--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like many things in our national life, we…" description: "\"Like many things in our national life, we miscalculated. We overestimated our ability to control events, which is one of the great dangers of a great p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_ability_like-many-things-in-our-national-life-we_825040.jpg" --- # Like many things in our national life, we miscalculated… ![“Like many things in our national life, we miscalculated. We overestimated our ability to control events, which is one of the great dangers of a great power. Power tends to be a substitute for judgment and wisdom.” quote by Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_ability_like-many-things-in-our-national-life-we_825040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_ability_like-many-things-in-our-national-life-we_825040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ea/hubert-h-humphrey-3388_ability_like-many-things-in-our-national-life-we_825040.jpg) > “Like many things in our national life, we miscalculated. We overestimated our ability to control events, which is one of the great dangers of a great power. Power tends to be a substitute for judgment and wisdom.” [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great powers overestimate control, letting power replace sound judgment and wisdom. **In simple terms:** Power can cloud judgment. Key Takeaway Balance power with humility and insight. Themes politics power judgment Mood cautious thoughtful Type political analytical When to use this quote - government decision‑making - military strategy - corporate leadership Key Concepts International relations hubris Questions to Reflect On - What checks can prevent power from eclipsing wisdom? - How do you ensure humility in leadership? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to strategic errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Great power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-power/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Miscalculated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-miscalculated-508061/) [Miscalculated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miscalculated-508064/) [Miscalculated Overestimated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miscalculated-overestimated-508063/) [Overestimated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overestimated-404048/) [Overestimated Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overestimated-ability-508062/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Substitutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/substitutes/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [I think that God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-think-that-god-in-creating-man-somewhat-overestimated-his-ability/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“I think God, in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-think-god-in-creating-man-somewhat-overestimated-his-ability/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I sometimes think that God in creating man somewhat overestimated his ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-sometimes-think-that-god-in-creating-man-somewhat-overestimated-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Why did people make such a fateful miscalculation? For the same reason that people throughout history have miscalculated. People were unable to fathom the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/why-did-people-make-such-a-fateful-miscalculation-for-the-same-reason/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [They have miscalculated me as a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/they-have-miscalculated-me-as-a-leader/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I think to the extent you die with money in the bank, you've miscalculated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-david-goldberg/i-think-to-the-extent-you-die-with-money-in-the-bank-you-ve/) [Gary David Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-david-goldberg/) > [It could truly be the case that Vladimir Putin has miscalculated in the long term with his adventure in Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-could-truly-be-the-case-that-vladimir-putin-has-miscalculated-in/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I set out very calculatedly to become known. The only thing I maybe miscalculated was how easy it would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-valvano/i-set-out-very-calculatedly-to-become-known-the-only-thing-i-maybe/) [Jim Valvano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-valvano/) > [The chief value of money lies in the fact that one lives in a world in which it is overestimated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-chief-value-of-money-lies-in-the-fact-that-one-lives-in-a-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be free, to be happy and to be fruitful, can only be attained through sacrifice of many common but overestimated things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/to-be-free-to-be-happy-and-to-be-fruitful-can-only-be-attained/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [“I am not to be underestimated. Overestimated, maybe, but underestimated? No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saumya-sharman/i-am-not-to-be-underestimated-overestimated-maybe-but-underestimated/) [Saumya Sharman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saumya-sharman/) > [Interestingly, however, we found that participants consistently underestimated their intake of the candies on their desks yet overestimated how much they ate when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wansink/interestingly-however-we-found-that-participants-consistently/) [Brian Wansink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wansink/) > [Arrogant people habitually overestimated their own abilities and underestimated everyone elses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/arrogant-people-habitually-overestimated-their-own-abilities-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gentlemen are overestimated, that is my experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/gentlemen-are-overestimated-that-is-my-experience/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [...it is a very risky thing for anyone to go about proclaiming the truth simply because he finds himself in possession of concrete documentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-amado/it-is-a-very-risky-thing-for-anyone-to-go-about-proclaiming-the-truth/) [Jorge Amado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-amado/) ## More by Hubert H. Humphrey > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The pursuit of peace resembles the building of a great cathedral. It is the work of a generation. In concept it requires a mater-architect;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-pursuit-of-peace-resembles-the-building-of-a-great-cathedral-it/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears. Things are not only what they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/in-real-life-unlike-in-shakespeare-the-sweetness-of-the-rose-depends/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Until racial justice and freedom is a reality in this land, our union will remain profoundly imperfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/until-racial-justice-and-freedom-is-a-reality-in-this-land-our-union/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Foreign policy is really domestic policy with its hat on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/foreign-policy-is-really-domestic-policy-with-its-hat-on/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [The gap between the rich and the poor is the most dangerous threat to world peace we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/the-gap-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-is-the-most-dangerous-threat-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Anyone who thinks that the vice-president can take a position independent of the president of his administration simply has no knowledge of politics or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/anyone-who-thinks-that-the-vice-president-can-take-a-position/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You cannot go around and keep score. If you keep score on the good things and the bad things, you'll find out that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-cannot-go-around-and-keep-score-if-you-keep-score-on-the-good/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There is no such thing as an acceptable level of unemployment, because hunger is not acceptable, poverty is not acceptable, poor health is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-an-acceptable-level-of-unemployment-because/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [National isolation breeds national neurosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/national-isolation-breeds-national-neurosis/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Profit and morality are a hard combination to beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/profit-and-morality-are-a-hard-combination-to-beat/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [There are not enough jails, not enough police, not enough courts to enforce a law not supported by the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/there-are-not-enough-jails-not-enough-police-not-enough-courts-to/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [You can always debate about what you should have done. The question is what are you going to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/you-can-always-debate-about-what-you-should-have-done-the-question-is/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [Behind every successful man is a proud wife and a surprised mother-in-law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/behind-every-successful-man-is-a-proud-wife-and-a-surprised-mother-in/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [I believe that each of us can make a difference. That what is wrong can be made right. That people possess the basic wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/i-believe-that-each-of-us-can-make-a-difference-that-what-is-wrong/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) [Explore all 132 Hubert H. Humphrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like many things in our national life, we miscalculated. 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