--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There could be nothing more fortunate for…" description: "\"“There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs than that by the mercy of God they who are endowed with true piety of life if they have the sk..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/augustine-of-hippo-2589_compassion_there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-fo_263162.jpg" --- # There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs… ![“There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs than that by the mercy of God they who are endowed with true piety of life if they have the skill for ruling people should also have the power.” quote by Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/augustine-of-hippo-2589_compassion_there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-fo_263162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/augustine-of-hippo-2589_compassion_there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-fo_263162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/augustine-of-hippo-2589_compassion_there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-fo_263162.jpg) > ““There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs than that by the mercy of God they who are endowed with true piety of life if they have the skill for ruling people should also have the power.”” [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True piety includes the ability to govern wisely; divine mercy grants capable, virtuous leaders power over others. **In simple terms:** Pious people should be wise rulers. Key Takeaway Seek moral competence before authority. Themes leadership morality divine mercy politics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical theological When to use this quote - government - religious leadership - community decision making Key Concepts theology political philosophy virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - What qualities must a ruler possess beyond piety? - How does divine mercy influence political authority? A Different Perspective Power without virtue can corrupt; mercy alone does not guarantee wisdom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Grace of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-of-god/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mercy of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-of-god/) [Piety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piety/) ## Related quotes > [“May we be prepared, whatever happens, rather to undergo a hundred deaths than to turn aside from the profession of true piety, in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/may-we-be-prepared-whatever-happens-rather-to-undergo-a-hundred/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [True piety hath in it nothing weak, nothing sad, nothing constrained. It enlarges the heart; it is simple, free, and attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/true-piety-hath-in-it-nothing-weak-nothing-sad-nothing-constrained-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [True piety for the universe but no time for religions made for man's convenience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/true-piety-for-the-universe-but-no-time-for-religions-made-for-man-s/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [True piety lies rather in the power to contemplate the universe with a quiet mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/true-piety-lies-rather-in-the-power-to-contemplate-the-universe-with/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [Poor humanity, to saddle the gods with such a responsibility and throw in a vindictive temper. What griefs they hatch for themselves, what festering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/poor-humanity-to-saddle-the-gods-with-such-a-responsibility-and-throw/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [A good Christian cannot be a bad husband or father and, as this is equally true in everything, he who has the most piety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/a-good-christian-cannot-be-a-bad-husband-or-father-and-as-this-is/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) > [True piety admits no other rule than that whatsoever things have been faithfully received from our fathers the same are to be faithfully consigned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-of-lerins/true-piety-admits-no-other-rule-than-that-whatsoever-things-have-been/) [Vincent of Lerins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-of-lerins/) > [No degree of speculative knowledge of religion is any certain sign of true piety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/no-degree-of-speculative-knowledge-of-religion-is-any-certain-sign-of/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [I have read true piety defined as: loving one’s destiny unconditionally – and there is something in it. That is to say: I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/i-have-read-true-piety-defined-as-loving-one-s-destiny/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [Love to Jesus is the basis of all true piety, and the intensity of this love will ever be the measure of our zeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/love-to-jesus-is-the-basis-of-all-true-piety-and-the-intensity-of/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I am persuaded, you will permit me to observe, that the path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-am-persuaded-you-will-permit-me-to-observe-that-the-path-of-true/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“When I am told God became man, I can follow the idea, but I just do not understand what it means. For what man,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-h-bainton/when-i-am-told-god-became-man-i-can-follow-the-idea-but-i-just-do-not/) [Roland H. Bainton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-h-bainton/) > [“Confess your sins, worship God, and get on with your life. You can experience the mercy of God no matter what you’ve been through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mcgee/confess-your-sins-worship-god-and-get-on-with-your-life-you-can/) [Robert S. McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mcgee/) > [It is highly convenient to believe in the infinite mercy of God when you feel the need of mercy, but remember also his infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/it-is-highly-convenient-to-believe-in-the-infinite-mercy-of-god-when/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [“The mercy of God's grace guides me in the right path.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-mercy-of-god-s-grace-guides-me-in-the-right-path/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Augustine of Hippo > [“We are inflamed, by Thy Gift we are kindled; and are carried upwards; we glow inwardly, and go forwards. We ascend Thy ways that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/we-are-inflamed-by-thy-gift-we-are-kindled-and-are-carried-upwards-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Faith seeks, understanding finds. This is why the prophet says, ‘Unless you believe, you will not understand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/faith-seeks-understanding-finds-this-is-why-the-prophet-says-unless/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Time takes no holiday. It does not roll idly by, but through our senses works its own wonders in the mind. Time came and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/time-takes-no-holiday-it-does-not-roll-idly-by-but-through-our-senses/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“So it falls out that in this world, in evil days like these, the Church walks onward like a wayfarer stricken by the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/so-it-falls-out-that-in-this-world-in-evil-days-like-these-the-church/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Pride is the beginning of sin. And what is pride but the craving for undue exaltation? And this is undue exaltation - when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/pride-is-the-beginning-of-sin-and-what-is-pride-but-the-craving-for/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Variation on the middle sentence: A thing is not necessarily false because it is badly expressed, nor true because it is expressed magnificently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/variation-on-the-middle-sentence-a-thing-is-not-necessarily-false/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Run to and fro everywhere, holy fires, beautiful fires; for you are the light of the world, nor are you put under a bushel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/run-to-and-fro-everywhere-holy-fires-beautiful-fires-for-you-are-the/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Let Him do what pleases Him; let Him disclose Himself when it pleases Him! I now commit myself wholly to His care and clemency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/let-him-do-what-pleases-him-let-him-disclose-himself-when-it-pleases/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“and even now we labor in our residual gloom, until in your only Son we become your righteousness; for that righteousness is like God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/and-even-now-we-labor-in-our-residual-gloom-until-in-your-only-son-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Thus, every entity, even if it is a defective one, in so far as it is an entity, is good. In so far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/thus-every-entity-even-if-it-is-a-defective-one-in-so-far-as-it-is-an/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“But unscrupulous ambition has nothing to work upon, save in a nation corrupted by avarice and luxury. Moreover, a people becomes avaricious and luxurious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/but-unscrupulous-ambition-has-nothing-to-work-upon-save-in-a-nation/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of the faith is to see what we believe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/faith-is-to-believe-what-we-do-not-see-and-the-reward-of-the-faith-is/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“For instantly, as the sentence ended, there was infused in my heart something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/for-instantly-as-the-sentence-ended-there-was-infused-in-my-heart/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“And yet, will we ever come to an end of discussion and talk if we think we must always reply to replies? For replies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/and-yet-will-we-ever-come-to-an-end-of-discussion-and-talk-if-we/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“If, on the contrary, they hear from you about themselves, they will be in no position to say, “The Lord is lying.” Is hearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/if-on-the-contrary-they-hear-from-you-about-themselves-they-will-be/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) [Explore all 153 Augustine of Hippo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs than that by the mercy of God they who are endowed with true piety of life if they have the skill for ruling people should also have the power.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Augustine of Hippo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-for-human-affairs-than-that-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-for-human-affairs-than-that-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/augustine-of-hippo-2589_compassion_there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-fo_263162.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/augustine-of-hippo-2589_compassion_there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-fo_263162.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b8/augustine-of-hippo-2589_compassion_there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-fo_263162.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There could be nothing more fortunate for human affairs than that by the mercy of God they who are endowed…” — Augustine of Hippo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Augustine of Hippo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“There could be nothing more fortunate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-for-human-affairs-than-that-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/there-could-be-nothing-more-fortunate-for-human-affairs-than-that-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```