If thou wouldst be justified, acknowledge thine injustice. He that confesses his sin, begins his journey toward salvation. He that is sorry for it, mends his pace. He that forsakes it, is at his journey's end.
Francis QuarlesRead
Hath any wounded thee with injuries? Meet them with patience. Hasty words rankle the wound; soft language dresses it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Responding to injuries with patience and kindness is more healing than reacting with anger.
This quote emphasizes the importance of patience and gentle communication when faced with injury or conflict. Instead of retaliating with harsh words that can deepen emotional wounds, it advocates for using soft language and understanding to alleviate pain and foster healing in both oneself and others.
Themes
PatienceKindnessCommunicationWoundHealing
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting to resolve conflicts, one might use this quote to encourage teammates to speak gently to each other.
More from Francis Quarles
All quotes βHe that gives all, though but little, gives much; because God looks not to the quantity of the gift, but to the quality of the givers.
Francis QuarlesRead
Beware of him that is slow to anger; for when it is long coming, it is the stronger when it comes, and the longer kept. Abused patience turns to fury.
Francis QuarlesRead
Proportion thy charity to the strength of thine estate, lest God proportion thine estate to the weakness of thy charity. Let the lips of the poor be the trumpet of thy gift, lest in seeking applause, thou lose thy reward. Nothing is more pleasing to God than an open hand and a closed mouth.
Francis QuarlesRead
Charity feeds the poor, so does pride; charity builds an hospital, so does pride. In this they differ: charity gives her glory to God; pride takes her glory from man.
Francis QuarlesRead
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