--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance…" description: "\"No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance has so much power over us, since it is by chance that we live.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/michel-de-montaigne-142_ancient_no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-ha_2424641.jpg" --- # No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance has so much power… ![“No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance has so much power over us, since it is by chance that we live.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/michel-de-montaigne-142_ancient_no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-ha_2424641.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/michel-de-montaigne-142_ancient_no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-ha_2424641.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/michel-de-montaigne-142_ancient_no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-ha_2424641.jpg) > “No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance has so much power over us, since it is by chance that we live.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is governed by randomness; we exist because of chance events. **In simple terms:** Life depends on luck. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty. Themes philosophy existentialism chance Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily decision making - risk assessment - personal growth Key Concepts determinism probability human existence Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing chance affect your choices? - Can you find meaning amid randomness? A Different Perspective Chance does not excuse responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-chance-6147163/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Chance Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance-power-473286/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-ancient-2210867/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wonder Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder-said-821730/) ## Related quotes > [“He (the Emperor) once said of ancient Earth that there were torches, who were the teachers, but also extinguishers, who were the priests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-mcneill/he-the-emperor-once-said-of-ancient-earth-that-there-were-torches-who/) [Graham McNeill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-mcneill/) > [“The toughest fucking moments in life are the ones where the whole world is a big, fat unkown, where chance has more power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/the-toughest-fucking-moments-in-life-are-the-ones-where-the-whole/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“What we call “the laws of nature” merely reflect the normal way in which God sustains or governs the natural world. Perhaps the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/what-we-call-the-laws-of-nature-merely-reflect-the-normal-way-in/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“There are so few people in the world who have the chance and the power to change it. But we can,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-chase/there-are-so-few-people-in-the-world-who-have-the-chance-and-the/) [Emma Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-chase/) > [Ultimately, at the end of the day, taking a chance on 'Power' is taking a chance on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-a-kemp/ultimately-at-the-end-of-the-day-taking-a-chance-on-power-is-taking-a/) [Courtney A. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-a-kemp/) > [“Chance is a perfectly good word to describe mathematic possibilities, but it is only a word. It is not an entity. Chance is nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/chance-is-a-perfectly-good-word-to-describe-mathematic-possibilities/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“I wonder, said the Lord I wonder if I know the answer any more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/i-wonder-said-the-lord-i-wonder-if-i-know-the-answer-any-more/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“So, wonder! I also wonder about you," said Cadfael mildly. "Do you know any human creatures who are not strangers, one to another?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellis-peters/so-wonder-i-also-wonder-about-you-said-cadfael-mildly-do-you-know-any/) [Ellis Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellis-peters/) > [“Stuff your eyes with wonder," he said, 'live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/stuff-your-eyes-with-wonder-he-said-live-as-if-you-d-drop-dead-in-ten/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Look, Winged Wonder. Get me out of here, then we'll hammer out the details about where I'm staying. Okay?" "Winged Wonder," he said, nodding.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/look-winged-wonder-get-me-out-of-here-then-we-ll-hammer-out-the/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [I wonder,” he said, “whether the stars are set alight in heaven so that one day each one of us may find his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/i-wonder-he-said-whether-the-stars-are-set-alight-in-heaven-so-that/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [It is good to renew one's wonder, said the philosopher. Space travel has again made children of us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/it-is-good-to-renew-one-s-wonder-said-the-philosopher-space-travel/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The world's full of wonder, he said. Or at least horror that looks wondrous from afar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-scull/the-world-s-full-of-wonder-he-said-or-at-least-horror-that-looks/) [Luke Scull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-scull/) > [“Sometimes, when someone says something to us, we all of a sudden start to wonder why they said it, what they meant, and whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-m-revere/sometimes-when-someone-says-something-to-us-we-all-of-a-sudden-start/) [A.M. Revere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-m-revere/) > [I wonder…,” she said, “if there was such a thing as time machines, would anyone ever use them to go to the future?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-wonder-she-said-if-there-was-such-a-thing-as-time-machines-would/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. Honors can be bought with fine words, respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-tao-is-the-center-of-the-universe-the-good-man-s-treasure-the-bad/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. 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If they're willing to accept me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/so-what-if-i-m-ninety-three-so-what-if-i-m-ancient-and-cranky-and-my/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [Science has revealed a universe that is vast, ancient, violent, strange, and beautiful, a universe of almost infinite variety and possibility one in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-mlodinow/science-has-revealed-a-universe-that-is-vast-ancient-violent-strange/) [Leonard Mlodinow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-mlodinow/) [Browse all 2,415 Ancient quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance has so much power over us, since it is by chance that we live.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-has-so-much-power-over-us-since/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ancient" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-has-so-much-power-over-us-since/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/michel-de-montaigne-142_ancient_no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-ha_2424641.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/michel-de-montaigne-142_ancient_no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-ha_2424641.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/michel-de-montaigne-142_ancient_no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-ha_2424641.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance has so much power over us, since it is by chance that we live.” — Michel de Montaigne", "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": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "No wonder, said an Ancient, that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-has-so-much-power-over-us-since/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-wonder-said-an-ancient-that-chance-has-so-much-power-over-us-since/#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 } } ] } ```