There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for us.
How friendly all men would be one with another, if no regard were paid to honour and money! I believe it would be a remedy for everything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that if societal values like honor and money were eliminated, people would be more amicable towards each other.
Teresa of Avila expresses the idea that many conflicts and tensions among individuals arise from the pursuit of honor and money. By removing these considerations, she believes that genuine friendship and understanding could flourish, serving as a solution to many of society's problems. This perspective highlights a longing for a simpler, more harmonious existence where human connections are based on authenticity rather than materialism.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
Using the quote during a speech on peace to emphasize the need for deeper connections among people.
More from Teresa Of Avila
All quotes βHow often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.
What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company?
To converse with You, O King of glory, no third person is needed, You are always ready in the Sacrament of the Altar to give audience to all. All who desire You always find You there, and converse with You face to face
If we do not use great care to mortify our will, there are many things which can deprives us of the holy freedom of spirit that we are seeking in order to fly more freely to our Creator, without always being bogged down with the clay of this earth. Moreover, there can never be solid virtue in a soul that is attached to its own will.
I say the same of humility and of all the virtues; the wiles of the devil are terrible, he will run a thousand times round hell if by so doing he can make us believe that we have a single virtue which we have not. And he is right, for such ideas are very harmful, and such imaginary virtues, when they come from this source, are never unaccompanied by vainglory; just as those which God gives are free both from this and from pride.
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The true objective of war is peace.
Pride only, the chief of all iniquities, can make us treat gifts as if they were rightful attributes of our nature, and, while receiving benefits, rob our Benefactor of His due glory.
Most of the great results of history are brought about by discreditable means.
No one imagines that a symphony is supposed to improve as it goes along, or that the whole object of playing is to reach the finale. The point of music is discovered in every moment of playing and listening to it. It is the same, I feel, with the greater part of our lives, and if we are unduly absorbed in improving them we may forget altogether to live them.