After Sonny tells Vito he doesn't want to be a lawyer but instead wants to "learn the olive oil business," Vito sighs and says, "A man has but one destiny."

Michael wanted nothing to do with his family. Circumstances put Michael in the position of killing McCluskey and Solozzo--ultimately leading him to the Donship. But he had choices and alternatives in every instance, starting with the two killings. Was it Michael's destiny to succeed Vito as Don?

Destiny? What's that? Isn't it what you end up as or doing? Destiny implies predestination. I don't believe in such. There are many people throughout history who were a combination of many things. How about our Nation's Presidents? Look at Clinton. He started out as a lawyer, became a politician, was elected to state and national office, and now runs his own foundation. Who knows what else he may do. Which one of his accomplishments is his destiny? It's the same with Michael. If you want to cut off his destiny at succeeding Vito, then yes that was his destiny. But he went on to become a businessman and fund one or more foundations. True, he never completely relinquished his ties to organized crime, but haven't we debated endlessly on this Board whether or not he wanted to relinquish those ties.

Yes it was his destiny. Everybody thought it was his destiny to succeed the Don. He had all the qualities of a good Don so it was suitable to think of him as the "Chosen One".

To olivant ... I always thought that everyone is born destined to be something. But as you've said a person can be a combination of things during their lifetime, for that type of person their destiny is the highest achievement. For Bill Clinton, it was becoming the President of the United States of America.

What makes election to the Presidency his highest achievement? How does one rank achievements? By what criteria? If Bill Clinton saves someone's life tomorrow, doesn't that achievement trump the Presidency? Is that his destiny?

I like the way you think olivant You gimme a run for my money . When a person reflects on their acheivements in life, they surely hold some acheivements higher than others. They're ranked by criteria set by the person who achieved them. And isn't it the dream of almost every politician to become President?