It would be a good contest amongst Christians, one to labour to give no offence, and the other to labour to take none. The best men are severe to themselves, tender over others.
Richard SibbesRead
When a man is to travel into a far country...one staff in his hand may comfortably support him, but a bundle of staves would be troublesome. Thus a competency of these outward things may happily help us in the way to heaven, whereas abundance may be hurtful.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Moderation in material possessions can aid one's spiritual journey, while excess may hinder it.
This quote suggests that while having some material support can be beneficial for one's journey in life, having too much can become a burden. It emphasizes the value of moderation and the idea that seeking a balance in our external possessions is crucial for our spiritual and personal development.
Themes
ModerationMaterialismSpiritualityAbundanceBalance
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on personal finance, to illustrate the importance of moderation.
More from Richard Sibbes
All quotes →Those that look to be happy must first look to be holy.
Richard SibbesRead
The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession.
Richard SibbesRead
There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.
Richard SibbesRead
In all their jollity in this world, the wicked are but as a book fairly bound, which when it is opened is full of nothing but tragedies. So when the book of their consciences shall be once opened, there is nothing to be read but lamentations and woes.
Richard SibbesRead
Faith, whereby especially Christ rules, sets the soul so high that it looks down on all other things as far below, as having represented to it, by the Spirit of Christ, riches, honor, beauty and pleasures of a higher nature.
Richard SibbesRead
Similar quotes
Greater in battle_x000D_ than the man who would conquer_x000D_ a thousand-thousand men,_x000D_ is he who would conquer_x000D_ just one —_x000D_ himself._x000D_ Better to conquer yourself_x000D_ than others._x000D_ When you've trained yourself,_x000D_ living in constant self-control,_x000D_ neither a deva nor gandhabba,_x000D_ nor a Mara banded with Brahmas,_x000D_ could turn that triumph_x000D_ back into defeat.
Gautama BuddhaRead
It does not matter how frequently something succeeds if failure is too costly to bear.
Nassim Nicholas TalebRead
If we can keep at least a bit of the mind clear about temporality, we can mange complicated, even difficult, times with grace.
Sylvia BoorsteinRead
You can either be informed and your own rulers, or you can be ignorant and have someone else, who is not ignorant, rule over you.
Julian AssangeRead
Seeing, observing, listening, these are the greatest acts
Jiddu KrishnamurtiRead
Long live impudence. It was my guardian angel in this world.
Albert EinsteinRead