The hidden and awful Wisdom which apportions the destinies…
““The hidden and awful Wisdom which apportions the destinies of mankind is pleased so to humiliate and cast down the tender, good, and wise; and to set up the selfish, the foolish, or the wicked. Oh, be humble, my brother, in your prosperity! Be gentle with those who are less lucky, if not more deserving. Think, what right have you to be scornful, whose virtue is a deficiency of temptation, whose success may be a chance, whose rank may be an ancestor's accident, whose prosperity is very likely a satire.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Fate often favors the unworthy while humble, virtuous people suffer, urging humility and compassion toward the less fortunate.
In simple terms: Life can be unfair; stay humble and kind.
Key Takeaway
Practice humility and kindness regardless of success.
Themes
humility
justice
compassion
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- business leadership
- community service
- mentoring
- advocacy
Key Concepts
fate
social inequality
virtue
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when success feels undeserved?
- What can you do to support those less lucky?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook personal agency and the role of effort.