What I have taught with my lips I now seal with my blood.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the idea of standing by one's beliefs, even at the cost of one's life.
Jan Hus, a martyr and reformer, expresses the profound commitment to his teachings and principles. By stating that he seals what he has taught with his blood, he conveys an ultimate sacrifice in defense of his beliefs, embodying the idea that true conviction often demands the utmost courage and willingness to face dire consequences for one's truth.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, one might say, 'Like Jan Hus, I believe in fighting for what is right, even at great personal risk.'
I hope, by God's grace, that I am truly a Christian, not deviating from the faith, and that I would rather suffer the penalty of a terrible death than wish to affirm anything outside of the faith or transgress the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I entreat masters to live a good life and faithfully to instruct their scholars, especially that they may love God and learn to give themselves to knowledge, in order to promote His honour, the welfare of the state, and their own salvation, but not for the sake of avarice or the praise of man.
When fear makes your choices for you, no security measures on earth will keep the things you dread from finding you. But if you can avoid avoidance - if you can choose to embrace experiences out of passion, enthusiasm, and a readiness to feel whatever arises - then nothing, nothing in all this dangerous world, can keep you from being safe.
I had long wondered," Lan said to Tam. "About the man who had given Rand that heron-marked blade. I wondered if he had truly earned it. Now I know." Lan raised his own sword in salute.
I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
Lukewarm acceptance is more bewildering than outright rejection.
I am not the only one who did not want revenge. Almost all my colleagues in prison did not want revenge, because there is no time to do anything else except to try and save your people.
Taking action is hard, but know what? Enduring a bad situation can be its own hell.
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