I have examined his billion of possible careers, and in only one of them occurs the discovery of America.

You people do not suspect that all of your acts are of one size and importance, but it is true; to snatch at an appointed fly is as big with fate for you as is any other appointed act--" "As the conquering of a continent, for instance ?" "Yes.

Now, then, no man ever does drop a link--the thing has never happened! Even when he is trying to make up his mind as to whether he will do a thing or not, that itself is a link, an act, and has its proper place in his chain; and when he finally decides an act, that also was the thing which he was absolutely certain to do.

You see, now, that a man will never drop a link in his chain.

He cannot.