--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Archbishop James Usher (1580-1656)…" description: "\"“Archbishop James Usher (1580-1656) published Annales Veteris et Novi Testaments in 1654, which suggested that the Heaven and the Earth were created in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f56/terry-pratchett-19_astrology_archbishop-james-usher-1580-1656-publish_869647.jpg" --- # Archbishop James Usher (1580-1656) published Annales… ![“Archbishop James Usher (1580-1656) published Annales Veteris et Novi Testaments in 1654, which suggested that the Heaven and the Earth were created in 4004 B.C. One of his aides took the calculation further, and was able to announce triumphantly that the Earth was created on Sunday the 21st of…” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f56/terry-pratchett-19_astrology_archbishop-james-usher-1580-1656-publish_869647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f56/terry-pratchett-19_astrology_archbishop-james-usher-1580-1656-publish_869647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f56/terry-pratchett-19_astrology_archbishop-james-usher-1580-1656-publish_869647.jpg) > ““Archbishop James Usher (1580-1656) published Annales Veteris et Novi Testaments in 1654, which suggested that the Heaven and the Earth were created in 4004 B.C. One of his aides took the calculation further, and was able to announce triumphantly that the Earth was created on Sunday the 21st of October, 4004 B.C., at exactly 9:00 A.M., because God liked to get work done early in the morning while he was feeling fresh. This too was incorrect. By almost a quarter of an hour. The whole business with the fossilized dinosaur skeletons was a joke the paleontologists haven't seen yet. This proves two things: Firstly, that God moves in extremely mysterious, not to say, circuitous ways. God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players, \[ie., everybody.\] to being involved in an obscure and complex version of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time. Secondly, the Earth's a Libra.”” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote satirically suggests that divine plans are inscrutable and whimsical, likening them to a mysterious, unwinnable game. **In simple terms:** God's actions are mysterious and unpredictable. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and find humor in life's mysteries. Themes humor theology uncertainty philosophy satire Mood playful thoughtful ironic Type satirical philosophical humorous When to use this quote - debates about creation - science vs religion discussions - philosophical reflections - literary analysis Key Concepts Divine mystery probability cosmic irony human limitation Questions to Reflect On - How do we reconcile faith with scientific uncertainty? - What does humor reveal about our coping mechanisms? A Different Perspective The analogy may oversimplify complex theological concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astrology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astrology/) [Dark room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-room/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [“Current theories on the creation of the Universe state that, if it were created at all and didn't just start, as it were, unofficially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/current-theories-on-the-creation-of-the-universe-state-that-if-it/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The Way is not remote from people, but people distance themselves from the Way by trying to nurture life without knowing how. 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Then, he created a set of 24-inch pythons, brother!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hulk-hogan/god-created-the-heavens-he-created-the-earth-he-created-all-the/) [Hulk Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hulk-hogan/) > [“Although there was no reliable way of dating periods, there was no shortage of people willing to try. The most well known early attempt30…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/although-there-was-no-reliable-way-of-dating-periods-there-was-no/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-snipes/my-sign-is-leo-a-leo-has-to-walk-with-pride-when-he-takes-a-step-he/) [Wesley Snipes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-snipes/) > [When a Gemini is finally tired of trying, they will just leave, no fight, no argument and sometimes not even a goodbye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-gemini-is-finally-tired-of-trying-they-will-just-leave-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Astrology is knocking at the gates of our universities: A Tübingen professor has switched over to astrology and a course on astrology was given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/astrology-is-knocking-at-the-gates-of-our-universities-a-t-bingen/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [An Aries will continue something even if others give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-aries-will-continue-something-even-if-others-give-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sagittarius don't like to be the first one to say sorry when they knew they were right in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sagittarius-don-t-like-to-be-the-first-one-to-say-sorry-when-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All anyone can see in a birthchart are tendencies that will become facts if he does not do something to alter them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-hickey/all-anyone-can-see-in-a-birthchart-are-tendencies-that-will-become/) Isabel Hickey > [“Rooster/Pisces: Likes shiny things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-white/rooster-pisces-likes-shiny-things/) Suzanne White > [Astrology reveals the will of the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/astrology-reveals-the-will-of-the-gods/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I wanna say I'm detached, but I'm an Aquarius that's sensitive as hell. 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One of his aides took the calculation further, and was able to announce triumphantly that the Earth was created on Sunday the 21st of October, 4004 B.C., at exactly 9:00 A.M., because God liked to get work done early in the morning while he was feeling fresh. This too was incorrect. By almost a quarter of an hour. The whole business with the fossilized dinosaur skeletons was a joke the paleontologists haven't seen yet. This proves two things: Firstly, that God moves in extremely mysterious, not to say, circuitous ways. God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players, [ie., everybody.] to being involved in an obscure and complex version of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time. 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