--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She smiles. “You know you can do nothing…" description: "\"“She smiles. “You know you can do nothing. What will be, will be. If there is a battle”—I gasp but her smile is steady—“if there is a battle, then eith..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/philippa-gregory-674_marriage_she-smiles-you-know-you-can-do-nothing-w_3089269.png" --- # She smiles. “You know you can do nothing. What will be… ![“She smiles. “You know you can do nothing. What will be, will be. If there is a battle”—I gasp but her smile is steady—“if there is a battle, then either your husband will win, and your son will take the throne; or your brother will win and you will be sister to the king.” quote by Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/philippa-gregory-674_marriage_she-smiles-you-know-you-can-do-nothing-w_3089269.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/philippa-gregory-674_marriage_she-smiles-you-know-you-can-do-nothing-w_3089269.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87e/philippa-gregory-674_marriage_she-smiles-you-know-you-can-do-nothing-w_3089269.png) > ““She smiles. “You know you can do nothing. What will be, will be. If there is a battle”—I gasp but her smile is steady—“if there is a battle, then either your husband will win, and your son will take the throne; or your brother will win and you will be sister to the king.”” [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman predicts outcomes based on power struggles, implying fate is tied to political battles. **In simple terms:** Fate linked to power struggles. Key Takeaway Recognize how politics shape personal destiny. Themes politics fate family power prediction Mood reflective serious Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - royal succession - family negotiations - political intrigue - personal decisions Key Concepts Dynastic conflict prophecy determinism Questions to Reflect On - How do personal choices influence political outcomes? - Can fate be changed by action? A Different Perspective Assumes deterministic outcomes, ignoring agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiles/) [Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne/) [Throne Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne-brother-5303959/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Win Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-sister-5303960/) ## Related quotes > [“You're not cursed daughter, you are the finest and rarest of all my children, the most beautiful, the most beloved. You know that. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/you-re-not-cursed-daughter-you-are-the-finest-and-rarest-of-all-my/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [I want to be the reason for your smiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-want-to-be-the-reason-for-your-smiles/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [You can fool the world with your smiles, but you can never fool your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-fool-the-world-with-your-smiles-but-you-can-never-fool-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't say how much I like you and how special you are to me, but I can say my world is full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-t-say-how-much-i-like-you-and-how-special-you-are-to-me-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its important to make fake smiles, not for the world that you are ok BUT to confuse your heart that with so mny wounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-important-to-make-fake-smiles-not-for-the-world-that-you-are-ok/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes people have to cry out the tears To make room for a heart full of smiles….](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uknown/sometimes-people-have-to-cry-out-the-tears-to-make-room-for-a-heart/) [Uknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uknown/) > [“One who smiles rather than angers is always stronger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-schary/one-who-smiles-rather-than-angers-is-always-stronger/) [David Schary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-schary/) > [“When he smiles, they mostly look away. 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I open my eyes. ‘You will get my fortune,’ I remark. ‘When I marry you, everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/say-yes-he-whispers-marry-me-i-hesitate-i-open-my-eyes-you-will-get/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Mother, before God," I say, my voice shaking with tears, "I swear that I have to believe that there is more for me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/mother-before-god-i-say-my-voice-shaking-with-tears-i-swear-that-i/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) ## More by Philippa Gregory > [“Mother, before God," I say, my voice shaking with tears, "I swear that I have to believe that there is more for me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/mother-before-god-i-say-my-voice-shaking-with-tears-i-swear-that-i/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [“Say yes,’ he whispers. ‘Marry me.’ I hesitate. 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