--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only…" description: "\"We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only upon the four aces, are apt to have a wheel out of order.\" — John Vanbrugh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/john-vanbrugh-25478_aces_we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-u_3034142.jpg" --- # We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only upon the four… ![“We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only upon the four aces, are apt to have a wheel out of order.” quote by John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/john-vanbrugh-25478_aces_we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-u_3034142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/john-vanbrugh-25478_aces_we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-u_3034142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/john-vanbrugh-25478_aces_we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-u_3034142.jpg) > “We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only upon the four aces, are apt to have a wheel out of order.” [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A metaphor about overconfidence leading to unexpected problems. **In simple terms:** Overconfidence can cause hidden flaws. Key Takeaway Check your assumptions before acting. Themes overconfidence risk humor Mood cautious wry Type satirical cautionary When to use this quote - business decisions - gaming - driving - engineering Key Concepts probability self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - Do you ignore warning signs? - How can you test your assumptions? A Different Perspective Assumes literal chariot analogy may not translate to modern contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aces/) [Chariot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chariot/) [Chariot Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chariot-roll-769297/) [Chariots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chariots/) [Four](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/four/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Gentlemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen/) [Gentlemen Chariot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentlemen-chariot-4970529/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Wheel Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheel-order-4970530/) [Wheels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheels/) ## Related quotes > [“When the Eternal bows the skies To visit earthly things, With scorn divine he turns his eyes From towers of haughty kings. He bids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/when-the-eternal-bows-the-skies-to-visit-earthly-things-with-scorn/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [As I was working I noticed that the way I designed the differential gearing actually created a spare drive that sat directly below the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/as-i-was-working-i-noticed-that-the-way-i-designed-the-differential/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [The earliest full-length account of a chariot race appears in Book xxiii of the Iliad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-arnold-epstein/the-earliest-full-length-account-of-a-chariot-race-appears-in-book/) [Richard Arnold Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-arnold-epstein/) > [...a chasm opened in the earth and out of it coal-black horses sprang, drawing a chariot and driven by one who had a look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/a-chasm-opened-in-the-earth-and-out-of-it-coal-black-horses-sprang/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [Time's chariot-wheels make their carriage-road in the fairest face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/time-s-chariot-wheels-make-their-carriage-road-in-the-fairest-face/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It was prettily devised of Aesop, The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/it-was-prettily-devised-of-aesop-the-fly-sat-on-the-axle-tree-of-the/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [Life is like a chariot-wheel that ever rolls along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anacreon/life-is-like-a-chariot-wheel-that-ever-rolls-along/) [Anacreon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anacreon/) > [Leisure is pain; take off our chariot wheels; how heavily we drag the load of life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/leisure-is-pain-take-off-our-chariot-wheels-how-heavily-we-drag-the/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [To tell the truth, the chariot was an astonishing sight to behold, because I had polished the steel of my flying house so carefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrano-de-bergerac/to-tell-the-truth-the-chariot-was-an-astonishing-sight-to-behold/) [Cyrano de Bergerac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrano-de-bergerac/) > [The rabbit is significant in that the handle on the original South Pointing Chariot was carved in the form of a rabbit. Because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/the-rabbit-is-significant-in-that-the-handle-on-the-original-south/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [In practical terms the South Pointing Chariot was a simple direction finder. It could have been made to point in any direction - north,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/in-practical-terms-the-south-pointing-chariot-was-a-simple-direction/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [The chariot was purchased by a private collector who took it home to New York. I take pleasure in knowing that it was built…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/the-chariot-was-purchased-by-a-private-collector-who-took-it-home-to/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [I started by looking at what others had done before me. You see, over the years there have been attempts by many different people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-williams/i-started-by-looking-at-what-others-had-done-before-me-you-see-over/) [Kit Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-williams/) > [I shall drive my chariot down your street and cry hey it's me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-shall-drive-my-chariot-down-your-street-and-cry-hey-it-s-me/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I have always had the ability to attach my demons to my chariot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingmar-bergman/i-have-always-had-the-ability-to-attach-my-demons-to-my-chariot/) [Ingmar Bergman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingmar-bergman/) ## More by John Vanbrugh > [If women were humbler, men would be more honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/if-women-were-humbler-men-would-be-more-honest/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [The want of a thing is perplexing enough, but the possession of it, is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/the-want-of-a-thing-is-perplexing-enough-but-the-possession-of-it-is/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [True virtue, wheresoever it moves, still carries an intrinsic worth about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/true-virtue-wheresoever-it-moves-still-carries-an-intrinsic-worth/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [“Shield me, kind heaven, what an inundation of impertinence is here coming upon us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/shield-me-kind-heaven-what-an-inundation-of-impertinence-is-here/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Let our weakness be what it will, mankind will still be weaker; and whilst there is a world, 'tis woman that will govern it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/let-our-weakness-be-what-it-will-mankind-will-still-be-weaker-and/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [We're gaily yet, we're gaily yet, And we're not very fow, but we're gaily yet; Then set ye awhile, and tipple a bit, For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/we-re-gaily-yet-we-re-gaily-yet-and-we-re-not-very-fow-but-we-re/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [“How I should despise such a thing if I were a man. What a nose she has! what a chin! what a neck! Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/how-i-should-despise-such-a-thing-if-i-were-a-man-what-a-nose-she-has/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [As if a woman of education bought things because she wanted 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/as-if-a-woman-of-education-bought-things-because-she-wanted-em/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Love, like virtue, is its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/love-like-virtue-is-its-own-reward/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Tho marriage be a lottery in which there are a wondrous many blanks, yet there is one inestimable lot in which the only heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/tho-marriage-be-a-lottery-in-which-there-are-a-wondrous-many-blanks/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Love's like virtue, its own reward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/love-s-like-virtue-its-own-reward/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Friendship's said to be a plant of tedious growth, its root composed of tender fibers, nice in their taste, cautious in spreading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/friendship-s-said-to-be-a-plant-of-tedious-growth-its-root-composed/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [You may build castles in the air, and fume, and fret, and grow thin and lean, and pale and ugly, if you please. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/you-may-build-castles-in-the-air-and-fume-and-fret-and-grow-thin-and/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Custom is the law of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/custom-is-the-law-of-fools/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) > [Thinking is to me the greatest fatigue in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/thinking-is-to-me-the-greatest-fatigue-in-the-world/) [John Vanbrugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) [Explore all 23 John Vanbrugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/) ## More Aces quotes > [Here's the point - and Jonah Goldberg reminds us of this. He wrote a blog post that was titled "The MacGuffinization of American Politics."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/here-s-the-point-and-jonah-goldberg-reminds-us-of-this-he-wrote-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [A top World War II ace once said that fighter pilots fall into two broad categories: those who go out to kill and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-top-world-war-ii-ace-once-said-that-fighter-pilots-fall-into-two/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So I'm an ace?' Will grinned. 'I'm flattered Halt, flattered. I had no idea you regarded me so highly.' Halt gave him a long-suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/so-i-m-an-ace-will-grinned-i-m-flattered-halt-flattered-i-had-no-idea/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [ I'm definitely playing next year. That's my ace in the hole. It's a little hard to sit back and watch the guys \[this season\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedy-bruschi/i-m-definitely-playing-next-year-that-s-my-ace-in-the-hole-it-s-a/) [Tedy Bruschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedy-bruschi/) > [“I don't see you holdin no aces.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/i-don-t-see-you-holdin-no-aces/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [I'm tryin' to build myself bigger than just Ace Hood, I'm tryin' to build myself as a bigger brand - open up clothing lines,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-hood/i-m-tryin-to-build-myself-bigger-than-just-ace-hood-i-m-tryin-to/) [Ace Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-hood/) > [“That's right, kid. Never play an ace if a two will do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-smith/that-s-right-kid-never-play-an-ace-if-a-two-will-do/) [Jeff Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-smith/) > [Thanks for the memory Of lingerie with lace, Pilsner by the case And how I jumped the day you trumped my one-and-only ace How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-robin/thanks-for-the-memory-of-lingerie-with-lace-pilsner-by-the-case-and/) [Leo Robin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-robin/) > [I don't have this massive serve where I'm hitting 10 aces a match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pegula/i-don-t-have-this-massive-serve-where-i-m-hitting-10-aces-a-match/) [Jessica Pegula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pegula/) > [There's always a villain in every book, in every movie. In every story you have the hero and what he wants, and that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-always-a-villain-in-every-book-in-every-movie-in-every-story/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [My dresser and I have the hots for the new rugby ace Danny Cipriani. We have a shrine in my dressing room - press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-clary/my-dresser-and-i-have-the-hots-for-the-new-rugby-ace-danny-cipriani/) [Julian Clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-clary/) > [My ace in the hole as a human being used to be my capacity for remembering birthdays. I worked at it. Whenever I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-orlean/my-ace-in-the-hole-as-a-human-being-used-to-be-my-capacity-for/) [Susan Orlean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-orlean/) > [There are two thoughts that will ensure success in all you do; (1) Don't tell everything you know, and (2) until Ace Ventura, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/there-are-two-thoughts-that-will-ensure-success-in-all-you-do-1-don-t/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [ Behold me waiting—waiting for the knife… The thick, sweet mystery of chloroform, The drunken dark, the little death-in-life… \[F\]ace to face with chance, I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ernest-henley/behold-me-waiting-waiting-for-the-knife-the-thick-sweet-mystery-of/) [William Ernest Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ernest-henley/) > [I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-mean-maybe-i-was-holding-all-the-aces-but-what-was-the-game/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) [Browse all 104 Aces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only upon the four aces, are apt to have a wheel out of order.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Vanbrugh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-upon-the-four-aces-are-apt-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aces" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-upon-the-four-aces-are-apt-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/john-vanbrugh-25478_aces_we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-u_3034142.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/john-vanbrugh-25478_aces_we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-u_3034142.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a3/john-vanbrugh-25478_aces_we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-u_3034142.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only upon the four aces, are apt to have a wheel out of order.” — John Vanbrugh", "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": "John Vanbrugh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanbrugh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We gentlemen, whose chariot's roll only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-upon-the-four-aces-are-apt-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanbrugh/we-gentlemen-whose-chariot-s-roll-only-upon-the-four-aces-are-apt-to/#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 } } ] } ```