May we look upon our treasure, the furniture of our houses, and our garments, and try to discover whether the seeds of war have nourishment in these our possessions.
John WoolmanRead
While I meditate on the gulf towards which I travelled, and reflect on my youthful disobedience, for these things I weep, mine eye runneth down with water.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on regret and introspection regarding one's past actions and choices.
John Woolman's quote captures the deep emotional response to reflecting on one's life choices, particularly those made in youth that may cause regret. It speaks to the human experience of looking back at our actions, understanding their implications, and feeling sorrow for those decisions that led us away from a desired path, highlighting a profound sense of awareness and empathy that comes with self-reflection.
Themes
RegretReflectionYouthDisobedienceSorrow
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a personal development seminar to highlight the importance of self-reflection.
More from John Woolman
All quotes →There is a principle which is pure, placed in the human mind, which in different places and ages hath had different names. It is, however, pure and proceeds from God. It is deep and inward, confined to no forms of religion nor excluded from any, where the heart stands in perfect sincerity. In whomsoever this takes root and grows, of what nation soever, they become brethren in the best sense of the expression.
John WoolmanRead
To say we love God as unseen and at the same time exercise cruelty toward the least creature moving by His life or by life derived from Him, was a contradiction in itself.
John WoolmanRead
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