In the lives of peoples, as in the lives of men, everything is not done by destiny.

It is necessary for peoples, like men, to help their destiny.

In my life, as in the life of my people, this was literally accomplished.

I am the head of my people not only by a decree of destiny. I am there because, without knowing it perhaps, I prepared myself for it as though I had known that someday this responsibility and privilege would by my lot.

I can affirm and demonstrate also that my people, too, prepared patiently, although unwittingly, for this hour of its destiny.

What Providence does is to arrange the necessary circumstances so that things happen subsequently in one way and not another. But things almost always happen through our "fault."

Often I think that had I been born in any other part of my country perhaps I should not be today President of the Republic.

Because had I been born elsewhere, my surroundings would have given me other inclinations...I would not have chosen a military career, would not have learned there the things I did learn, would never have found myself obliged to start a revolution...These things are in the hands of Providence!

Providence combines infinite circumstances, and I do not believe that one can discover why, or explain anything of its mechanism.

All the rest we do ourselves!

Thus is was that one day I found myself in circumstances which decided my destiny. 

The country was alone. It was off its course, unguided and without a compass. All had been handed to foreigners. The people, lacking justice, were oppressed and incapable. Foreign countries and international forces submitted them to a dominion not far removed from colonial oppression.

I realized that it could all be remedied.

Little by little it dawned on me that it was I who could remedy it.

From that moment my country's problem came to be my own problem.

I solved it by deciding on the revolution.

This decision was "my aid to Destiny."