What St. Francis and St. Dominic have done, that, by God's grace, I will do.
Saint IgnatiusRead
It is a great delusion in those whose understanding has been darkened by self-love, to think that there is any obedience in the subject who tries to draw the superior to what he wishes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-love can distort perception, leading one to mistakenly believe that they can control others by manipulating their desires.
This quote by Saint Ignatius highlights the dangers of self-love, emphasizing that it can cloud one's understanding of relationships and obedience. A person who is overly focused on their own desires may mistakenly believe that they can influence or control those who hold superior positions by appealing to their wishes, ultimately leading to delusion and misunderstanding of true obedience.
Themes
Self-LoveDelusionObedienceUnderstandingManipulation
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about leadership and influence, this quote serves to remind leaders of the dangers of self-centered motivations.
More from Saint Ignatius
All quotes →Remember that the good angels do what they can to preserve men from sin and obtain God's honor. But they do not lose courage when men fail.
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In the matter of learning, the difference between the earnest and the careless student stands out clearly. The same holds true in the mastering of passion and the weaknesses to which our nature is subject, as in the acquiring of virtue.
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It is proper to ask for sorrow with Christ in sorrow, anguish with Christ in anguish, tears and deep grief because of the great affliction Christ endures for me.
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Be slow to speak, and only after having first listened quietly, so that you may understand the meaning, leanings, and wishes of those who do speak. Thus you will better know when to speak and when to be silent.
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He who aims at making an entire and perfect oblation of himself, in addition to his will, must offer his understanding, which is a further and the highest degree of obedience.
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