---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somewhere in the infinite that He…"
description: "\"“Somewhere in the infinite that He occupies, God advances and withdraws the pawns of the other games He plays, but it is too soon to worry about this o..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/jos-saramago-208_action_somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupi_673234.jpg"
---

#  Somewhere in the infinite that He occupies, God advances…

![“Somewhere in the infinite that He occupies, God advances and withdraws the pawns of the other games He plays, but it is too soon to worry about this one, all He need do for the present is allow things to take their natural course, apart from the occasional adjustment with the tip of His little…” quote by José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/jos-saramago-208_action_somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupi_673234.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/jos-saramago-208_action_somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupi_673234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/jos-saramago-208_action_somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupi_673234.jpg)

> ““Somewhere in the infinite that He occupies, God advances and withdraws the pawns of the other games He plays, but it is too soon to worry about this one, all He need do for the present is allow things to take their natural course, apart from the occasional adjustment with the tip of His little finger to make sure some stray thought or action does not interfere with the harmony of destinies.””

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Divine forces subtly guide events, yet ultimate outcomes unfold naturally, with occasional minor adjustments.

**In simple terms:** God nudges things but lets most happen on its own.

Key Takeaway

Trust the natural flow while staying mindful of small influences.

Themes

faith destiny free will acceptance

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal decision making
- political strategy
- creative writing
- spiritual practice
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

theology determinism serendipity

Questions to Reflect On

- What role should divine or external forces play in our lives?
- How do we discern subtle guidance from random chance?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on divine control can diminish personal agency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Pawns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pawns/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/)

## Related quotes

> [I verily believe that the kingdom of God advances more on spoken words than it does on essays written and read; on words, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-salter-storrs/i-verily-believe-that-the-kingdom-of-god-advances-more-on-spoken/)

[Richard Salter Storrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-salter-storrs/)

> [Organized religion has too often followed the road of other people's institutions. It has made adjustments, compromises, and surrenders to a materialistic civilization for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/organized-religion-has-too-often-followed-the-road-of-other-people-s/)

[Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/)

> [In the ending the king is a powerful piece for assisting his own pawns, or stopping the adverse pawns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/in-the-ending-the-king-is-a-powerful-piece-for-assisting-his-own/)

[Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/)

> [Touch the pawns before your king with only infinite delicacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-santasiere/touch-the-pawns-before-your-king-with-only-infinite-delicacy/)

Anthony Santasiere

> [I realized that it's my own fault that people take advantage of me. I should be around people who cherish my talents, my health,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-realized-that-it-s-my-own-fault-that-people-take-advantage-of-me-i/)

[Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/)

> [White has no positional equivalent for the centralized pawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/white-has-no-positional-equivalent-for-the-centralized-pawn/)

[Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/)

> [I'll listen to you, but you need to treat me with a little respect. Because it doesn't sound like I'm a pawn. Sounds like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/i-ll-listen-to-you-but-you-need-to-treat-me-with-a-little-respect/)

[Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/)

> [Modern Chess is too much concerned with things like Pawn structure. Forget it, Checkmate ends the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-short/modern-chess-is-too-much-concerned-with-things-like-pawn-structure/)

[Nigel Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-short/)

> [As a rule, pawn endings have a forced character, and they can be worked out conclusively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dvoretsky/as-a-rule-pawn-endings-have-a-forced-character-and-they-can-be-worked/)

[Mark Dvoretsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dvoretsky/)

> [Fate knows all about you, it knows your fears and your weaknesses and your confidences and strengths, and it can be ready for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lebbon/fate-knows-all-about-you-it-knows-your-fears-and-your-weaknesses-and/)

[Tim Lebbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lebbon/)

> [Nobody can build the bridge for you to walk across the river of life, no one but you yourself alone. There are, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nobody-can-build-the-bridge-for-you-to-walk-across-the-river-of-life/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Ultimately, of course, you must decide for yourself whether the subjective psychological effects created by your evolved cognitive biases reflect an objective reality, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-bering/ultimately-of-course-you-must-decide-for-yourself-whether-the/)

[Jesse Bering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-bering/)

> [He is nothing more than one of my pawns. However, he is not a normal pawn. He is a pawn that can get across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yana-toboso/he-is-nothing-more-than-one-of-my-pawns-however-he-is-not-a-normal/)

[Yana Toboso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yana-toboso/)

> [When your house is on fire, you cant be bothered with the neighbors. Or, as we say in Chess, if your King is under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/when-your-house-is-on-fire-you-cant-be-bothered-with-the-neighbors-or/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [The male is always the pawn in a romantic comedy. Come together, break up, go chase her, get her, roll credits. That's what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/the-male-is-always-the-pawn-in-a-romantic-comedy-come-together-break/)

[Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/)

## More by José Saramago

> [“We are born, and at that moment, it is as if we had signed a pact for the rest of our life, but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/we-are-born-and-at-that-moment-it-is-as-if-we-had-signed-a-pact-for/)

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [One can show no greater respect than to weep for a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/one-can-show-no-greater-respect-than-to-weep-for-a-stranger/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [I am not a prophet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-am-not-a-prophet/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [With the passage of time, as well as the social evolution and genetic exchange, we ended up putting our conscience in the color of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/with-the-passage-of-time-as-well-as-the-social-evolution-and-genetic/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [“Al día siguiente no murió nadie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/al-d-a-siguiente-no-muri-nadie/)

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [“E se as histórias para crianças passassem a ser de leitura obrigatória para os adultos? Seriam eles capazes de aprender realmente o que há…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/e-se-as-hist-rias-para-crian-as-passassem-a-ser-de-leitura-obrigat/)

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [In a king, modesty would be a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/in-a-king-modesty-would-be-a-sign-of-weakness/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [“the inmates of the second ward in the right wing have decided, at long last, to bury their dead, at least we shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-inmates-of-the-second-ward-in-the-right-wing-have-decided-at-long/)

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [“Stretching one arm behind him, the man passed his hand over the horse's coat, his own skin transformed, or skin which had transformed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/stretching-one-arm-behind-him-the-man-passed-his-hand-over-the-horse/)

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [I think we are blind. Blind people who can see, but do not see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/i-think-we-are-blind-blind-people-who-can-see-but-do-not-see/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [...you have to leave the island in order to see the island, that we can't see ourselves unless we become free of ourselves, Unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/you-have-to-leave-the-island-in-order-to-see-the-island-that-we-can-t/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [anyone who gets up early by inclination or has been forced to rise early out of necessity finds it intolerable that others should go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/anyone-who-gets-up-early-by-inclination-or-has-been-forced-to-rise/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [Society has to change, but the political powers we have at the moment are not enough to effect this change. The whole democratic system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/society-has-to-change-but-the-political-powers-we-have-at-the-moment/)

[Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

> [“... aborrece os odores nocturnos, aquelas expansões do corpo a que nem poetas escapam".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/aborrece-os-odores-nocturnos-aquelas-expans-es-do-corpo-a-que-nem/)

[José Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

[Explore all 487 José Saramago quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Somewhere in the infinite that He occupies, God advances and withdraws the pawns of the other games He plays, but it is too soon to worry about this one, all He need do for the present is allow things to take their natural course, apart from the occasional adjustment with the tip of His little finger to make sure some stray thought or action does not interfere with the harmony of destinies.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "José Saramago"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupies-god-advances-and-withdraws/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupies-god-advances-and-withdraws/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/jos-saramago-208_action_somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupi_673234.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/jos-saramago-208_action_somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupi_673234.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa1/jos-saramago-208_action_somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupi_673234.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Somewhere in the infinite that He occupies, God advances and withdraws the pawns of the other games He…” — José Saramago",
                "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": "José Saramago",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Somewhere in the infinite that He...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupies-god-advances-and-withdraws/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/somewhere-in-the-infinite-that-he-occupies-god-advances-and-withdraws/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
