bullet hasabillet/ˈɛvəri ˈbʊlət hasabillet*/sentence
used to imply that destiny or fate determines who shall be killed, rather than chance or random occurrence
"Every bullet has a billet."
"In the chaos of battle, soldiers often muttered, 'Every bullet has a billet,' believing their fate was predetermined."
Learn all 7 words in this list with spaced repetition