--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Among innumerable footsteps of divine…" description: "\"Among innumerable footsteps of divine providence to be found in the works of nature, there is a very remarkable one to be observed in the exact balance..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/john-arbuthnot-18374_age_among-innumerable-footsteps-of-divine-pr_1161817.jpg" --- # Among innumerable footsteps of divine providence to be… ![“Among innumerable footsteps of divine providence to be found in the works of nature, there is a very remarkable one to be observed in the exact balance that is maintained, between the numbers of men and women; for by this means is provided, that the species never may fail, nor perish, since every…” quote by John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/john-arbuthnot-18374_age_among-innumerable-footsteps-of-divine-pr_1161817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/john-arbuthnot-18374_age_among-innumerable-footsteps-of-divine-pr_1161817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f2/john-arbuthnot-18374_age_among-innumerable-footsteps-of-divine-pr_1161817.jpg) > “Among innumerable footsteps of divine providence to be found in the works of nature, there is a very remarkable one to be observed in the exact balance that is maintained, between the numbers of men and women; for by this means is provided, that the species never may fail, nor perish, since every male may have its female, and of proportionable age. This equality of males and females is not the effect of chance but divine providence, working for a good end.” [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that the balanced ratio of men to women in nature is a deliberate design ensuring species survival, not random chance. **In simple terms:** Nature keeps a gender balance to preserve species. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of balance in ecosystems. Themes nature balance gender species divine providence Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - conservation planning - population studies - environmental education Key Concepts Biology philosophy theology Questions to Reflect On - How does gender balance affect ecosystem stability? - What evidence supports divine intent in nature? A Different Perspective Assumes intentional design without empirical proof. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divine providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-providence/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Genetics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genetics/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) ## Related quotes > [Among the innumerable Footsteps of Divine Providence to be found in the Works of Nature, there is a very remarkable one to be observed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/among-the-innumerable-footsteps-of-divine-providence-to-be-found-in/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [A commitment to sexual equality with males is a commitment to becoming the rich instead of the poor, the rapist instead of the raped,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/a-commitment-to-sexual-equality-with-males-is-a-commitment-to/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [Fossil bones and footsteps and ruined homes are the solid facts of history, but the surest hints, the most enduring signs, lie in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kingdon/fossil-bones-and-footsteps-and-ruined-homes-are-the-solid-facts-of/) Jonathan Kingdon > [Honor, justice and humanity call upon us to hold and to transmit to our posterity, that liberty, which we received from our ancestors. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickinson/honor-justice-and-humanity-call-upon-us-to-hold-and-to-transmit-to/) [John Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickinson/) > [There are four different theories concerning Divine Providence; they are all ancient, known from the time of the Prophets, when the true law was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/there-are-four-different-theories-concerning-divine-providence-they/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [There are many who say to the Lord, "I give myself wholly to Thee, without any reserve," but there are few who embrace the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/there-are-many-who-say-to-the-lord-i-give-myself-wholly-to-thee/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [I have always felt that whatever the divine Providence permitted to occur, I was not too proud to report.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-dana/i-have-always-felt-that-whatever-the-divine-providence-permitted-to/) [Charles A. 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They were an inspired body of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/they-the-founding-fathers-were-intent-upon-establishing-a-christian/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [“if you didn’t take picture from museum, and Sascha didn’t steal it back, and I didn’t think of claiming reward—well, wouldn’t all those dozens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/if-you-didn-t-take-picture-from-museum-and-sascha-didn-t-steal-it/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [ By the divine providence \[animals\] are intended for man's use... Hence it is not wrong for man to make use of them, either by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/by-the-divine-providence-animals-are-intended-for-man-s-use-hence-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) ## More by John Arbuthnot > [The dumpling is indeed of more ancient institution, and of foreign origin; but alas, what were those dumplings? Nothing but a few lentils sodden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-is-indeed-of-more-ancient-institution-and-of-foreign/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [John looked ruddy and plump, with a pair of cheeks like a trumpeter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/john-looked-ruddy-and-plump-with-a-pair-of-cheeks-like-a-trumpeter/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [All the politics in the world are nothing else but a kind of analysis of the quantity of probability in casual events, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/all-the-politics-in-the-world-are-nothing-else-but-a-kind-of-analysis/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [The Mathematics are Friends to Religion; inasmuch as they charm the Passions, restrain the Impetuosity of Imagination, and purge the Mind from Error and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-mathematics-are-friends-to-religion-inasmuch-as-they-charm-the/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [What I have said may serve to recommend mathematics for acquiring a vigorous constitution of mind; for which purpose they are as useful as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/what-i-have-said-may-serve-to-recommend-mathematics-for-acquiring-a/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [Unjust force can never give any just dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/unjust-force-can-never-give-any-just-dominion/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [The Reader may here observe the Force of Numbers, which can be successfully applied, even to those things, which one would imagine are subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-reader-may-here-observe-the-force-of-numbers-which-can-be/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [To bliss unknown by lofty soul aspires, My lot unequal to my vast desires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/to-bliss-unknown-by-lofty-soul-aspires-my-lot-unequal-to-my-vast/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [Almighty Power, by whose most wise command, helpless, forlorn, uncertain, here I stand, take this faint glimmer of thyself away, or break into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/almighty-power-by-whose-most-wise-command-helpless-forlorn-uncertain/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [The Mathematics are Friends to Religion, inasmuch as they charm the Passions, restrain the Impetuosity of the Imagination, and purge the Mind from Error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-mathematics-are-friends-to-religion-inasmuch-as-they-charm-the-2/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [King is a title which translated into several languages, signifies a magistrate with as many different degrees of power as there are kingdoms in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/king-is-a-title-which-translated-into-several-languages-signifies-a/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [I believe the calculation of the quantity of probability might be improved to a very useful and pleasant speculation, and applied to a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/i-believe-the-calculation-of-the-quantity-of-probability-might-be/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [The mathematics are the friends of religion, inasmuch as they charm the passions, restrain the impetuosity of the imagination, and purge the mind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-mathematics-are-the-friends-of-religion-inasmuch-as-they-charm/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [The dumpling-eaters are a race sprung partly from the old Epicurean and partly from the Peripatetic Sect; they were first brought into Britain by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/the-dumpling-eaters-are-a-race-sprung-partly-from-the-old-epicurean/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [Truth is the same thing to the understanding, as Music to the ear, and Beauty to the eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/truth-is-the-same-thing-to-the-understanding-as-music-to-the-ear-and/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) [Explore all 35 John Arbuthnot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." 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