Broken Quote by Terry Pratchett
“Whatever happens, they say afterwards, it must have been fate. People are always a little confused about this, as they are in the case of miracles. When someone is saved from certain death by a strange concatenation of circumstances, they say that's a miracle. But of course if someone is killed by a freak chain of events -- the oil spilled just there, the safety fence broken just there -- that must also be a miracle. Just because it's not nice doesn't mean it's not miraculous.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Small Gods, Terry Pratchett, 1992
Miracles and tragedies are both extraordinary events, regardless of outcome.
In simple terms: Both good and bad events can be miraculous.
Key Takeaway
Recognize wonder in all outcomes.
Themes
fate
miracles
perception
Mood
thoughtful
philosophical
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- surviving accidents
- experiencing loss
- reflecting on chance
Key Concepts
randomness
human bias
meaning-making
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we assign meaning based on outcome?
- How does bias affect our view of events?
A Different Perspective
Labeling events as miracles may ignore underlying causes.
