Is there a famous quote about falling sparrows?

Question

Something along the lines of, "God notices every sparrow that falls," "no sparrow falls without a purpose," or "not a sparrow shall fall?"

I've seen what seem to be variations of it used by Asimov and Heinlein in three separate works.

Thank you all for your answers! Each of you told me something useful... except the **** robin poem, but that is a very nice poem, isn't it?

There were several good quotes from good sources, but they weren't all from the same person. I'm choosing the Answerer who seemed to do the most research, but to the rest of you, thank you very much! You were all very helpful in helping me understand the context of these various quotes!

Answer 1

The Bible has two versions.
Matthew 10:29

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father"

and Luke 12:6

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?."

The idea has been widely discussed and used in theology and literature.
Its most famous reframing can be found in Shakespeare's Hamlet Act 5 Sc 2

"Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special
providence in the fall of a sparrow."

John Wesley discusses it in his Sermon 67, On Divine Providence.

As you seem to have an interest in science fiction you might like to look at Mary Doria Russell's "The Sparrow", a very well written science fiction novel, heavy on the relevant theology as well.

Answer 2

Matthew 10:29-30



God deemed this promise important enough to repeat in Luke 21:18, where the only difference is the context in which Jesus uses the illustration. There He promises that God will closely watch over us during periods of persecution. The scope of God's attentive care of His creation is so great that even an insignificant sparrow cannot die without Him being aware and approving that such a thing should happen. How awesome!

Answer 3

The quote is from Matthew 10:29

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."


There is also a sweet children's hymn based on the above quotation:

God sees the little sparrow fall,
It meets His tender view;
If God so loves the little birds,
I know He loves me, too.

Answer 4

The quotation is enormously popular. "Not a Sparrow Falls" is the title of a 1939 novel by Neil Bell, and also of a much more recent book by Linda Nichols.

Answer 5

It would seem my answer has been censored. The 4 astericks (****) represent a word that is sometimes used as a vulgarity yet in this case should not be. Apologies. I hope this does not effect my answer


There is an old English poem which goes:

"Who killed **** Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow,
"With my bow and arrow, I killed **** Robin."
"Who saw him die?" "I," said the Fly,
"With my little eye, I saw him die."
"Who caught his blood?" "I," said the Fish,
"With my little dish, I caught his blood."
"Who'll make the shroud?" "I," said the Beetle,
"With my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud."
"Who'll dig his grave?" "I," said the Owl,
"With my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave."
"Who'll be the parson?" "I," said the Rook,
"With my little book, I'll be the parson."
"Who'll be the clerk?" "I," said the Lark,
"If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk."
"Who'll carry the link?" "I," said the Linnet,
"I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link."
"Who'll be chief mourner?" "I," said the Dove,
"I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner."
"Who'll carry the coffin?" "I," said the Kite,
"If it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin."
"Who'll bear the pall? "We," said the Wren,
"Both the **** and the hen, we'll bear the pall."
"Who'll sing a psalm?" "I," said the Thrush,
"As she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm."
"Who'll toll the bell?" "I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."
All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll for poor **** Robin.

In this poem all the birds fell, not just the sparrow, but you have to admit, it all bagan when the sparrow killed **** Robin with his bow and arrow.

Answer 6

Who sees with equal eye, as God of all,
A hero perish, or a sparrow fall,
Atoms or systems into ruin hurled,
And now a bubble bursts, and now a worlk.

Alexander Pope - Essay on Man (Epistle 1)