--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Progress is Providence without God. That…" description: "\"Progress is Providence without God. That is, it is a theory that everything has always perpetually gone right by accident. It is a sort of atheistic op..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/anonymous-1_accidents_progress-is-providence-without-god-that_2545317.jpg" --- # Progress is Providence without God. That is, it is a… ![“Progress is Providence without God. That is, it is a theory that everything has always perpetually gone right by accident. It is a sort of atheistic optimism, based on an everlasting coincidence far more miraculous than a miracle.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/anonymous-1_accidents_progress-is-providence-without-god-that_2545317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/anonymous-1_accidents_progress-is-providence-without-god-that_2545317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/anonymous-1_accidents_progress-is-providence-without-god-that_2545317.jpg) > “Progress is Providence without God. That is, it is a theory that everything has always perpetually gone right by accident. It is a sort of atheistic optimism, based on an everlasting coincidence far more miraculous than a miracle.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human progress can be seen as a series of fortunate accidents, suggesting a secular optimism that life tends toward improvement without divine intervention. **In simple terms:** Progress often happens by chance, not design. Key Takeaway Embrace randomness as a source of hope. Themes optimism secularism chance progress miracle Mood thoughtful hopeful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - scientific discovery - social reforms - personal growth - unexpected breakthroughs Key Concepts probability philosophy of history atheistic worldview Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance optimism with proactive action? - What role does intention play in shaping outcomes? A Different Perspective Overreliance on luck can ignore deliberate effort and responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheistic/) [Coincidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coincidence/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Miraculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miraculous/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) [Without god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-god/) ## Related quotes > [“If god is a theory,religion is not the proof to that theory”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aswin/if-god-is-a-theory-religion-is-not-the-proof-to-that-theory/) Aswin > [“In the cross, the Christian has seen the special Providence of God. He has,in forgiving and regenerating grace, experienced Providence in his heart. From…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-the-cross-the-christian-has-seen-the-special-providence-of-god-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe in God, not as a theory but as a fact more real than life itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-believe-in-god-not-as-a-theory-but-as-a-fact-more-real-than-life/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“If God were a theory, the study of theology would be the way to understand Him. But God is alive and in need of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-heschel/if-god-were-a-theory-the-study-of-theology-would-be-the-way-to/) [Abraham Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-heschel/) > [There is a certain destiny of everything, regulated by the foreknowledge and providence of God in His works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gottfried-leibniz/there-is-a-certain-destiny-of-everything-regulated-by-the/) [Gottfried Leibniz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gottfried-leibniz/) > [Behold, now, another providence of God. A ship comes into the harbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bradford/behold-now-another-providence-of-god-a-ship-comes-into-the-harbor/) [William Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bradford/) > [The providence of God does not relieve us of our human responsibility: it doesn't call for inactivity, it calls for activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/the-providence-of-god-does-not-relieve-us-of-our-human-responsibility/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [“We believe in the providence of God. We believe he is always at work behind the scenes. But we do not believe in it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-haddon-spurgeon/we-believe-in-the-providence-of-god-we-believe-he-is-always-at-work/) [Charles Haddon Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-haddon-spurgeon/) > [Such a man the times have demanded, and such, in the providence of God was given us. But he is gone. Let us strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/such-a-man-the-times-have-demanded-and-such-in-the-providence-of-god/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [A firm faith in the universal providence of God is the solution of all earthly problems. It is almost equally true that a clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-warfield/a-firm-faith-in-the-universal-providence-of-god-is-the-solution-of/) [B. B. Warfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-warfield/) > [The providence of God is subordinate to creation; and it is, therefore, necessary that it should not impinge against creation, which it would do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacobus-arminius/the-providence-of-god-is-subordinate-to-creation-and-it-is-therefore/) [Jacobus Arminius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacobus-arminius/) > [“Every providence is God’s will; whatever happens, meet God in it in humble worship. Every precept is God’s will; meet God in it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/every-providence-is-god-s-will-whatever-happens-meet-god-in-it-in/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [“Time is an opportunity with every providence of God to reveal His Will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-nyarangi-akoya/time-is-an-opportunity-with-every-providence-of-god-to-reveal-his-will/) [JOEL NYARANGI AKOYA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-nyarangi-akoya/) > [Let us be convinced that nothing can happen to us apart from the providence of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorotheus-of-gaza/let-us-be-convinced-that-nothing-can-happen-to-us-apart-from-the/) [Dorotheus of Gaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorotheus-of-gaza/) > [The whole concept of providence is that God knows everything about what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-whole-concept-of-providence-is-that-god-knows-everything-about/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. 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