To think of that as something bad was merely to think in terms of what had once been and no longer existed. - George R. Stewart

It has never happened!" cannot be construed to mean, "It can never happen!"—as well say, "Because I have never broken my leg, my leg is unbreakable," or "Because I've never died, I am immortal.

How then, once overthrown, shall this great civilization, except by renewed Forces and Pressures, ever come again?

What you were preparing against—that never happened! All the best-laid plans could not prevent the disaster against which no plans had been laid.