" There, but for the grace of God, go I "

Question

There, but for the grace of God, go I -> siento mucho lo que le ha pasado, nos podría haber pasado a cualquiera.

My attempt at a literal translation of this Spanish construction is;

" I feel very sorry about what has happened to him/ her/ you, it could have happened to us or anyone"

Could some kind member please give a comment on this?

¿Podría por favor algún miembro amable dar un comentario sobre esto?

I gave it a bump, to give a member time to wander by and answer your excellent question. - ray76, Mar 10, 2014

:) Good that it was you who wandered by mate. :) - ian-hill, Mar 10, 2014

I've just tried to make the literal Spanish, it's avery good question. - annierats, Mar 10, 2014

Tusen takk and many thanks Annie. I think a Scot would say " I'd have been there if it not for the grace of God " - britisk, Mar 10, 2014

" if it was not " Sorry - britisk, Mar 10, 2014

Answer 1

Winston Churchill once remarked as Sir Stafford Cripps walked by ,

" There but for the grace of God, goes God !"

Very nice Ray ! And probably Cripps liked it too. - britisk, Mar 10, 2014

We need a new Winston mate. - ian-hill, Mar 10, 2014

They threw the mould away old son. - ray76, Mar 10, 2014

Lol mate, he was rather full of himself.. - annierats, Mar 10, 2014

Answer 2

Por allá iría si no fuera por la gracia de Dios. There, but for the grace of God go I.

That, I think is the literal translation, but I have no idea what the colloquial saying would be. There must be one!

A very laudable attempt Annie , thanks. - ray76, Mar 10, 2014

Many thanks again to Annie and all for your answers. I had hoped that one of our native speakers could explain this part for me "nos podría haber pasado a cualquiera." The "nos" puzzles me. - britisk, Mar 10, 2014