There is no success without sacrifice. If you succeed without sacrifice it is because someone has suffered before you. If you sacrifice without success it is because someone will succeed after.
Adoniram JudsonRead
The course that I have uniformly pursued, ever since I became a missionary, has been rather peculiar. In order to become an acceptable and eloquent preacher in a foreign language, I deliberately abjured my own. When I crossed the river, I burnt my ships.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of commitment and sacrifice in pursuing one's goals.
Adoniram Judson reflects on his journey as a missionary, illustrating how he chose to abandon his native language to effectively preach in a foreign tongue. The phrase 'burnt my ships' symbolizes a point of no return, highlighting the dedication and courage required to fully embrace a new path, signifying that true commitment often necessitates leaving behind one's old ways for new opportunities.
Themes
CommitmentSacrificeLanguageMissionaryPreacher
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about following one's dreams, this quote could be shared to emphasize the need for commitment.
More from Adoniram Judson
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If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated suffering.
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I never realized what a great privilege it is to be able to use the voice for Christ until I was deprived of it.
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Our prayers run along one road and God's answers by another, and by and by they meet.
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