Those who tread among serpents, and along a tortuous path, must use the cunning of the serpent.
Interpretation
One must be shrewd and clever when navigating difficult or dangerous situations.
This quote by Thomas Becket emphasizes the necessity of being astute and strategic when confronted with challenging or perilous circumstances. Just as a serpent must be cunning to survive among its own kind, individuals must adapt their behavior and thinking to effectively deal with the complexities and dangers of life.
In practice
In a motivational speech about overcoming challenges.
It is important that the Church of London, which has now lost its ruler, should receive for its new bishop a man whose personal merit, attainments in learning, and prudence in managing public business shall not be unworthy of the dignity of that see.
I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may obtain liberty and peace.
The more I loved the king, the more I opposed his injustice until his brow fell lowering upon me. He heaped calumny after calumny on my head, and I chose to be driven out rather than to subscribe.
Could I anticipate the enmity of those for whom I encountered such opposition? If they had been willing, I should have gained the victory. But the head faints when it is abandoned by the other members. If they had been wise they would have seen that in attacking me they were attacking their own privileges and serving princes to their own servitude.
Whosoever wisely examines the works of God will speedily discover what is next to be done.
The rashness of the persecutor hath overspread the rights of the persecuted so that punishment is awarded to him that has gained the victory, the inglorious triumphs, and the man who deserved bonds has carried off the prize.
Be the witness of your thoughts.
Humility is a flower which does not grow in everyone's garden.
We should allow others' excellences, to preserve a modest opinion of our own.
Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.
I learned at Yale, one of the biggest lessons was to learn how special I am and therefore how totally unspecial I am. I was special among everyone else who was special. The fact that we're all so individual and that's what makes us special.
The only virtue on which I pride myself is my self-doubt; when a writer loses her self-doubt, the time has come to lay aside her pen.
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