He who is insolent towards men is insolent towards God... Respect in man the grand, inestimable image of God and be forbearing towards the faults and errors of fallen man, so that God may be forbearing towards your own.
John Of KronstadtRead
Every man on earth is sick with the fever of sin, with the blindness of sin and is overcome with its fury. As sins consist mostly of malice and pride, it is necessary to treat everyone who suffers from the malady of sin with kindness and love. This is an important truth, which we often forget. Very often we act in the opposite manner: we add malice to malice by our anger, we oppose pride with pride. Thus, evil grows within us and does not decrease; it is not cured - rather it spreads
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the universal struggle with sin and the need for kindness instead of judgment. It reminds us that responding to malice with malice only exacerbates the problem.
In this quote, John Of Kronstadt highlights the pervasive nature of sin, describing it as a sickness that affects all individuals, characterized by malice and pride. He stresses the importance of responding to the suffering caused by sin with love and kindness, rather than adding to the cycle of negativity with anger or pride. The essence of his message is a call for compassion and understanding, suggesting that healing can only come from love, not from further conflict or resentment.
Themes
SinKindnessLoveMalicePrideCompassionHealing
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about forgiveness, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of treating others with kindness regardless of their wrongdoings.
More from John Of Kronstadt
All quotes →Our faith, trust, and love are proved and revealed in adversities, that is, in difficult and grievous outward and inward circumstances, during sickness, sorrow, and privations.
John Of KronstadtRead
The accursed one does not allow the eye of the heart to see the Lord or His saints. He darkens our heart in every way. He scatters faith, oppressing, burning and darkening us inwardly. We must look upon all such actions as illusions and falsehood, and break through this imaginary wall to the Lord, or to His Holy Mother, or His saints. As soon as you break through this wall you will be immediately saved. 'Your faith has made you whole' (Mt. 9:22).
John Of KronstadtRead
A man who is wrathful with us is a sick man; we must apply a plaster to his heart - love; we must treat him kindly, speak to him gently, lovingly. And if there is not deeply-rooted malice against us within him, but only a temporary fit of anger, you will see how his heart, or his malice, will melt away through your kindness and love - how good will conquer evil. A Christian must always be kind, gracious, and wise in order to conquer evil by good.
John Of KronstadtRead
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