We are ordinarily more easily satisfied with reasons that we have discovered ourselves, than by those which have occurred to others. [ Pascal ]

Friendship may outlive love and its passions; for instances have not unfrequently occurred, in which parties who have ceased to regard each other as lovers, have been found necessary as friends and confidential advisers. [ Mme. de Pompadour ]

Most people give up before they start because they think it is too hard, there is too much against me here, I can’t do this on my own, I don’t have the resources. I was on the back to work scheme when I applied. I didn’t have resources... It never occurred to me to fail. I always knew it was part of my destiny to do that thing. [ Mary Reynolds, 2002 Gold Medal Winner of the Chelsea Flower Show ]

Occur or Transpire? The misuse of these words is very common. Occur means simply to take place, to happen; transpire to leak out, to come to light. Hence, it is incorrect to say, The annual school exhibition transpired last week. The proper word here is occurred. But transpire is correctly used in such a sentence as, The proceedings of the caucus have not yet transpired. [ Pure English, Hackett And Girvin, 1884 ]