In SPACE comes grace

Meaning & Analysis

With the passage of time (space), a favorable outcome or divine favor (grace) can emerge. It suggests that time itself is a medium for positive change and resolution.

Insights

Virtue of Patience

The proverb champions the virtue of patience, suggesting that difficult situations or unresolved conflicts can be healed or improved if given enough time. It advises against despair, framing time as an ally that brings opportunity for positive change.

Redemption and Forgiveness

'Grace' can be interpreted as forgiveness or redemption. The proverb implies that time can soften hearts, heal wounds, and allow for reconciliation or a second chance, even for those who have made mistakes or been exiled.

Hope and Unforeseen Positivity

The proverb serves as a powerful expression of hope in the face of uncertainty. It posits that the future holds the potential for unforeseen positive developments, and that one should not lose faith even when circumstances seem bleak.

Theological Undercurrents

Rooted in the 16th century, a period of religious turmoil, the proverb's use of 'grace' carries strong theological weight, suggesting that time allows for divine favor or providence to unfold. It offered comfort in an age of uncertainty, exile, and shifting fortunes, framing patience as a form of faith.

Psychology of Hope

The proverb serves as a psychological coping mechanism, encouraging a hopeful and patient mindset in the face of adversity. It reframes waiting not as passive inaction but as an active period during which positive transformation can occur, thus alleviating anxiety and despair.

Archaic Language

The use of 'space' to mean 'a period of time' is an archaic linguistic feature that gives the proverb a classic, enduring quality. This older vocabulary contrasts with the timeless, universal concept of finding hope over time.

Rhetorical Devices

Rhyme

The perfect rhyme between 'space' and 'grace' makes the proverb highly memorable, musically pleasing, and easy to transmit, ensuring its longevity.

Concision

The proverb's power lies in its extreme brevity. The four-word structure creates a direct, impactful, and easily recalled piece of wisdom.

Assonance

The assonance of the long 'a' sound in 'space' and 'grace' creates a smooth, resonant phonetic link that reinforces the conceptual connection between the two words.

patiencehopetimeredemptionprovidencechange
Analyzed with gemini-2.5-pro on December 1, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

1541, COVERDALE, Chr. State Matr., XVII, f. 53v

In space comth grace, and this further amendyng. [c1553]

1546, HEY, I iv, s. Bi
1566-1567, UDALL, Roister D., III iii 104

Euen banished men haue hope ones to returne into theyr countrey . . . for in space cometh grace.

1559, COOPER, s.v. Exul

Heile shortlye make the singe the cuccolds notes thy wife loues him well in space commeth grace.

1560-1577, Misogonus, II iii 39
a.1598, FERG., MS, no. 785
1611, DAV., Prov., no. 118
1611, GRUT., no. 142
1614, CAM., p. 308
1616, DR., s.v. Time, no. 2151
1639, CL., p. 308
1659, HOW., Eng. Prov., p. 5
1668, R.B., p. 28
1670, RAY, p. 144
1732, FUL., no. 6167

Annotations

Original Scan

In SPACE comes grace - a scanned entry from Tilley's 1950 Dictionary of Proverbs.
Scan courtesy of HathiTrust Digital Library.
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.

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Last updated: January 27, 2026