Ponder the fact that God has made you a gardener, to root out vice and plant virtue.
St. Catherine Of SienaRead
When it seems that God shows us the faults of others, keep on the safer side-it may be that your judgment is false. On your lips let silence abide. And any vice that you may ascribe to others, ascribe at once to them and yourself, in true humility. If that vice really exists in a person, he will correct himself better, seeing himself so gently understood, and will say of his own accord the thing that you would have said to him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and humility when judging others.
St. Catherine of Siena's quote encourages individuals to refrain from harsh judgments of others, suggesting that we should first examine ourselves and recognize our own faults. By promoting a gentle understanding of others' vices, we create an environment where they are more likely to acknowledge and correct their behavior themselves, which ultimately fosters compassion and personal growth.
Themes
HumilityUnderstandingSelf-ReflectionJudgmentCompassion
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about compassion during a community meeting.
More from St. Catherine Of Siena
All quotes →O unfathomable depth! O Deity eternal! O deep ocean! What more could You give me than to give me Yourself?
St. Catherine Of SienaRead
To a brave man, good and bad luck are like his left and right hand. He uses both.
St. Catherine Of SienaRead
There is no perfect virtue-none that bears fruit- unless it is exercised by means of our neighbor.
St. Catherine Of SienaRead
Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire ever burning and never consumed, which itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my being.
St. Catherine Of SienaRead
Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind.
St. Catherine Of SienaRead
Similar quotes
Make yourself do unpleasant things so as to gain the upper hand of your soul.
W. E. B. Du BoisRead
Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of haviong an evil thought during the game.
Wilhelm SteinitzRead
To strive with an equal is dangerous; with a superior, mad; with an inferior, degrading.
Seneca The YoungerRead
While most of the things you've worried about have never happened, it's a different story with the things you haven't worried about. They are the ones that happen.
Ruth RendellRead
I used to believe everything my brother told me, because he was older and I figured he knew more about the world. But as it turns out, being a grown-up doesn’t mean you’re fearless. It just means you fear different things.
Jodi PicoultRead
Those who are ashamed of what they ought not to be ashamed; and are not ashamed of what they ought to be - such men, embracing erroneous views, enter the woeful path.
Gautama BuddhaRead