---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You plan and plan and plan then Africa…"
description: "\"“You plan and plan and plan then Africa happens”\" — Mireya Mayor"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/mireya-mayor-52394_africa_you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-h_3002653.jpg"
---

#  You plan and plan and plan then Africa happens

![“You plan and plan and plan then Africa happens” quote by Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/mireya-mayor-52394_africa_you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-h_3002653.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/mireya-mayor-52394_africa_you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-h_3002653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/mireya-mayor-52394_africa_you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-h_3002653.jpg)

> ““You plan and plan and plan then Africa happens””

[Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

## About This Quote

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

Planning without adaptability leads to failure when unexpected events occur.

**In simple terms:** Plans fail without flexibility.

Key Takeaway

Stay adaptable.

Themes

planning flexibility uncertainty

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advisory inspirational

When to use this quote

- expeditions
- project management
- emergency response
- personal goals

Key Concepts

risk management contingency planning

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you build flexibility into plans?
- What unexpected events have derailed your plans?

A Different Perspective

Over‑planning can stifle creativity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Africa Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa-happens-4774388/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan/) [Plan Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-africa-4774387/) [Plan Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-plan/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/)

## Related quotes

> [Any atrocity that's committed against one person affects us all, and we are becoming more of one society, of a global society, so something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/any-atrocity-that-s-committed-against-one-person-affects-us-all-and/)

[Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/)

> [“Is it dangerous to plan too much? Yes, we all need to plan, to have a plan, but life goes on regardless of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-w-p-garland/is-it-dangerous-to-plan-too-much-yes-we-all-need-to-plan-to-have-a/)

[Leslie W.P. Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-w-p-garland/)

> [Fail to plan, plan to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fail-to-plan-plan-to-fail/)

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

> [“Your life will take place whether you have a plan or not, so have a plan. Choose one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-smith/your-life-will-take-place-whether-you-have-a-plan-or-not-so-have-a/)

[Robert D. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-smith/)

> [I've never had a plan for any of this: there was never a plan for, 'Right, I must get on the TV,' 'Right, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berry/i-ve-never-had-a-plan-for-any-of-this-there-was-never-a-plan-for/)

[Matt Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berry/)

> [Your life can't go according to plan if you have no plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/your-life-can-t-go-according-to-plan-if-you-have-no-plan/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [Joining the family business was always Plan B or Plan C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/joining-the-family-business-was-always-plan-b-or-plan-c/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [It's better to have a bad plan then no plan at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-gaulle/it-s-better-to-have-a-bad-plan-then-no-plan-at-all/)

[Charles de Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-gaulle/)

> [Well clearly Graeme it all went according to plan, what was the plan exactly ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-welsby/well-clearly-graeme-it-all-went-according-to-plan-what-was-the-plan/)

[Elton Welsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-welsby/)

> [Sometimes people have a Plan A and a Plan B. But, as far as I'm concerned, I have just had a Plan A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demba-ba/sometimes-people-have-a-plan-a-and-a-plan-b-but-as-far-as-i-m/)

[Demba Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demba-ba/)

> [One possible reason why things aren't going according to plan is that there never was a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/one-possible-reason-why-things-aren-t-going-according-to-plan-is-that/)

[Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/)

> [“I have a plan. It's not a good plan, but it's a plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-jack/i-have-a-plan-it-s-not-a-good-plan-but-it-s-a-plan/)

[Allie Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-jack/)

> [We had our whole life set up, all you had to do was love me forever that was the plan, a plan you managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-ocampo/we-had-our-whole-life-set-up-all-you-had-to-do-was-love-me-forever/)

[Monica Ocampo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-ocampo/)

> [The best piece of advice that my mother gave me is to never have a plan B. She told me to stick to plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-tapper/the-best-piece-of-advice-that-my-mother-gave-me-is-to-never-have-a/)

[Zoe Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-tapper/)

> [If you fail to plan then you plan to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-fail-to-plan-then-you-plan-to-fail/)

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

## More by Mireya Mayor

> [“Every morning in the middle of nowhere, without electricity or anyone to impress, I'd take great care in picking out my outfit and hover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/every-morning-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-without-electricity-or-anyone/)

[Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

> [“Dubbed the pink panthers of Madagascar, the fossas are killing machines, eating pretty much anything that moves with powerful jaws filled with canines as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/dubbed-the-pink-panthers-of-madagascar-the-fossas-are-killing/)

[Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

> [“As I was running back to camp, thoughts of tripping and crushing the endangered lemur crowded my head. I could see the headline, "Former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/as-i-was-running-back-to-camp-thoughts-of-tripping-and-crushing-the/)

[Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

> [“A budding fashionista even at four, I would capture the little lizards and latch them, still living, onto my earlobes as earrings. Most girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/a-budding-fashionista-even-at-four-i-would-capture-the-little-lizards/)

[Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

> [I've come close to death more times than Elizabeth Taylor has said 'I do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/i-ve-come-close-to-death-more-times-than-elizabeth-taylor-has-said-i/)

[Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

> [“I want to set the example my mother set for me: a strong female role model who faces challenges takes risks and conquers fears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/i-want-to-set-the-example-my-mother-set-for-me-a-strong-female-role/)

[Mireya Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

[Explore all 7 Mireya Mayor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/)

## More Africa 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/)

> [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/)

[Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/)

> [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/)

[Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/)

> [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/)

[Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/)

> [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/)

[Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/)

> [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/)

[Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/)

> [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/)

[Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/)

> [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/)

[David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/)

> [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/)

[Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/)

> [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/)

[Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/)

> [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/)

[Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/)

> [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/)

[Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/)

> [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/)

[Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/)

> [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/)

[Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/)

> [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/)

[Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/)

[Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“You plan and plan and plan then Africa happens”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mireya Mayor"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-happens/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Africa"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-happens/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/mireya-mayor-52394_africa_you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-h_3002653.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/mireya-mayor-52394_africa_you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-h_3002653.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82d/mireya-mayor-52394_africa_you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-h_3002653.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You plan and plan and plan then Africa happens” — Mireya Mayor",
                "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": "Mireya Mayor",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireya-mayor/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“You plan and plan and plan...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-happens/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireya-mayor/you-plan-and-plan-and-plan-then-africa-happens/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
