Against the persecution of a tyrant the godly have no remedy but prayer.
John CalvinRead
I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of precision and care in our use of language.
John Calvin compares imprecision in language to a physical ailment, suggesting that just as laxity in one's health can lead to significant issues, so too can careless communication. This underscores the belief that words hold power and that using them with care is essential to convey meaning accurately and effectively.
Themes
CommunicationPrecisionLanguageWordsCare
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on public speaking, I could quote Calvin to emphasize the importance of clear expression.
More from John Calvin
All quotes βThe pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.
John CalvinRead
Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty.
John CalvinRead
Whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of His fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil.
John CalvinRead
For as the aged, or those whose sight is defective, when any book, however fair, is set before them, though they perceive that there is something written, are scarcely able to make out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity, which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness, and shows us the true God clearly.
John CalvinRead
When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers.
John CalvinRead
Similar quotes
Scripture is like a lion. Who ever heard of defending a lion? Just turn it loose; it will defend itself.
Charles SpurgeonRead
Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.
Charles SpurgeonRead
beware the average man the average woman beware their love, their love is average seeks average but there is genius in their hatred there is enough genius in their hatred to kill you to kill anybody not wanting solitude not understanding solitude they will attempt to destroy anything that differs from their own not being able to create art they will not understand art they will consider their failure as creators only as a failure of the world
Charles BukowskiRead
We often need to lose sight of our priorities in order to see them.
John IrvingRead
The Element is about discovering your self, and you can't do this if you're trapped in a compulsion to conform. You can't be yourself in a swarm.
Ken RobinsonRead
No man can perform so little as not to have reason to congratulate himself on his merits, when he beholds the multitude that live in total idleness, and have never yet endeavoured to be useful.
Samuel JohnsonRead