Cf. early 14th-cent. Fr. car se li homme mal propose, Diex‥le dispose, for if man proposes evil, God‥disposes of it; [c 1420 T. À Kempis De Imitatione Christi i. xix.] homo proponit, sed Deus disponit (see quot. c 1450 below).

A man off malice may a thyng purpose‥But God a-boue can graciousli dispose [determine] Ageyn such malice to make resistence.
[c 1440 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (EETS) i. 3291]

For man purposith and god disposith.
[c 1450 tr. T. à Kempis' De Imitatione Christi (EETS) i. xix.]

Man Proposeth, God disposeth.
[1640 G. Herbert Outlandish Proverbs no. 1]

A proverb‥Man proposes, God disposes‥that every nation in Europe possesses.
[1853 R. C. Trench On Lessons in Proverbs (ed. 2) iii.]

In diplomacy one can only propose, never dispose. That is up to God, don't you think?
[1958 L. Durrell Mountolive iv. 88]

God's will is not something to be commanded; recall the saying ‘Man proposes, God disposes’.
[1997 Times 9 Aug. 8]

Related to: fate and fatalism; providence

Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.

The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs. Copyright © 1982, 1992, 1998, 2003, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.