“There are some actions from which an escape is a godsend both for the man who escapes and for those about him. Man, as soon as he gets back his consciousness of right, is thankful to the Divine mercy for the escape. As we know that a man often succumbs to temptation, however much he say resist it, we also know that Providence often intercedes and saves him in spite of himself. How all this happens—how far a man is free and how far a creature of circumstances—how far free-will comes into play and where fate enters on the scene—all this is a mystery and will remain a mystery.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: 'An Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth'; reflection on temptation, Providence and free-will vs fate.
About this quote
Being stopped before you act on a bad impulse can be its own kind of mercy. The passage sits with how little we control the mix of will and circumstance, and how a near-miss can leave you grateful rather than proud, humble about how easily it could have gone the other way.
When to use it
- A driver about to text at the wheel gets interrupted, feels the relief, and puts the phone in the glovebox for good.
- Someone drafting an angry email is pulled into a meeting and later thanks the delay that cooled them down.
- A person tempted to gamble away savings finds the shop already closed and takes it as a reason to quit entirely.