Choose Africa Quote by Alexander McCall Smith
![“If the lord came back today, [Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni] thought, he would probably be a mechanic, he reflected. That would be a great honour for mechanics everywhere. And there is no doubt but that e would choose Africa: Israel was far too dangerous these days. In fact, the more one thought about it…” quote by Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/49e/alexander-mccall-smith-372_quote_if-the-lord-came-back-today-mr-j-l-b-mat_1574820.jpg)
““If the lord came back today, [Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni] thought, he would probably be a mechanic, he reflected. That would be a great honour for mechanics everywhere. And there is no doubt but that e would choose Africa: Israel was far too dangerous these days. In fact, the more one thought about it, the more likely it was that he would choose Botswana, and Gabarone in particular. Now that would be a wonderful honour for the people of Botswana; but it would not happen, and there was no point in thinking about it any further. The Lord was not going to come back; we had had our chance and we had not made very much of it, unfortunately.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, 1998
The narrator reflects that if a divine figure returned, he would likely choose a modest, safe place like Botswana, highlighting missed opportunities and humility.
In simple terms: Missing chances and humility are noted.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and act on opportunities now.
Themes
humility
missed opportunities
faith
geography
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- political decisionmaking
- community planning
- personal reflection
- spiritual contemplation
Key Concepts
divine choice
humility
opportunity
regional identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What opportunities have you overlooked?
- How does humility shape your choices?
A Different Perspective
Assumes a deity would prefer a specific location, which may be speculative.
