--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a thing to be regretted (and…" description: "\"“It is a thing to be regretted (and prevented, if possible) that a whole nation should be ruined for the pride and obstinacy of its princes,”\" — Matthe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/matthew-henry-903_pride_it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-preven_974451.jpg" --- # It is a thing to be regretted (and prevented, if possible)… ![“It is a thing to be regretted (and prevented, if possible) that a whole nation should be ruined for the pride and obstinacy of its princes,” quote by Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/matthew-henry-903_pride_it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-preven_974451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/matthew-henry-903_pride_it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-preven_974451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/matthew-henry-903_pride_it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-preven_974451.jpg) > ““It is a thing to be regretted (and prevented, if possible) that a whole nation should be ruined for the pride and obstinacy of its princes,”” [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## 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 warns that the reckless pride of rulers can devastate an entire nation, a tragedy that could be avoided with humility and foresight. **In simple terms:** Rulers' pride can ruin nations; humility could prevent it. Key Takeaway Promote modesty and accountability in leadership. Themes politics pride consequences leadership Mood cautionary reflective Type ethical political When to use this quote - government policy - international diplomacy - public education - ethical training Key Concepts hubris collective responsibility preventable disaster Questions to Reflect On - How can societies curb leaders' hubris? - What structures ensure accountability? A Different Perspective Even modest leaders may still cause harm without systemic checks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nation Ruined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-ruined-544049/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regretted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regretted/) [Regretted Prevented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regretted-prevented-1894610/) [Ruined Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruined-pride-1894612/) [Thing Regretted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-regretted-1894611/) ## Related quotes > [No nation has ever been ruined by trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/no-nation-has-ever-been-ruined-by-trade/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [No nation was ever ruined by trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/no-nation-was-ever-ruined-by-trade/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [She regretted nothing she had shared with her lover, nor was she ashamed of the fires that had changed her life; just the opposite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/she-regretted-nothing-she-had-shared-with-her-lover-nor-was-she/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [After my mother passed away, I really felt there were things that I hadn't said or things that I did say that I kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-mark/after-my-mother-passed-away-i-really-felt-there-were-things-that-i/) [Amber Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-mark/) > [“You may have something wise to say, but HOW YOU SAY IT may make it unwise! RECREATE it, else you'll REGRET it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-may-have-something-wise-to-say-but-how-you-say-it-may-make-it/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I have often regretted what I have eaten, but never what I have drunk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/i-have-often-regretted-what-i-have-eaten-but-never-what-i-have-drunk/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [I choose totally by instinct. And the only time I've ever gone against my instincts, I've regretted it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-choose-totally-by-instinct-and-the-only-time-i-ve-ever-gone-against/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [“(...) always regretted that good memory often prevents us from thinking for ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-harris/always-regretted-that-good-memory-often-prevents-us-from-thinking-for/) [Frank Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-harris/) > [I certainly would have regretted not getting into wrestling. It's been very lucrative for me and I've been fortunate to get into it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hart/i-certainly-would-have-regretted-not-getting-into-wrestling-it-s-been/) [Owen Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hart/) > [Every time I've built character, I've regretted it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/every-time-i-ve-built-character-i-ve-regretted-it/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [There were definitely times when I regretted ever being Batman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/there-were-definitely-times-when-i-regretted-ever-being-batman/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [She regretted having taken his hand, she wanted to get away from there as soon as possible, to hide her shame, never again to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/she-regretted-having-taken-his-hand-she-wanted-to-get-away-from-there/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I have always found that each step we take in life is to be regretted - if we once begin to wonder how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-mary-teresa-craigie/i-have-always-found-that-each-step-we-take-in-life-is-to-be-regretted/) [Pearl Mary Teresa Craigie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-mary-teresa-craigie/) > [I've never regretted anything I've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-ve-never-regretted-anything-i-ve-ever-done/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [“ misgivings , n . Last night, I got up the courage to ask you if you regretted us. "There are things I miss,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/misgivings-n-last-night-i-got-up-the-courage-to-ask-you-if-you/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## More by Matthew Henry > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-is-our-temple-in-whom-by-faith-all-believers-meet/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [We must believe that He is able to do what He will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to His promise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/we-must-believe-that-he-is-able-to-do-what-he-will-wise-to-do-what-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When God gives law to us, we must give honour to him; when he speaks, we must bow our heads and worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-god-gives-law-to-us-we-must-give-honour-to-him-when-he-speaks-we/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“The first that dies is a martyr, and dies for his religion; and of such it may more truly be said than of soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-first-that-dies-is-a-martyr-and-dies-for-his-religion-and-of-such/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [They that pray in the family do well; they that pray and read the Scriptures do better; but they that pray, and read, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/they-that-pray-in-the-family-do-well-they-that-pray-and-read-the/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Let no man go beyond or defraud his brother, for, though it be hidden from man, it will be found that God is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/let-no-man-go-beyond-or-defraud-his-brother-for-though-it-be-hidden/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/some-people-do-not-like-to-hear-much-of-repentance-but-i-think-it-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Love is the root; obedience is the fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/love-is-the-root-obedience-is-the-fruit/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) [Explore all 332 Matthew Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## More Pride quotes > [“When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/when-dealing-with-people-remember-you-are-not-dealing-with-creatures/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [There are things that you think about in your life that you're proud of, some things that you're not proud of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kelly/there-are-things-that-you-think-about-in-your-life-that-you-re-proud/) [Jim Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kelly/) > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [I get paid to play, to win, to give the city pride, so maybe everybody can forget for a little while how hard life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-cunningham/i-get-paid-to-play-to-win-to-give-the-city-pride-so-maybe-everybody/) [Randall Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-cunningham/) > [“For all his frustrations and his chronic sense of being overburdened. He was proud of that; he’d always felt that it was worth doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/for-all-his-frustrations-and-his-chronic-sense-of-being-overburdened/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [Britain should take pride in a foreign policy that reflects her values and responsibilities - but it must be grounded in the tangible interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/britain-should-take-pride-in-a-foreign-policy-that-reflects-her/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [“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/) > [Spade! Thou art a tool of honor in my hands. I press thee, through a yielding soil, with pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/spade-thou-art-a-tool-of-honor-in-my-hands-i-press-thee-through-a/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [Less of me and all I'm trying to be. Building my kingdom just to find it so short of your glory I'm a traitor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-y-lennox/less-of-me-and-all-i-m-trying-to-be-building-my-kingdom-just-to-find/) [Zion Y Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-y-lennox/) > [Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/ring-out-false-pride-in-place-and-blood-the-civic-slander-and-the/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [Proud create excitement, excitement produce anger and finally lost of mental and physical of human. Gn: don't keep proud, keep only confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tapesh/proud-create-excitement-excitement-produce-anger-and-finally-lost-of/) [Tapesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tapesh/) > [My pride is worth much more than your stupid little love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-posner/my-pride-is-worth-much-more-than-your-stupid-little-love/) [Mike Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-posner/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) [Browse all 7,837 Pride quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is a thing to be regretted (and prevented, if possible) that a whole nation should be ruined for the pride and obstinacy of its princes,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Henry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-prevented-if-possible-that-a-whole/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pride" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-prevented-if-possible-that-a-whole/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/matthew-henry-903_pride_it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-preven_974451.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/matthew-henry-903_pride_it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-preven_974451.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/matthew-henry-903_pride_it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-preven_974451.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a thing to be regretted (and prevented, if possible) that a whole nation should be ruined for the…” — Matthew Henry", "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": "Matthew Henry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is a thing to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-prevented-if-possible-that-a-whole/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/it-is-a-thing-to-be-regretted-and-prevented-if-possible-that-a-whole/#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 } } ] } ```