To turn water into wine, and what is common into what is holy, is indeed the glory of Christianity.
Frederick William RobertsonRead
By experience; by a sense of human frailty; by a perception of "the soul of goodness in things evil;" by a cheerful trust in human nature; by a strong sense of God's love; by long and disciplined realization of the atoning love of Christ; only thus can we get a free, manly, large, princely spirit of forgiveness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Forgiveness comes from understanding human weaknesses and recognizing the goodness that exists even in flawed situations.
This quote emphasizes that true forgiveness arises from a deep awareness of human imperfection and the inherent goodness that can be found even in negative circumstances. It suggests that by trusting in the positive aspects of human nature and recognizing a higher love, particularly that illustrated by Christ, one can cultivate a spirit of forgiveness that is generous and noble.
Themes
ForgivenessHuman NatureGoodnessTrustLove
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on conflict resolution, one might quote this to encourage empathy and understanding.
More from Frederick William Robertson
All quotes →The one who will be found in trial capable of great acts of love is ever the one who is always doing considerate small ones.
Frederick William RobertsonRead
No one can be great, or good, or happy except through the inward efforts of themselves.
Frederick William RobertsonRead
In these two things the greatness of man consists, to have God dwelling in us as to impart His character to us, and to have Him dwelling in us, that we recognize His presence, and know that we are His, and He is ours. The one is salvation; the other, the assurance of it.
Frederick William RobertsonRead
The office of poetry is not to make us think accurately, but feel truly.
Frederick William RobertsonRead
There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy, hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny.
Frederick William RobertsonRead
Similar quotes
Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him....Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness....And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world's healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.
Corrie Ten BoomRead
I don't forgive people because I'm weak, I forgive them because I am strong enough to know people make mistakes.
Marilyn MonroeRead
If I say, "Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forgive," as though the God, who twice a day washes all the sands on all the shores of all the world, could not wash such memories from my mind, then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Amy CarmichaelRead
There comes a day when, for someone who has persecuted us, we feel only indifference, a weariness at his stupidity. Then we forgive him.
Cesare PaveseRead
We cannot repent for someone else. But we can forgive someone else, refusing to hold hostage those whom the Lord seeks to set free!
Neal A. MaxwellRead
Let us go back to the Lord. The Lord never tires of forgiving: never! It is we who tire of asking his forgiveness. Let us ask for the grace not to tire of asking forgiveness, because he never tires of forgiving.
Pope FrancisRead