Quote about destiny.

"God has his mysteries which none can fathom. You, perhaps, will be a king. You can do nothing about it. You, on the other hand, will be unlucky, but you can do nothing about that either. Each man finds his way already marked out for him and he can change nothing of it."

Griot Djeli Mamadou Kouyaté, p. 15

Here, the griot colors the story of Sundiata's rise with a reminder of the prominence of destiny in our lives. There is much irony in the way that Sundiata's enemies try to hinder - but, in the process, enable - his destiny. The griot, as a repository for history and hence a spokesman for the largeness of Time, often reminds his listener of how small mankind can be in the face of such greatness. Destiny cannot be perceived, and the wise man learns patience as it unfolds. The tone here is a bit harsh as the griot points to his audience and tells them they know nothing of what is meant for them. But this is the griot's purpose: to remind us that we are subservient to greater forces than any man could hope to understand or master.