Humility responds to God's will-to the fear of His judgments and to the needs of those around us. To the proud, the applause of the world rings in their ears; to the humble, the applause of heaven warms their hearts. Someone has said, "Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man."
He is the way, the truth, and the light, and no one can come back into the presence of our Father in heaven except through him. Christ is God the Son and possesses every virtue in its perfection. Therefore, the only measure of true greatness is how close a man can become like Jesus. That man is greatest who is most like Christ, and those who love him most will be most like him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the belief that true greatness is measured by one's alignment with Christ's virtues and love for him.
Ezra Taft Benson's quote conveys the idea that true greatness in life is defined not by worldly achievements, but by the degree to which an individual emulates the virtues of Jesus Christ. It reflects a deep spiritual perspective, suggesting that by aspiring to be more like Christ and cultivating a loving relationship with him, one can attain a higher moral and ethical stature in life. This belief is fundamental to those who follow Christian teachings and highlights the importance of faith and virtue in personal development.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a sermon, a pastor might use this quote to inspire congregation members to reflect on their personal growth in faith.
More from Ezra Taft Benson
All quotes βPhysical well-being is not only a priceless asset to oneself-it is a heritage to be passed on. With good health, all other activities of life are greatly enhanced. A clean mind in a healthy body enables one to render far more effective service to others. It helps one provide more vigorous leadership. It gives our every experience in life more zest and more meaning. Robust health is a noble and worthwhile attainment.
If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. Lift their burden, and your own burden will be lighter.
Our parents deserve our honor and respect for giving us life itself. Beyond this they almost always made countless sacrifices as they cared for and nurtured us through our infancy and childhood, provided us with the necessities of life, and nursed us through physical illnesses and the emotional stresses of growing up.
We are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth.
Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand.
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When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn't the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice.
People are more slanderous from vanity than from malice.
All things flourish, and each returns to its source.
Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.