A great empire and little minds go ill together.
No sound ought to be heard in the church but the healing voice of Christian charity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that a church should be a place of compassion and charity, devoid of distractions or negativity.
Edmund Burke's quote suggests that the primary purpose of a church is to promote love and kindness through Christian charity. He implies that the atmosphere in such a sacred space should be filled only with messages of healing and support, contrasting the often chaotic and noisy distractions of the outside world. This highlights the importance of maintaining a serene and nurturing environment where compassion can flourish.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon discussing the essence of community service, a pastor might quote Burke to emphasize the church's role in fostering charity.
More from Edmund Burke
All quotes βTo read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.
Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.
The hottest fires in hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis.
Society can overlook murder, adultery or swindling; it never forgives preaching of a new gospel.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
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