--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That power of the Gods which orders for…" description: "\"That power of the Gods which orders for the good things which are not uniform, and which happen contrary to expectation, is commonly called Fortune, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/sallust-4191_cities_that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for_2587095.jpg" --- # That power of the Gods which orders for the good things… ![“That power of the Gods which orders for the good things which are not uniform, and which happen contrary to expectation, is commonly called Fortune, and it is for this reason that the Goddess is especially worshipped in public by cities; for every city consists of elements which are not uniform.” quote by Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/sallust-4191_cities_that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for_2587095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/sallust-4191_cities_that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for_2587095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/sallust-4191_cities_that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for_2587095.jpg) > “That power of the Gods which orders for the good things which are not uniform, and which happen contrary to expectation, is commonly called Fortune, and it is for this reason that the Goddess is especially worshipped in public by cities; for every city consists of elements which are not uniform.” [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fortune, unpredictable and non‑uniform, is worshipped because cities consist of diverse, unequal elements. **In simple terms:** Fortune’s randomness is revered. Key Takeaway Accept unpredictability in societal dynamics. Themes fortune diversity city politics religion Mood historical analytical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - urban planning - political strategy - cultural festivals - public policy - community building Key Concepts Ancient history political philosophy theology sociology Questions to Reflect On - How does belief in Fortune shape civic behavior? - What are the limits of attributing events to divine randomness? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on luck can undermine agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-fortune-541311/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Contrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-reason-1829309/) [Goddess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess/) [Goddess Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goddess-especially-1829308/) [Gods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods/) [Good thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thing/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Uniforms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniforms/) ## Related quotes > [We have built a thousand temples to Fortune and not one to Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-cornelius-fronto/we-have-built-a-thousand-temples-to-fortune-and-not-one-to-reason/) [Marcus Cornelius Fronto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-cornelius-fronto/) > [So use all that is called fortune. Most men gamble with her, and gain all and lose all, as her wheel rolls... A political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-tillman/so-use-all-that-is-called-fortune-most-men-gamble-with-her-and-gain-2/) [Pat Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-tillman/) > [A total reverse of fortune, coming unawares upon a man who 'stood in high degree,' happy and apparently secure,-such was the tragic fact to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-bradley/a-total-reverse-of-fortune-coming-unawares-upon-a-man-who-stood-in/) [A. C. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-bradley/) > [“Uniquely, people who made suicide attempts were found to be especially prone to so-called "fortune telling," through which they predict and firmly believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/uniquely-people-who-made-suicide-attempts-were-found-to-be-especially/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So use all that is called Fortune. Most men gamble with her, and gain all, and lose all, as her wheel rolls. But do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/so-use-all-that-is-called-fortune-most-men-gamble-with-her-and-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-owe-this-freedom-of-choice-and-action-to-those-men-and-women-in/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“The Deliverator belongs to an elite order, a hallowed subcategory. He’s got esprit up to here. Right now, he is preparing to carry out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/the-deliverator-belongs-to-an-elite-order-a-hallowed-subcategory-he-s/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [I believe in a uniform for work, but why, because we're men, do we have to be ghettoised into grey suits?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-rose/i-believe-in-a-uniform-for-work-but-why-because-we-re-men-do-we-have/) [Stuart Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-rose/) > [“Petersburg to examine the uniforms, dresses, helmets,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/petersburg-to-examine-the-uniforms-dresses-helmets/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [He was a long, stripy policeman, who flowed out of his uniform at odd spots, as if Nature, setting out to make a constable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/he-was-a-long-stripy-policeman-who-flowed-out-of-his-uniform-at-odd/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [For at the heart of the uniform, reasoning is shaky and elusive: a mind in search of ideas should first stock up on appearances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ponge/for-at-the-heart-of-the-uniform-reasoning-is-shaky-and-elusive-a-mind/) [Francis Ponge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ponge/) > [At this point in history when all things which concern man and the structure and elements of history itself are suddenly revealed to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-mannheim/at-this-point-in-history-when-all-things-which-concern-man-and-the/) [Karl Mannheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-mannheim/) > [The sugar maple is remarkable for its clean ankle. The groves of these trees looked like vast forest sheds, their branches stoppingshort at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-sugar-maple-is-remarkable-for-its-clean-ankle-the-groves-of-these/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Does it say 'Colonel' anywhere on my uniform?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-o-neill/does-it-say-colonel-anywhere-on-my-uniform/) [Jack O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-o-neill/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Sallust > [It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-impossible-that-there-should-be-so-much-providence-in-the-last/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/as-the-blessings-of-health-and-fortune-have-a-beginning-so-they-must/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/everything-that-rises-sets-and-everything-that-grows-grows-old/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/fame-is-the-shadow-of-passion-standing-in-the-light/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The Romans assisted their allies and friends, and acquired friendships by giving rather than receiving kindness. \[Lat., Sociis atque amicis auxilia portabant Romani, magisque…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-romans-assisted-their-allies-and-friends-and-acquired-friendships/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/a-good-man-prefers-to-suffer-rather-than-overcome-injustice-with-evil/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not unlikely, too, that the rejection of God is a kind of punishment: we may well believe that those who knew the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-unlikely-too-that-the-rejection-of-god-is-a-kind-of/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [It is not only spirits who punish the evil, the soul brings itself to judgment: and also it is not right for those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/it-is-not-only-spirits-who-punish-the-evil-the-soul-brings-itself-to/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [To hope for safety in flight, when you have turned away from the enemy the arms by which the body is defended, is indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/to-hope-for-safety-in-flight-when-you-have-turned-away-from-the-enemy/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By the wicked the good conduct of others is always dreaded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-the-wicked-the-good-conduct-of-others-is-always-dreaded/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/by-union-the-smallest-states-thrive-by-discord-the-greatest-are/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/ambition-drove-many-men-to-become-false-to-have-one-thought-locked-in/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/the-soul-is-the-captain-and-ruler-of-the-life-of-morals/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/not-by-vows-nor-by-womanish-prayers-is-the-help-of-the-gods-obtained/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) > [ Enough words, little wisdom. \[Lat., Satis eloquentiae sapientiae parum.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/enough-words-little-wisdom-lat-satis-eloquentiae-sapientiae-parum/) [Sallust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) [Explore all 115 Sallust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/) ## More Cities quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Surely, if Mother Nature had been consulted, she would never have consented to building a city in New Orleans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-zuckerman/surely-if-mother-nature-had-been-consulted-she-would-never-have/) [Mortimer Zuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-zuckerman/) > [Cities are 2% of the earth's crust, but they are 50% of the world's population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ratti/cities-are-2-of-the-earth-s-crust-but-they-are-50-of-the-world-s/) [Carlo Ratti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ratti/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) [James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/) > [Nice is a city of ghosts and specters, but I hope not to become one of them right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-modiano/nice-is-a-city-of-ghosts-and-specters-but-i-hope-not-to-become-one-of/) [Patrick Modiano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-modiano/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I didn't know the city at all, but I was so happy to be in New York I cried. I was so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/i-didn-t-know-the-city-at-all-but-i-was-so-happy-to-be-in-new-york-i/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Outside of Paris, there is no hope for the cultured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/outside-of-paris-there-is-no-hope-for-the-cultured/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/vienna-is-a-handsome-lively-city-and-pleases-me-exceedingly/) [Frederic Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was too tired to think. I merely felt the town as a unique unreality. What was it? I knew -- the moon's picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-too-tired-to-think-i-merely-felt-the-town-as-a-unique-unreality/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 7,153 Cities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That power of the Gods which orders for the good things which are not uniform, and which happen contrary to expectation, is commonly called Fortune, and it is for this reason that the Goddess is especially worshipped in public by cities; for every city consists of elements which are not uniform.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sallust" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for-the-good-things-which-are-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cities" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for-the-good-things-which-are-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/sallust-4191_cities_that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for_2587095.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/sallust-4191_cities_that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for_2587095.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e6/sallust-4191_cities_that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for_2587095.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“That power of the Gods which orders for the good things which are not uniform, and which happen contrary to…” — Sallust", "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": "Sallust", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallust/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "That power of the Gods which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for-the-good-things-which-are-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallust/that-power-of-the-gods-which-orders-for-the-good-things-which-are-not/#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 } } ] } ```