A man really believes not what he recites in his creed, but only the things he is ready to die for.
Interpretation
True beliefs are not just spoken; they are those for which one is willing to sacrifice everything.
This quote emphasizes that genuine beliefs are not merely verbal affirmations or creeds; instead, they are demonstrated by the willingness to endure great hardship or even sacrifice one's life. It suggests that the core of a person's faith lies in their actions and the values they hold dear enough to stand up for, especially in the face of adversity.
In practice
In a motivational speech about following one's passion, this quote can reinforce the importance of commitment.
There was once a fiddler who played so beauitully that everybody danced. A deaf man who could not hear the music considered them all insane. Those who are with Jesus in suffering hear this music to which other men are deaf. They dance and do not care if they are considered insane.
Some tell me Preach the pure gospel! This reminds me that the Communist secret police also told me to preach Christ, but not to mention communism. Is it really so, that those who are for what is called a pure gospel are inspired by the same spirit as those of the Communist secret police?
Christians are meant to have the same vocation as their King, that of cross-bearers. It is this conscience of a high calling and of partnership with Jesus which brings gladness in tribulations, which makes Christians enter prisons for their faith with the joy of a bridegroom entering the bridal room.
It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their [the communists' ] terms. It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.
God will judge us not according to how much we endured, but how much we could love
A faith that can be destroyed by suffering is not faith.
I was just a screw or cog in the great machine I called life, and when I dropped out of it I found I was of no use anywhere else.
How I wished during those sleepless hours that I belonged to a different nation, or better still, to none at all.
There are plenty of good reasons for fighting, I said, but no good reason ever to hate without reservation, to imagine that God Almighty Himself hates with you, too.
Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves.
If there were no way into God, I would not have lain in the grave of this body so long.
The world is such-and-such or so-and-so only because we tell ourselves that that is the way it is.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.