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Судьба не случайность, а предмет выбора. Её не ожидают, а завоевывают.

English translation: Please see below

05:50 Feb 1, 2014
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / philosophy
Russian term or phrase: Судьба не случайность, а предмет выбора. Её не ожидают, а завоевывают.
The English version of this phrase is going to be a permanent tattoo, there is no way to make any corrections once it's on the body, so please give me the best of the best of your thoughts, thanks so much in advance!
Olga Bowman
United States
Local time: 09:56
English translation:Please see below
Explanation:
"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved” (William Jennings Bryan)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days1 hr (2014-02-03 07:17:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Olga, here are some more choices for you to consider:

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. William Shakespeare

Actions are the seed of fate; deeds grow into destiny. -Jean Nidetch

We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance. -Benjamin Disraeli

A consistent soul believes in destiny, a capricious one in chance. -Benjamin Disraeli

Men are not prisoners of Fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. -Franklin Roosevelt

It’s choice–not chance–that determines your destiny. Jean Nidetch

Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny. Harry S Truman

If you do not create your destiny, you will have your fate inflicted upon you. William Irwin Thompson

Destiny: A tyrant’s authority for crime and a fool’s excuse for failure. Ambrose Bierce

The destiny of man is in his own soul. Herodotus

You shape your own destiny. Chet Atkins

Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. William Jennings Bryan

Character is destiny. Heraclitus

He that waits upon fortune is never sure of a dinner. Benjamin Franklin

If you don’t make things happen, things will happen to you. Lanes Company
Selected response from:

Yuri Larin
Ukraine
Local time: 19:56
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +9Please see below
Yuri Larin
4 +2Destiny is not a chance, but a choice. One does not wait for it to happen, but makes it happen.
Sasha A. Pal (X)
4 +1Destiny is not a play of chance, it is to be chosen. It is not a thing to be waited for it is a thin
kergap --


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Destiny is not a play of chance, it is to be chosen. It is not a thing to be waited for it is a thin


Explanation:
Destiny is not a play of chance, it is to be chosen. It is not a thing to be waited for it is a thing to be won over.

kergap --
Russian Federation
Local time: 19:56
Native speaker of: Russian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk: You've come up with a good and shorter version of that quote. It is not the exact reverse translation, but it is easier to place on the body :) Of course, it will be much better if you add COMMA after "waited for" (it's desperately needed there)...
4 hrs
  -> Agree, thanks
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Destiny is not a chance, but a choice. One does not wait for it to happen, but makes it happen.


Explanation:
I aimed for a succinct translation with a bounce. Active voice in the second sentence works well, in my opinion.
Whichever translation you choose, Olga, I hope you will consider alternatives to a permanent tattoo...

Sasha A. Pal (X)
United States
Local time: 12:56
Native speaker of: Russian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk: A good wording (probably better than the original one). Consider also the following: " ...One does not have to wait for it, one does have to achieve it."
18 mins
  -> Thank you for your support, Alexander. I don't think your translation of the second sentence and mine are interchangeable, though. I'd keep mine.
agree  Alexandra Schneeuhr: A good one. The first part of it would make a great slogan/motto/tagline, not sure of tattoos as I am a confirmed anti-tattooist (is there such a word? ;)
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Alexandra. I'm an "anti-tattooist", too. I find it wrong, what people are doing to themselves, but it's their choice. To each his own.
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
Please see below


Explanation:
"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved” (William Jennings Bryan)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days1 hr (2014-02-03 07:17:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Olga, here are some more choices for you to consider:

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. William Shakespeare

Actions are the seed of fate; deeds grow into destiny. -Jean Nidetch

We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance. -Benjamin Disraeli

A consistent soul believes in destiny, a capricious one in chance. -Benjamin Disraeli

Men are not prisoners of Fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. -Franklin Roosevelt

It’s choice–not chance–that determines your destiny. Jean Nidetch

Actions are the seed of fate deeds grow into destiny. Harry S Truman

If you do not create your destiny, you will have your fate inflicted upon you. William Irwin Thompson

Destiny: A tyrant’s authority for crime and a fool’s excuse for failure. Ambrose Bierce

The destiny of man is in his own soul. Herodotus

You shape your own destiny. Chet Atkins

Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. William Jennings Bryan

Character is destiny. Heraclitus

He that waits upon fortune is never sure of a dinner. Benjamin Franklin

If you don’t make things happen, things will happen to you. Lanes Company


Yuri Larin
Ukraine
Local time: 19:56
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexandra Schneeuhr: Bingo! :) Maybe a bit longish for a tattoo, yet the most appropriate answer
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Alexandra :) - Google took care of it ...
agree  Jack Doughty
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Jack!
agree  Natalia Volkova: Congratulations! I AM impressed!
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Natalia! I hope you're duly impressed (kidding) :)
agree  Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk: As this phrase is going to be a permanent tattoo, there is no way to place it on the body as retranslated. An extension of the body would be needed to accommodate it (unless microprinting is used), I'm afraid :)
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Alexander! We don't know what the person who wants this tattoo looks like. Maybe that wouldn’t be a problem :)
agree  LilianNekipelov: Yes, beautiful.
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Lilian! Thanks, William Jennings Bryan! :)
agree  Leigh Mosley: I immediately thought of a popular and more succint version of this quote that would make a less painful, expensive tattoo. "Sh*t doesn't just happen." (Pulp Fiction - I believe WJB may have helped write the screenplay))
11 hrs
  -> Thanks, Leigh :). Your suggestion surely packs more punch, plus all the other advantages!
agree  danya: and I thought of The Terminator and Sara scribbling on the wooden table "No Fate"
14 hrs
  -> Thanks, Danya :) Scribbling on the table definitely beats getting the ink done...
agree  cyhul
1 day 19 hrs
  -> Thanks, Cyhul :)
agree  Sarah McDowell
3 days 18 hrs
  -> Thanks, Sarah!
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