there but for the grace of God go I


there but for the grace of God (go I)

A phrase used when one has avoided a bad or unpleasant situation and credits the direction, blessings, or assistance of God (or some higher power). Wow, I could have been in that accident had I left the house earlier. There but for the grace of God go I.See also: but, god, grace, of, there

there but for the grace of God go I

I also could be in that terrible situation, as in Seeing him with two flat tires on the highway, she said "There but for the grace of God go I ." This expression has been attributed to John Bradford, who so remarked on seeing criminals being led to their execution (c. 1553) and who in fact was executed himself as a heretic a few years later. A number of religious leaders, including John Bunyan, have been credited with it as well. See also: but, go, god, grace, of, there

there but for the grace of God go I

I could be in that miserable situation myself. Many writers have attributed this expression to John Bradford, who uttered it on seeing some criminals being led to their execution about 1553. However, it also has been attributed to John Wesley, John Bunyan, and several other important religious leaders. In fact, Bradford himself was executed two years later as a heretic (he was a Protestant in then Roman Catholic England). The expression today is used upon seeing such minor mishaps as a flat tire, as well as for more serious disasters. See also: but, go, god, grace, of, there