--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the course of human affairs be…" description: "\"If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.\" — Niccolo Machia..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_if-the-course-of-human-affairs-be-consid_268001.jpg" --- # If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be… ![“If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_if-the-course-of-human-affairs-be-consid_268001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_if-the-course-of-human-affairs-be-consid_268001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eef/niccolo-machiavelli-368_affair_if-the-course-of-human-affairs-be-consid_268001.jpg) > “If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human plans often clash with forces beyond control, leading to inevitable setbacks. **In simple terms:** Plans can fail due to unseen higher powers. Key Takeaway Accept limits and adapt strategies. Themes power fate politics Mood reflective cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - business planning - personal goal setting Key Concepts determinism strategic humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ambition with acceptance? - When to push versus when to yield? A Different Perspective Limits may be overstated; agency still matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Human affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-affairs/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) ## Related quotes > [By understanding how all things arise together, you shift from viewing yourself as acting upon and realizing all things, to a new vision of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reb-anderson/by-understanding-how-all-things-arise-together-you-shift-from-viewing/) [Reb Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reb-anderson/) > [“Heaven does not know you as the fellow with the nice suit or the woman with the big house or the kid with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/heaven-does-not-know-you-as-the-fellow-with-the-nice-suit-or-the/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [The Way of Heaven does not complete, and yet it skillfully achieves victory. It does not speak, and yet it skillfully responds to things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-way-of-heaven-does-not-complete-and-yet-it-skillfully-achieves/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [It is said that heaven does not create one man above or below another man. Any existing distinction between the wise and the stupid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-said-that-heaven-does-not-create-one-man-above-or-below-another/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are things that are brought into our lives to lead us back to the true path of our Personal Legend. Other things arise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/there-are-things-that-are-brought-into-our-lives-to-lead-us-back-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Heaven does nothing: its non-doing is its serenity. Earth does nothing: its non-doing is its rest. From the union of these two non-doings All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/heaven-does-nothing-its-non-doing-is-its-serenity-earth-does-nothing/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [The most interesting things that happen in my books are usually the things that arise spontaneously, the things that surprise me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mcinerney/the-most-interesting-things-that-happen-in-my-books-are-usually-the/) [Jay McInerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mcinerney/) > [All things arise in unison. Thereby we see their return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/all-things-arise-in-unison-thereby-we-see-their-return/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [I never asserted such an absurd thing as that things arise without a cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/i-never-asserted-such-an-absurd-thing-as-that-things-arise-without-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Heaven does without doing through its purity, Earth does without doing through its calmness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/heaven-does-without-doing-through-its-purity-earth-does-without-doing/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [“I wish I had, for as sure as there is a God in heaven, if he ever does you any wrong, I shall kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-wish-i-had-for-as-sure-as-there-is-a-god-in-heaven-if-he-ever-does/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Our Father in Heaven does not wish us to cower. He does not want us to wallow in our misery. He expects us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/our-father-in-heaven-does-not-wish-us-to-cower-he-does-not-want-us-to/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [When thoughts arise, then do all things arise. When thoughts vanish, then do all things vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huangbo-xiyun/when-thoughts-arise-then-do-all-things-arise-when-thoughts-vanish/) [Huangbo Xiyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huangbo-xiyun/) > [“Tis silence out of which all things arise and to silence all shall return.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cosgrove/tis-silence-out-of-which-all-things-arise-and-to-silence-all-shall/) [Martin Cosgrove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cosgrove/) > [You grieve Not that heaven does not exist but That it exists without us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-grieve-not-that-heaven-does-not-exist-but-that-it-exists-without/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Affair quotes > [Histories never conclude; 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However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-gropius/our-guiding-principle-was-that-design-is-neither-an-intellectual-nor/) [Walter Gropius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-gropius/) > [I wonder if it's possible to have a love affair that lasts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-wonder-if-it-s-possible-to-have-a-love-affair-that-lasts-forever/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [For a young man to start his career with a love affair with an older woman was quite de rigueur ... Of course, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/for-a-young-man-to-start-his-career-with-a-love-affair-with-an-older/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [As long as the state permits itself to interfere in the affairs of literature, literature has the right to interfere with the affairs of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-brodsky/as-long-as-the-state-permits-itself-to-interfere-in-the-affairs-of/) [Joseph Brodsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-brodsky/) > [Love is mainly an affair of short spasms. If these spasms disappoint us, love dies. It is very seldom that it weathers the experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/love-is-mainly-an-affair-of-short-spasms-if-these-spasms-disappoint/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [My hope does not rest in the affairs of this world. It rests in Christ who is coming again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/my-hope-does-not-rest-in-the-affairs-of-this-world-it-rests-in-christ/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Not everyone likes the stable, gradual rise of our country. There are some who are using the democratic ideology to interfere in our internal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/not-everyone-likes-the-stable-gradual-rise-of-our-country-there-are/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [The archives recall not one single incriminating incident, not one drunken escapade, not one reported affair, not one spat with a team-mate or reporter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-atherton/the-archives-recall-not-one-single-incriminating-incident-not-one/) Michael Atherton > [“I ripped the sketch from the wall. "Liar." Edward looked more ravaged than usual. "That is a terrible word, coming from you." "Yup." 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