--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But it so happens, and it will ever…" description: "\"But it so happens, and it will ever happen so, that they who have lived to serve their country - no matter how weak their efforts may have been - are s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/thomas-francis-meagher-36897_blessing_but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happe_1336447.jpg" --- # But it so happens, and it will ever happen so, that they… ![“But it so happens, and it will ever happen so, that they who have lived to serve their country - no matter how weak their efforts may have been - are sure to receive the thanks and blessings of its people.” quote by Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/thomas-francis-meagher-36897_blessing_but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happe_1336447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/thomas-francis-meagher-36897_blessing_but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happe_1336447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/thomas-francis-meagher-36897_blessing_but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happe_1336447.jpg) > “But it so happens, and it will ever happen so, that they who have lived to serve their country - no matter how weak their efforts may have been - are sure to receive the thanks and blessings of its people.” [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who serve their country, even modestly, will be honored by its people. **In simple terms:** Service earns gratitude. Key Takeaway Serve humbly, expect appreciation. Themes service honor gratitude Mood proud reflective Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - military service - community volunteering - public office - charitable work Key Concepts civic duty public recognition Questions to Reflect On - How does modest service shape personal identity? - What motivates service without expectation of reward? A Different Perspective Recognition may be delayed or uneven. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Blessings People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings-people-561062/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Efforts Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/efforts-sure-4501457/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Receive Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/receive-thanks-777979/) [Serve Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-country/) [Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks/) [Thanks Blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks-blessings-648783/) [Weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weak/) ## Related quotes > [Too often we're happy to receive thanks from the nonprofits we fund, accepting gratitude instead of feedback or performance measurements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/too-often-we-re-happy-to-receive-thanks-from-the-nonprofits-we-fund/) [Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-arrillaga-andreessen/) > [My Heavenly Father, forgive me when I fail to give you thanks for the many blessings you have bestowed upon me. Thank you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/my-heavenly-father-forgive-me-when-i-fail-to-give-you-thanks-for-the/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/my-brothers-and-sisters-do-we-remember-to-give-thanks-for-the/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [God asks that we give thanks to Him for whatever blessings we receive from Him. It is easy for us to become mechanical in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/god-asks-that-we-give-thanks-to-him-for-whatever-blessings-we-receive/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/pray-for-guidance-and-give-thanks-for-your-blessings-everyday/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each day millions of our citizens approach our Maker on bended knee, seeking His grace and giving thanks for the many blessings He bestows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/each-day-millions-of-our-citizens-approach-our-maker-on-bended-knee/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We let a river shower its banks with a spirit that invades the people living there, and we protect that river, knowing that without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-moore/we-let-a-river-shower-its-banks-with-a-spirit-that-invades-the-people/) [Thomas Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-moore/) > [Some people come into your life as blessings. Other people come into your life as lessons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-come-into-your-life-as-blessings-other-people-come-into/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God is able to transform the hostile intentions of wicked people into blessings for His people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/god-is-able-to-transform-the-hostile-intentions-of-wicked-people-into/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [“The wrong messages can block your blessings. People who are at war with themselves cannot guide you. Some people can not see the calling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/the-wrong-messages-can-block-your-blessings-people-who-are-at-war/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahih-bukhari/there-are-two-blessings-which-many-people-lose-they-are-health-and/) [Sahih Bukhari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahih-bukhari/) > [The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have, but what we do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/the-real-issue-in-life-is-not-how-many-blessings-we-have-but-what-we/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [May the same wonderworking Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews from their Egyptian oppressors and planted them in the promised land, whose Providential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/may-the-same-wonderworking-deity-who-long-since-delivered-the-hebrews/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [ I learned more in those six months \[ in the White House\] than in the prior six years. I don't think that anybody who… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/i-learned-more-in-those-six-months-in-the-white-house-than-in-the/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) ## More by Thomas Francis Meagher > [The prosperity of a nation requires the protection of a senate. Hereafter a national senate may require the protection of a national army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/the-prosperity-of-a-nation-requires-the-protection-of-a-senate/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [Judged by the law of England, I know this crime entails upon me the penalty of death; but the history of Ireland explains that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/judged-by-the-law-of-england-i-know-this-crime-entails-upon-me-the/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [It is not only our duty to America, but also to Ireland. We could not hope to succeed in our effort to make Ireland…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/it-is-not-only-our-duty-to-america-but-also-to-ireland-we-could-not/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [I have done what I felt to be my duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/i-have-done-what-i-felt-to-be-my-duty/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [The treason of which I stand convicted loses all its guilt, has been sanctified as a duty, and will be ennobled as a sacrifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/the-treason-of-which-i-stand-convicted-loses-all-its-guilt-has-been/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [A good government may, indeed, redress the grievances of an injured people; but a strong people can alone build up a great nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/a-good-government-may-indeed-redress-the-grievances-of-an-injured/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [The dependence of one people upon another, even for the benefits of legislation, is the deepest source of national weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/the-dependence-of-one-people-upon-another-even-for-the-benefits-of/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [Great interests demand great safeguards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/great-interests-demand-great-safeguards/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [I now bid farewell to the country of my birth - of my passions - of my death; a country whose misfortunes have invoked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/i-now-bid-farewell-to-the-country-of-my-birth-of-my-passions-of-my/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [A National Flag is the most sacred thing a nation can possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/a-national-flag-is-the-most-sacred-thing-a-nation-can-possess/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) > [A jury of my countrymen, it is true, have found me guilty of the crime of which I stood indicted. For this I entertain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/a-jury-of-my-countrymen-it-is-true-have-found-me-guilty-of-the-crime/) [Thomas Francis Meagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) [Explore all 12 Thomas Francis Meagher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/) ## More Blessing quotes > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/) [Gene Knudsen Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-knudsen-hoffman/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy. Others attain unto a glory and may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/the-only-men-who-become-gods-even-the-sons-of-god-are-those-who-enter/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Being of Indian heritage is a challenge - and it's a blessing as well sometimes - because being good isn't good enough. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sacha-dhawan/being-of-indian-heritage-is-a-challenge-and-it-s-a-blessing-as-well/) [Sacha Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sacha-dhawan/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The Louvre! The Louvre has me in its clutches. Every time I'm there rich blessings rain down upon me. I am coming to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-modersohn-becker/the-louvre-the-louvre-has-me-in-its-clutches-every-time-i-m-there/) [Paula Modersohn-Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-modersohn-becker/) > [Life is such a very troublesome matter, when all is said and done, that it's as well even to take its blessings quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/life-is-such-a-very-troublesome-matter-when-all-is-said-and-done-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/) > [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) [Browse all 4,617 Blessing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But it so happens, and it will ever happen so, that they who have lived to serve their country - no matter how weak their efforts may have been - are sure to receive the thanks and blessings of its people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Francis Meagher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happen-so-that-they-who-have-lived/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blessing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happen-so-that-they-who-have-lived/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/thomas-francis-meagher-36897_blessing_but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happe_1336447.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/thomas-francis-meagher-36897_blessing_but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happe_1336447.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/thomas-francis-meagher-36897_blessing_but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happe_1336447.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But it so happens, and it will ever happen so, that they who have lived to serve their country - no matter…” — Thomas Francis Meagher", "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": "Thomas Francis Meagher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-francis-meagher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But it so happens, and it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happen-so-that-they-who-have-lived/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-francis-meagher/but-it-so-happens-and-it-will-ever-happen-so-that-they-who-have-lived/#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 } } ] } ```