--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a thing happens once, it can happen…" description: "\"If a thing happens once, it can happen again. If any human being has ever realised perfection, we too can do so. If we cannot become perfect here and n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/swami-vivekananda-53_can-do_if-a-thing-happens-once-it-can-happen-ag_2001544.jpg" --- # If a thing happens once, it can happen again. If any human… ![“If a thing happens once, it can happen again. If any human being has ever realised perfection, we too can do so. If we cannot become perfect here and now, we never can in any state or heaven or condition we may imagine.” quote by Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/swami-vivekananda-53_can-do_if-a-thing-happens-once-it-can-happen-ag_2001544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/swami-vivekananda-53_can-do_if-a-thing-happens-once-it-can-happen-ag_2001544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a29/swami-vivekananda-53_can-do_if-a-thing-happens-once-it-can-happen-ag_2001544.jpg) > “If a thing happens once, it can happen again. If any human being has ever realised perfection, we too can do so. If we cannot become perfect here and now, we never can in any state or heaven or condition we may imagine.” [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Perfection is attainable now; if not achieved here, it remains impossible anywhere. **In simple terms:** We can achieve perfection now or never. Key Takeaway Seek growth now. Themes spirituality self-improvement philosophy Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual practice - goal setting Key Concepts Perfection potential temporalism Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take today toward your ideal self? - How do you define perfection? A Different Perspective Perfection may be unattainable for many; realistic expectations needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Here and now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-now/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Things happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-happen/) ## Related quotes > [The 'kingdom of Heaven' is a condition of the heart - not something that comes 'upon the earth' or 'after death.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-a-condition-of-the-heart-not-something-that/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Heaven is a condition and a sanctified nature toward which all godly striving tends; it is not a place to be found by walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/heaven-is-a-condition-and-a-sanctified-nature-toward-which-all-godly/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) > [Writing is the greatest thing that can happen to a human being. It's the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/writing-is-the-greatest-thing-that-can-happen-to-a-human-being-it-s/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“If the whole universe is pegged to the human experience, what will happen once the human experience becomes just another designable product, no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/if-the-whole-universe-is-pegged-to-the-human-experience-what-will/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“The most amazing things that can happen to a human being will happen to you, if you just lower your expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dunphy/the-most-amazing-things-that-can-happen-to-a-human-being-will-happen/) Phil Dunphy > [The best thing that can happen to a human being us to find a problem, to fall in love with that problem, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-thing-that-can-happen-to-a-human-being-us-to-find-a-problem/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Miracles do happen in every human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/miracles-do-happen-in-every-human-life/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [My mom always told me, "Whatever happens, will happen" or "Whatever is supposed to happen, will happen." I've learned you'll know when you find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-bowden/my-mom-always-told-me-whatever-happens-will-happen-or-whatever-is/) [Katrina Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-bowden/) > [It sometimes happens and will sometimes happen again that I forget who I am and strut before my eyes, like a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/it-sometimes-happens-and-will-sometimes-happen-again-that-i-forget/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [If I read something and respond to the role, that's what happens, and if those happen to be a few comedies in a row,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ophelia-lovibond/if-i-read-something-and-respond-to-the-role-that-s-what-happens-and/) [Ophelia Lovibond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ophelia-lovibond/) > [Success isn’t something that happens to you; you happen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivanka-trump/success-isn-t-something-that-happens-to-you-you-happen-to-it/) [Ivanka Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivanka-trump/) > [You must let what happens happen. Everything must be equal in your eyes, good and evil, beautiful and ugly, foolish and wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/you-must-let-what-happens-happen-everything-must-be-equal-in-your/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [If something happens once, it may never happen again. If it happens twice it most likely will keep happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/if-something-happens-once-it-may-never-happen-again-if-it-happens/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [So I try not to look too far into the future because I think that everything happens and will happen for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/so-i-try-not-to-look-too-far-into-the-future-because-i-think-that/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [Whatever happens will happen, that's the rollercoaster of life. What matters is how you handle the slumps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-souness/whatever-happens-will-happen-that-s-the-rollercoaster-of-life-what/) [Graeme Souness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-souness/) ## More by Swami Vivekananda > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Renunciation is in our blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/renunciation-is-in-our-blood/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Let positive, strong, helpful thoughts enter into your brains from very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/let-positive-strong-helpful-thoughts-enter-into-your-brains-from-very/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Where can we go to find God if we cannot see Him in our own hearts and in every living being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/where-can-we-go-to-find-god-if-we-cannot-see-him-in-our-own-hearts/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the free alone which never changes, and the unchangeable alone which is free; for change is produced by something exterior to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-free-alone-which-never-changes-and-the-unchangeable-alone/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Above all, India is the land of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/above-all-india-is-the-land-of-religion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It is the Prana that is manifesting as motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/it-is-the-prana-that-is-manifesting-as-motion/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/nothing-can-be-produced-without-a-cause-and-the-effect-is-but-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore make your own future. "Let the dead past bury its dead." The infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-strength-and-succour-you-want-is-within-yourselves-therefore/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be brave! Be strong! Be fearless! Once you have taken up the spiritual life, fight as long as there is any life in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/be-brave-be-strong-be-fearless-once-you-have-taken-up-the-spiritual/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“there is a continuity of mind, as the Yogis call it. The mind is universal. Your mind, my mind, all these little minds, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/there-is-a-continuity-of-mind-as-the-yogis-call-it-the-mind-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) [Explore all 1,889 Swami Vivekananda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a thing happens once, it can happen again. 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