--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a…" description: "\"Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/william-shakespeare-4_fall_not-a-whit-we-defy-augury-there-s-a-spec_669927.jpg" --- # Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special providence… ![“Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/william-shakespeare-4_fall_not-a-whit-we-defy-augury-there-s-a-spec_669927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/william-shakespeare-4_fall_not-a-whit-we-defy-augury-there-s-a-spec_669927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b8/william-shakespeare-4_fall_not-a-whit-we-defy-augury-there-s-a-spec_669927.jpg) > “Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life’s timing is beyond our control; acceptance of destiny is essential. **In simple terms:** Accept life’s timing. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and act when ready. Themes fate acceptance patience Mood reflective philosophical Type literary existential When to use this quote - making decisions - waiting for opportunities - dealing with setbacks - planning future Key Concepts determinism free will temporal uncertainty Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance destiny and personal effort? - When does waiting become counterproductive? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on fate can diminish personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Providence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/providence/) [Sparrows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sparrows/) ## Related quotes > [“We defy augury. There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow. 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And I know - oh, yes, I know he watches over me...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/god-s-eye-is-on-a-sparrow-and-i-know-oh-yes-i-know-he-watches-over-me/) [Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/) > [The brawling of a sparrow in the eaves The brilliant moon and all the milky sky And all that famous harmony of leaves Had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/the-brawling-of-a-sparrow-in-the-eaves-the-brilliant-moon-and-all-the/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Who would guess," he teased, "that I'd ever see you on a rooftop with straw in your hair?" Kit giggled. "Are you saying I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george-speare/who-would-guess-he-teased-that-i-d-ever-see-you-on-a-rooftop-with/) [Elizabeth George Speare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george-speare/) > [Shakespeare said: "There's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow." 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That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. 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Get back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-will-knock-you-down-it-s-tough-but-you-are-strong-enough-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was 13, I began relaxing my hair, and that meant when I turned 18 it began to crack and fall off, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-i-was-13-i-began-relaxing-my-hair-and-that-meant-when-i-turned/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [“If you ever falling but can't see the bottom be glad you can't because at the bottom it's either a soft land or rocks!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelseigh-ashton/if-you-ever-falling-but-can-t-see-the-bottom-be-glad-you-can-t/) Kelseigh Ashton > [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) Browse all 13,401 Fall quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. 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