---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Perchance God will pity a race that…"
description: "\"Perchance God will pity a race that sought the better angels of its nature and found only its lesser demons.\" — Robert Breault"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/robert-breault-304_angel_perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-soug_1260881.png"
---

#  Perchance God will pity a race that sought the better…

![“Perchance God will pity a race that sought the better angels of its nature and found only its lesser demons.” quote by Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/robert-breault-304_angel_perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-soug_1260881.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/robert-breault-304_angel_perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-soug_1260881.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/robert-breault-304_angel_perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-soug_1260881.png)

> “Perchance God will pity a race that sought the better angels of its nature and found only its lesser demons.”

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

## About This Quote

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

Humanity seeks noble ideals but often reveals darker flaws.

**In simple terms:** We aim for good but find evil.

Key Takeaway

Recognize both light and dark in humanity.

Themes

morality human nature hope

Mood

somber hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- social movements
- policy making
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

dualism ethical paradox

Questions to Reflect On

- What does “better angels” mean today?
- How can we confront our lesser demons?

A Different Perspective

Optimism can blind to real dangers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/) [Better Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-angels/) [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Demons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demons/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [God Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-pity-554061/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Humankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humankind/) [Lesser Demons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesser-demons-1778672/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-race-4008446/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/)

## Related quotes

> [When you have lived longer in this world and outlived the enthusiastic and pleasing illusions of youth, you will find your love and pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-henry-shorthouse/when-you-have-lived-longer-in-this-world-and-outlived-the/)

[Joseph Henry Shorthouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-henry-shorthouse/)

> [“This is the problem with even lesser demons. They come to your doorstep in velvet coats and polished shoes. They tip their hats and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/this-is-the-problem-with-even-lesser-demons-they-come-to-your/)

[Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/)

> [“You’re the half-sister of the full -blood demon Valenti. The illegitimate child of Asmodeus— one of the Seven Princes of Hell. You were sold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pippa-dacosta/you-re-the-half-sister-of-the-full-blood-demon-valenti-the/)

[Pippa DaCosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pippa-dacosta/)

> [“Repeat to yourself every day and as often as you can: ‘O Lord, have mercy on all those who will appear before You today.’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/repeat-to-yourself-every-day-and-as-often-as-you-can-o-lord-have/)

[Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/)

> [God pity the tortured hearts that will pant through this night! And the agony of the poor wife who has heard that her husband…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-junkin-preston/god-pity-the-tortured-hearts-that-will-pant-through-this-night-and/)

[Margaret Junkin Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-junkin-preston/)

> [It would be more in keeping with the intention of the noblest man in this world if our two Christian churches, instead of annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/it-would-be-more-in-keeping-with-the-intention-of-the-noblest-man-in/)

[Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/)

> [Hateful day when I received life!' I exclaimed in agony. 'Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hateful-day-when-i-received-life-i-exclaimed-in-agony-accursed/)

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

> [God pity the man of science who believes in nothing but what he can prove by scientific methods; for if ever a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/god-pity-the-man-of-science-who-believes-in-nothing-but-what-he-can/)

[J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/)

> [“God have pity on the smell of gasoline which finds its way like an arm through a car window, more human than kerosene, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jane-sloat/god-have-pity-on-the-smell-of-gasoline-which-finds-its-way-like-an/)

[S. Jane Sloat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jane-sloat/)

> [God pity the poor novelist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-millhauser/god-pity-the-poor-novelist/)

[Steven Millhauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-millhauser/)

> [God pity us indeed, for we are human, And do not always see, The vision when it comes, the shining change, Or, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/god-pity-us-indeed-for-we-are-human-and-do-not-always-see-the-vision/)

[Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/)

> [Oh god, pity those poor kids who are never going to forget this image of this big naked man-baby rising up from the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-moody/oh-god-pity-those-poor-kids-who-are-never-going-to-forget-this-image/)

[Hank Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-moody/)

> [“God has had pity on me and is calling me to Himself. I know I am dying, but I feel joy and peace for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/god-has-had-pity-on-me-and-is-calling-me-to-himself-i-know-i-am-dying/)

[Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/)

> [“Horza recalled that the Culture's attitude to somebody who believed in an omnipotent God was to pity them, and to take no more notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-m-banks/horza-recalled-that-the-culture-s-attitude-to-somebody-who-believed/)

[Iain M. Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-m-banks/)

> [If you are penitent, you love. And if you love you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/if-you-are-penitent-you-love-and-if-you-love-you-are-of-god-all/)

[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/)

## More by Robert Breault

> [You will not find a soulmate in the quiet of your room. You must go to a noisy place and look in the quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/you-will-not-find-a-soulmate-in-the-quiet-of-your-room-you-must-go-to/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [Never mind the odds against you. If you doubled your effort, what would the odds against you do — send for reinforcements?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/never-mind-the-odds-against-you-if-you-doubled-your-effort-what-would/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [Of course I doubt. I do not practice a certainty. I practice a faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/of-course-i-doubt-i-do-not-practice-a-certainty-i-practice-a-faith/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [Retirement is having nothing to do and someone always keeping you from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/retirement-is-having-nothing-to-do-and-someone-always-keeping-you/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [There is in art the notion of less is more, which is to say, you don't torture a painting that has already confessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/there-is-in-art-the-notion-of-less-is-more-which-is-to-say-you-don-t/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [One's dream is defeated not by unsolvable problems, but by all the more-or-less satisfactory solutions that kill it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/one-s-dream-is-defeated-not-by-unsolvable-problems-but-by-all-the/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [I cultivate my garden, and my garden cultivates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/i-cultivate-my-garden-and-my-garden-cultivates-me/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [In the end you regret less the things you believed that weren't true than the things that never came true because you didn't believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/in-the-end-you-regret-less-the-things-you-believed-that-weren-t-true/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [The trick to getting ahead is to give it the same effort you give to getting even.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/the-trick-to-getting-ahead-is-to-give-it-the-same-effort-you-give-to/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [Man will have replicated his own intelligence not when he teaches a computer to reason but when he teaches a computer to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/man-will-have-replicated-his-own-intelligence-not-when-he-teaches-a/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [To hurt someone you know will forgive you is the unkindiest thing of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/to-hurt-someone-you-know-will-forgive-you-is-the-unkindiest-thing-of/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [For every person who atones, a hundred others find regret sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/for-every-person-who-atones-a-hundred-others-find-regret-sufficient/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [As a means to success, determination has this advantage over talent - that it does not have to be recognized by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/as-a-means-to-success-determination-has-this-advantage-over-talent/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [As a gardener, I wonder if flowers really can't speak or just exercise unfailing good judgment in the matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/as-a-gardener-i-wonder-if-flowers-really-can-t-speak-or-just-exercise/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

> [Genius is a plodding intellect, incapable of dreaming up the obstacles that stop the rest of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/genius-is-a-plodding-intellect-incapable-of-dreaming-up-the-obstacles/)

[Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

[Explore all 710 Robert Breault quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/)

## More Angel quotes

> [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/)

[Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/)

> [If I wer an angel,i would make all your wishes come true..but I'm only a girl a girl who loves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/if-i-wer-an-angel-i-would-make-all-your-wishes-come-true-but-i-m-only/)

[Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/)

> [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/)

[Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/)

> [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [“Behind my eyelids, I saw him dancing in spirals of coloured light, emerald, blue, and brilliant purple, enfolding him like the wings of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-hall/behind-my-eyelids-i-saw-him-dancing-in-spirals-of-coloured-light/)

[Alexis Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-hall/)

> [All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/all-that-i-am-or-ever-hope-to-be-i-owe-to-my-angel-mother/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I don't think people will ever forget I was an 'Angel,' anymore than they'll forget Sally Field was 'The Flying Nun.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-ladd/i-don-t-think-people-will-ever-forget-i-was-an-angel-anymore-than/)

[Cheryl Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-ladd/)

> [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/)

[Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/)

> [I believe in UFOs, I believe in extraterrestrials, and I believe in angels. And maybe they'll protect all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/i-believe-in-ufos-i-believe-in-extraterrestrials-and-i-believe-in/)

[Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/)

> [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/)

[Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/)

> [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/)

[Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/)

> [Hark the herald angels sing, 'Glory to the new-born king.' Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/hark-the-herald-angels-sing-glory-to-the-new-born-king-peace-on-earth/)

[Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/)

> [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/)

[Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/)

> [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

[Browse all 4,625 Angel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angel/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Perchance God will pity a race that sought the better angels of its nature and found only its lesser demons.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Breault"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-sought-the-better-angels-of-its/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Angel"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-sought-the-better-angels-of-its/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/robert-breault-304_angel_perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-soug_1260881.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/robert-breault-304_angel_perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-soug_1260881.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b2d/robert-breault-304_angel_perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-soug_1260881.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Perchance God will pity a race that sought the better angels of its nature and found only its lesser demons.” — Robert Breault",
                "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": "Robert Breault",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Perchance God will pity a race...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-sought-the-better-angels-of-its/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/perchance-god-will-pity-a-race-that-sought-the-better-angels-of-its/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
