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Contingency Quotes

Chance, planning, and the unknown

One contingency quote describes the world shifting from clock-like determinism to something closer to a pinball machine, a Changed way of seeing chance itself.

New terms used like, 'overseas contingency operation' instead of the word 'war' - that reflects a worldview that is out of touch with the enemy that we face. We can't spin our way out of this threat.

Quotes by Sarah Palin

The world changed from having the determinism of a clock to having the contingency of a pinball machine.

Quotes by Heinz R. Pagels

That nature does not care, one way or the other, is the true abyss. That only man cares, in his finitude facing nothing but death, alone with his contingency and the objective meaninglessness of his projecting meanings, is a truly...

Quotes by Hans Jonas

A wise man, when he writes a book, sets forth his arguments fully and clearly; an enlightened ruler, when he makes his laws, sees to it that every contingency is provided for in detail.

Quotes by Han Fei

Alone Quotes

When you see John Boehner crying, believe you me, it's because he cannot control, uh, that wild contingency called the Tea Party.

Quotes by Gwen Moore

I knew it to be very doubtful whether the Cabinet, Parliament, and the country would take this view on the outbreak of war, and through the whole of this week I had in view the probable contingency that we should...

Quotes by Edward Grey

Frequently Asked Questions

What wartime language does one contingency quote critique?
It questions replacing the word war with a phrase like overseas contingency operation, arguing this softened language reflects a worldview out of touch with the actual threat being faced.
How does one quote compare the world to a machine?
It describes the world Changed from a clock's rigid determinism to something closer to the contingency of a pinball machine, a shift from predictability to chance.
Is death and meaning discussed in relation to contingency?
Yes, one quote reflects on facing nothing but death alone, tied closely to personal contingency and the sense that existence may hold no inherent meaning.
What advice is given to rulers about contingency planning?
One quote says an enlightened ruler making laws should make sure every possible contingency gets covered in detail, much like a wise author fully setting out arguments in a Book.
Do these contingency quotes lean philosophical or practical?
Both, moving between abstract reflections on chance and meaning and much more practical concerns about planning, governance, and language used to describe conflict.

Another advises that a wise ruler plans laws so that every contingency is covered, a lesson worth pairing with any good Book on strategy.