--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I and my two children cannot move the…" description: "\"If I and my two children cannot move the gods, the gods must have their reasons.\" — Marcus Aurelius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/marcus-aurelius-139_children_if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the_1831468.jpg" --- # If I and my two children cannot move the gods, the gods… ![“If I and my two children cannot move the gods, the gods must have their reasons.” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/marcus-aurelius-139_children_if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the_1831468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/marcus-aurelius-139_children_if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the_1831468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/marcus-aurelius-139_children_if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the_1831468.jpg) > “If I and my two children cannot move the gods, the gods must have their reasons.” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If even a parent cannot influence fate, then divine forces have their own purposes. **In simple terms:** Divine will may be beyond human control. Key Takeaway Accept that some outcomes are beyond influence. Themes philosophy determinism parenting divine will Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal loss - parenting challenges - spiritual reflection Key Concepts stoicism fate humility Questions to Reflect On - What does this say about personal responsibility? - How can we act within perceived limits? A Different Perspective May foster fatalism, reducing agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [“We are satellites, we are made from blood and clay—we are the children of Gods, we are the builders of bridges and the destroyers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henna-lucas/we-are-satellites-we-are-made-from-blood-and-clay-we-are-the-children/) Henna Lucas > [“No one really believes in the gods of the New Age; they are deities not of the celestial hierarchy above but of the ornamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/no-one-really-believes-in-the-gods-of-the-new-age-they-are-deities/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [One should only question gods where none but gods can reply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/one-should-only-question-gods-where-none-but-gods-can-reply/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Don't care about gods. Gods are irrelevant. What counts is people. What counts is having respect for each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/don-t-care-about-gods-gods-are-irrelevant-what-counts-is-people-what/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [What gods are there, what gods have there ever been, that were not from man's imagination?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/what-gods-are-there-what-gods-have-there-ever-been-that-were-not-from/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [What are men? Mortal gods. What are gods? Immortal men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/what-are-men-mortal-gods-what-are-gods-immortal-men/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [There are many gods . . . gods of beauty and magic, gods of the garden, gods in our own backyards, but we go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolfo-anaya/there-are-many-gods-gods-of-beauty-and-magic-gods-of-the-garden-gods/) [Rudolfo Anaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolfo-anaya/) > [If from infancy you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-from-infancy-you-treat-children-as-gods-they-are-liable-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Neleus... The son of Poseidon! A birth that came from the mate of a god and a mortal woman. Not plain at all! So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katerina-kostaki/neleus-the-son-of-poseidon-a-birth-that-came-from-the-mate-of-a-god/) [Katerina Kostaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katerina-kostaki/) > [“We are the children of gods and angels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/we-are-the-children-of-gods-and-angels/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [Think of Shakespeare and Melville and you think of thunder, lightning, wind. They all knew the joy of creating in large or small forms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/think-of-shakespeare-and-melville-and-you-think-of-thunder-lightning/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“I didn't want anyone to stand in my way. I was made to rule and with you by my side." He took a step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-dain/i-didn-t-want-anyone-to-stand-in-my-way-i-was-made-to-rule-and-with/) [J.M. Dain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-dain/) > [Do you know the primary difference between men and gods? ... Gods don’t think they can become men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/do-you-know-the-primary-difference-between-men-and-gods-gods-don-t/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [Man invented the gods. Then the gods went off on their own, but not far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/man-invented-the-gods-then-the-gods-went-off-on-their-own-but-not-far/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“But there exists not one man who never errs. We would be gods." And gods didn't apologize. Men did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meljean-brook/but-there-exists-not-one-man-who-never-errs-we-would-be-gods-and-gods/) [Meljean Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meljean-brook/) ## More by Marcus Aurelius > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Everything is mere opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/everything-is-mere-opinion/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-best-revenge-is-to-be-unlike-him-who-performed-the-injury/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Nothing befalls any man which he is not fitted to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/nothing-befalls-any-man-which-he-is-not-fitted-to-endure/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/let-it-be-your-constant-method-to-look-into-the-design-of-people-s/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Our life is a warfare, and a mere pilgrimage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/our-life-is-a-warfare-and-a-mere-pilgrimage/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“If therefore it be a thing external that causes thy grief, know, that it is not that properly that doth cause it, but thine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-therefore-it-be-a-thing-external-that-causes-thy-grief-know-that/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) [Explore all 1,138 Marcus Aurelius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I and my two children cannot move the gods, the gods must have their reasons.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Aurelius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the-gods-the-gods-must-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the-gods-the-gods-must-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/marcus-aurelius-139_children_if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the_1831468.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/marcus-aurelius-139_children_if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the_1831468.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/marcus-aurelius-139_children_if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the_1831468.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I and my two children cannot move the gods, the gods must have their reasons.” — Marcus Aurelius", "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": "Marcus Aurelius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I and my two children...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the-gods-the-gods-must-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-i-and-my-two-children-cannot-move-the-gods-the-gods-must-have/#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 } } ] } ```