--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you look at things as they are, there…" description: "\"If you look at things as they are, there does not seem to be a code either of man or of God on which one can pattern one's conduct. Wrong triumphs over..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/khushwant-singh-9061_circumstances_if-you-look-at-things-as-they-are-there_2949029.jpg" --- # If you look at things as they are, there does not seem to… ![“If you look at things as they are, there does not seem to be a code either of man or of God on which one can pattern one's conduct. Wrong triumphs over right as much as right over wrong. Sometimes its triumphs are greater. What happens ultimately, you do not know. In such circumstances what can…” quote by Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/khushwant-singh-9061_circumstances_if-you-look-at-things-as-they-are-there_2949029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/khushwant-singh-9061_circumstances_if-you-look-at-things-as-they-are-there_2949029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/khushwant-singh-9061_circumstances_if-you-look-at-things-as-they-are-there_2949029.jpg) > “If you look at things as they are, there does not seem to be a code either of man or of God on which one can pattern one's conduct. Wrong triumphs over right as much as right over wrong. Sometimes its triumphs are greater. What happens ultimately, you do not know. In such circumstances what can you do but cultivate an utter indifference to all values? Nothing matters. Nothing whatever...” [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) ## 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 expresses existential nihilism, suggesting that in a chaotic world without clear moral codes, indifference becomes a rational response. **In simple terms:** In a chaotic world, nothing matters, so indifference is natural. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and focus on personal peace. Themes nihilism existentialism indifference morality uncertainty Mood cynical detached reflective Type philosophical existential literary When to use this quote - war zones - political upheaval - personal crises - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts free will moral relativism absurdity Questions to Reflect On - Can you find meaning despite uncertainty? - Is indifference truly liberating? A Different Perspective Indifference may lead to disengagement from positive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Conduct Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conduct-wrong-4434506/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference/) [Indifference Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifference-values-4434504/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nothing matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing-matters/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Utter Indifference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utter-indifference-3710683/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Values Matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values-matters-4434505/) ## Related quotes > [“For the first time, he considered that utter indifference might inspire not inner peace but a limitless capacity for evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/for-the-first-time-he-considered-that-utter-indifference-might/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Values matters well in a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/values-matters-well-in-a-race/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Treat Death as it treats us: with utter indifference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-evans/treat-death-as-it-treats-us-with-utter-indifference/) [Stephen Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-evans/) > [There's this book," Jared said. "And in this book a guy said that he would rather touch someones hand if she was dead than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/there-s-this-book-jared-said-and-in-this-book-a-guy-said-that-he/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The past is of no importance. The present is of no importance. It is with the future that we have to deal. For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-de-goncourt/the-past-is-of-no-importance-the-present-is-of-no-importance-it-is-2/) [Edmond de Goncourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-de-goncourt/) > [Intimacy, says the phenomenologist Gaston Bachelard, is the highest value. I resist this statement at first. What about artistic achievement, or moral courage, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doty/intimacy-says-the-phenomenologist-gaston-bachelard-is-the-highest/) [Mark Doty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-doty/) > [This stage in the life of the buzz is truly fabulous. It’s not even a buzz anymore. It’s a roar. The world opens up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/this-stage-in-the-life-of-the-buzz-is-truly-fabulous-it-s-not-even-a/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [There is no object to life. To nature nothing matters but the continuation of the species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/there-is-no-object-to-life-to-nature-nothing-matters-but-the/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [A feminazi is a woman to whom the most important thing in life is seeing to it that as many abortions as possible are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/a-feminazi-is-a-woman-to-whom-the-most-important-thing-in-life-is/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Marriage is not a ritual or an end. Its a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/marriage-is-not-a-ritual-or-an-end-its-a-long-intricate-intimate/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [Nothing matters more than your health. Healthy living is priceless. What millionaire wouldn't pay dearly for an extra 10 or 20 years of healthy aging?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/nothing-matters-more-than-your-health-healthy-living-is-priceless/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [There's a rule for what makes good fantasy work, and it's as strange as any riddle ever posed in a fairy tale: In fantasy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-nielsen-hayden/there-s-a-rule-for-what-makes-good-fantasy-work-and-it-s-as-strange/) [Teresa Nielsen Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-nielsen-hayden/) > [God alone is real, nothing matters but love for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meher-baba/god-alone-is-real-nothing-matters-but-love-for-god/) [Meher Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meher-baba/) > [In politics nothing matters very much, and few things matter at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-balfour/in-politics-nothing-matters-very-much-and-few-things-matter-at-all/) [Arthur Balfour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-balfour/) > [If nothing matters, there's nothing to save.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/if-nothing-matters-there-s-nothing-to-save/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## More by Khushwant Singh > [When you have counted eighty years and more, Time and Fate will batter at your door; But if you should survive to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/when-you-have-counted-eighty-years-and-more-time-and-fate-will-batter/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“Freedom is for the educated people who fought for it. We were slaves of the English, now we will be slaves of the educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/freedom-is-for-the-educated-people-who-fought-for-it-we-were-slaves/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“There are many ways of attaining godhood, say teachers of religion. Acharya Rajneesh disagrees and says there is only one way, and sexual intercourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/there-are-many-ways-of-attaining-godhood-say-teachers-of-religion/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [I don't want to be cremated, I want to be buried. I don't believe in wasting wood and I feel that one should give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-don-t-want-to-be-cremated-i-want-to-be-buried-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“I am back in my beloved city. The scene of desolation fills my eyes with tears. At every step my distress and agitation increases.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-am-back-in-my-beloved-city-the-scene-of-desolation-fills-my-eyes/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“One Sikh may argue with one Sikh. One Sikh must never argue with two Sikhs–certainly not after dark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/one-sikh-may-argue-with-one-sikh-one-sikh-must-never-argue-with-two/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [ I had lots of time to read \[being a lawyer\] what I hadn't read in my school and college days. Being a bad student… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-had-lots-of-time-to-read-being-a-lawyer-what-i-hadn-t-read-in-my/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [No one has invented a condom for the pen yet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/no-one-has-invented-a-condom-for-the-pen-yet/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [ I have never, in 50 years, ever missed a deadline \[as a journalist\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-have-never-in-50-years-ever-missed-a-deadline-as-a-journalist/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“poverty which had celebrated a hundred thousand silver and golden jubilees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/poverty-which-had-celebrated-a-hundred-thousand-silver-and-golden/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [“He told us of an incident from the life of the Prophet Musa. Musa heard a poor shepherd praying: ‘Where art Thou that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/he-told-us-of-an-incident-from-the-life-of-the-prophet-musa-musa/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [The last to learn of gossip are the parties concerned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/the-last-to-learn-of-gossip-are-the-parties-concerned/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [I haven't any close friends. Friendship needs time to interact, sit down, gossip. I don't have that time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-haven-t-any-close-friends-friendship-needs-time-to-interact-sit/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [I still think that the point of reference for every Indian when he is in doubt on any political or social issue is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/i-still-think-that-the-point-of-reference-for-every-indian-when-he-is/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) > [Nature provides that a man who slaves all day should spend the hours of the night in a palace full of houris whereas a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushwant-singh/nature-provides-that-a-man-who-slaves-all-day-should-spend-the-hours/) [Khushwant Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) [Explore all 75 Khushwant Singh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushwant-singh/) ## More Circumstances quotes > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [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/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found, at last, to be of our own producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/the-fortunate-circumstances-of-our-lives-are-generally-found-at-last/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“The set of circumstances that justifies the use of deadly force is a situation of immediate danger of death or great bodily harm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massad-ayoob/the-set-of-circumstances-that-justifies-the-use-of-deadly-force-is-a/) [Massad Ayoob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massad-ayoob/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [It's impossible to know who Donald might have been under different circumstances and with different parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/it-s-impossible-to-know-who-donald-might-have-been-under-different/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [It seemed to me that the human beings I met reacted pretty much the same to the same stimuli. Different idioms,yes. Circumstances and conditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-seemed-to-me-that-the-human-beings-i-met-reacted-pretty-much-the/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [I don't think you would have missed that putt, but in these circumstances, I would never give you the opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicklaus/i-don-t-think-you-would-have-missed-that-putt-but-in-these/) [Jack Nicklaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicklaus/) > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Instead of complaining about your circumstances, get busy creating new ones. You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-complaining-about-your-circumstances-get-busy-creating-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 4,560 Circumstances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you look at things as they are, there does not seem to be a code either of man or of God on which one can pattern one's conduct. Wrong triumphs over right as much as right over wrong. Sometimes its triumphs are greater. What happens ultimately, you do not know. In such circumstances what can you do but cultivate an utter indifference to all values? Nothing matters. 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