--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has been the will of Heaven,\" the…" description: "\"“It has been the will of Heaven,\" the essay began, \"that we should be thrown into existence at a period when the greatest philosophers and lawgivers of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/david-mccullough-1091_human-race_it-has-been-the-will-of-heaven-the-essay_2185255.png" --- # It has been the will of Heaven," the essay began, "that we… ![“It has been the will of Heaven," the essay began, "that we should be thrown into existence at a period when the greatest philosophers and lawgivers of antiquity would have wished to live... a period when a coincidence of circumstances without example has afforded to thirteen colonies at once an…” quote by David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/david-mccullough-1091_human-race_it-has-been-the-will-of-heaven-the-essay_2185255.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/david-mccullough-1091_human-race_it-has-been-the-will-of-heaven-the-essay_2185255.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16a/david-mccullough-1091_human-race_it-has-been-the-will-of-heaven-the-essay_2185255.png) > ““It has been the will of Heaven," the essay began, "that we should be thrown into existence at a period when the greatest philosophers and lawgivers of antiquity would have wished to live... a period when a coincidence of circumstances without example has afforded to thirteen colonies at once an opportunity of beginning government anew from the foundation and building as they choose. How few of the human race have ever had the opportunity of choosing a system of government for themselves and their children? How few have ever had anything more of choice in government than in climate?”” [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage reflects on the rare chance for a new nation to choose its own government, emphasizing the value of such freedom. **In simple terms:** Rare chance to choose a government is highlighted. Key Takeaway Value and protect democratic choices. Themes freedom choice government history opportunity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type historical civic When to use this quote - citizenship education - constitutional debates - public policy - community organizing Key Concepts political theory historical context civic responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can we safeguard democratic choice today? - What responsibilities come with this freedom? A Different Perspective Not all societies have such choices; challenges persist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-government-610940/) [Choice Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-government-614845/) [Choosing Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choosing-government-4737131/) [Essay Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essay-began-4737132/) [Heaven Essay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-essay-4737133/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [The beginning of every government starts with the education of our youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/the-beginning-of-every-government-starts-with-the-education-of-our/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [ Experts on both sides, both parties say that, \[Donald Trump\] is going to turn over the operation to his three children, Donald Jr., Eric… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ross/experts-on-both-sides-both-parties-say-that-donald-trump-is-going-to/) [Brian Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ross/) > [ It's really a situation \[ Donald Trump's children are involved now in choosing the next government\] that no other president had in years and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ross/it-s-really-a-situation-donald-trump-s-children-are-involved-now-in/) [Brian Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ross/) > [I've never had a choice of which government department I would hold. I've always been assigned a department by the Taoiseach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/i-ve-never-had-a-choice-of-which-government-department-i-would-hold-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [A much more radical conclusion . . . that, so far as I know, is shared by only a very few students of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-tullock/a-much-more-radical-conclusion-that-so-far-as-i-know-is-shared-by/) [Gordon Tullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-tullock/) > [The first big choice: a government with the strength to deliver stability, or a government that takes the country back to boom and bust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/the-first-big-choice-a-government-with-the-strength-to-deliver/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Migration - whether emigration or return - at the micro level is an individual choice, and government both at the Centre and the states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vayalar-ravi/migration-whether-emigration-or-return-at-the-micro-level-is-an/) [Vayalar Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vayalar-ravi/) > [“My problem is that the human race seems to want to be destroyed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhonen-vasquez/my-problem-is-that-the-human-race-seems-to-want-to-be-destroyed/) [Jhonen Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhonen-vasquez/) > [“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.” —Albert A. Bartlett”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-brynjolfsson/the-greatest-shortcoming-of-the-human-race-is-our-inability-to/) [Erik Brynjolfsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-brynjolfsson/) > [“It occurred to me that the death of his grazing land hurt him more, incomparably more than the death of the human race. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/it-occurred-to-me-that-the-death-of-his-grazing-land-hurt-him-more/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) ## More by David McCullough > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Steamboats by this time were becoming a familiar presence on the rivers and coastal waters of America, but not until 1838 did steam-powered ships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/steamboats-by-this-time-were-becoming-a-familiar-presence-on-the/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [I feel that history is in many ways the most important of all subjects because it is about everything and because it's about who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-that-history-is-in-many-ways-the-most-important-of-all/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Even mighty states and kingdoms are not exempted. 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Everything that happens has consequences. We”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nothing-happens-in-isolation-everything-that-happens-has-consequences/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [America faces an enemy who believes in enforced ignorance. And all that we stand for is the open mind, the generous spirit, the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/america-faces-an-enemy-who-believes-in-enforced-ignorance-and-all/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I would like to read. If I can make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/my-shorthand-answer-is-that-i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-book-that-i/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [“Seen under the microscope, Stegomyia is a creature of striking beauty. Its general color is dark gray, but the thorax is marked with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/seen-under-the-microscope-stegomyia-is-a-creature-of-striking-beauty/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) [Explore all 291 David McCullough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) ## More Human race quotes > [Race is the idea that a human being is more superior than another human being, race in society grants illusional rights to mistreat each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/race-is-the-idea-that-a-human-being-is-more-superior-than-another/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. 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Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting, and music are destroyed or flourish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/poetry-fettered-fetters-the-human-race-nations-are-destroyed-or/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“At the moment, then, of Man’s victory over Nature, we find the whole human race subjected to some individual men, and those individuals subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-the-moment-then-of-man-s-victory-over-nature-we-find-the-whole/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“It occurred to me that the death of his grazing land hurt him more, incomparably more than the death of the human race. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/it-occurred-to-me-that-the-death-of-his-grazing-land-hurt-him-more/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.” —Albert A. Bartlett”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-brynjolfsson/the-greatest-shortcoming-of-the-human-race-is-our-inability-to/) [Erik Brynjolfsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-brynjolfsson/) > [“My problem is that the human race seems to want to be destroyed!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jhonen-vasquez/my-problem-is-that-the-human-race-seems-to-want-to-be-destroyed/) [Jhonen Vasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jhonen-vasquez/) > [“I told him that if we doubted that we are demons in Hell, he should read The Mysterious Stranger, which Mark Twain wrote in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-told-him-that-if-we-doubted-that-we-are-demons-in-hell-he-should/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [ “both the Mosaic law and the grace of the new covenant, as both fitted for the times \[at which they were given\], were bestowed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/both-the-mosaic-law-and-the-grace-of-the-new-covenant-as-both-fitted/) [The Church Fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-church-fathers/) > [“Human race had never planned to show up in this universe. I wonder whether current human efforts are relevant to its sustainability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/human-race-had-never-planned-to-show-up-in-this-universe-i-wonder/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs Lovett, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/they-all-deserve-to-die-tell-you-why-mrs-lovett-tell-you-why-because/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-p-johnson/how-many-years-has-it-taken-people-to-realize-that-we-are-all/) [Marsha P. 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