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Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Belief and obedience are intertwined; true obedience stems from genuine belief.

This quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer illustrates the fundamental relationship between belief and obedience. It suggests that one cannot truly obey without a belief that motivates that obedience, and conversely, genuine belief manifests through the act of obedience. This reflects the idea that faith is not just an internal conviction but also an external practice that demonstrates commitment to one's beliefs.

Themes

BeliefObedienceFaithCommitmentTrust

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the importance of faith in leadership.

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...And then, just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God. Our eyes are at fault, that is all.
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Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his own follies.
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Quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer | QuoteProject