Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty.
John RuskinRead
The root of almost every schism and heresy from which the Christian Church has suffered, has been because of the effort of men to earn, rather than receive their salvation; and the reason preaching is so commonly ineffective is, that it often calls on people to work for God rather than letting God work through them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that salvation should be received as a gift rather than earned through one's efforts.
John Ruskin points out that many divisions and misconceptions within Christianity stem from the belief that individuals must earn their salvation through works, instead of accepting it as a divine gift. He suggests that the ineffectiveness of preaching often lies in its call for people to act on their own behalf rather than allowing divine guidance and grace to work within them.
Themes
SalvationGraceFaithChristianityPreaching
In practice
Example use cases
A preacher might use this quote during a sermon to illustrate the nature of divine grace.
More from John Ruskin
All quotes →In health of mind and body, men should see with their own eyes, hear and speak without trumpets, walk on their feet, not on wheels, and work and war with their arms, not with engine-beams, nor rifles warranted to kill twenty men at a shot before you can see them.
John RuskinRead
You talk of the scythe of Time, and the tooth of Time: I tell you, Time is scytheless and toothless; it is we who gnaw like the worm - we who smite like the scythe. It is ourselves who abolish - ourselves who consume: we are the mildew, and the flame.
John RuskinRead
To be able to ask a question clearly is two-thirds of the way to getting it answered.
John RuskinRead
See that your children be taught, not only the labors of the earth, but the loveliness of it.
John RuskinRead
A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.
John RuskinRead
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