In Antigone's story is found the whole tale of destiny's empire on
wisdom. Jesus who died for us, Curtius who leaped into the gulf,
Socrates who refused to desist from his teaching, the sister of
charity who yields up her life to tending the sick, the humble
wayfarer who perishes seeking to rescue his fellows from death--all
these have been forced to choose, all these bear the mark of
Antigone's glorious wound on their breast. For truly those who live
in the light have their magnificent perils also; and wisdom has
danger for such as shrink from self-sacrifice, though it may be that
they who shrink from self-sacrifice are perhaps not very wise.

48. Pronounce the word "destiny," and in the minds of all men an
image arises of gloom and of terror--of death. In their thoughts
they regard it, instinctively, as the lane that leads straight to
the tomb. Most often, indeed, it is only the name that they give
unto death, when its hand is not visible yet. It is death that looms
in the future, the shadow of death upon life. "None can escape his
destiny" we often exclaim when we hear of death lying in wait for
the traveller at the bend of the road. But were the traveller to
encounter happiness instead, we would never ascribe this to destiny;
if we did, we should have in our mind a far different goddess. And
yet, are not joys to be met with on the highways of life that are
greater than any misfortune, more momentous even than death? May a
happiness not be encountered that the eye cannot see? and is it not
of the nature of happiness to be less manifest than misfortune, to
become ever less apparent to the eye as it reaches loftier heights?
But to this we refuse to pay heed. The whole village, the town, will
flock to the spot where some wretched adventure takes place; but
there are none will pause for an instant and let their eyes rest on
a kiss, or a vision of beauty that gladdens the soul, a ray of love