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
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Give according to your means and do so without seeking recognition.
This quote emphasizes the importance of charitable giving in proportion to one's resources, warning against bragging or seeking accolades for one's generosity. It suggests that true charity should be a quiet act, appreciated by the divine rather than performed for public applause.
Themes
CharityGivingGenerosityHumilityReward
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social responsibility at a charity gala.
More from Francis Quarles
All quotes →He 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.
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Hath any wounded thee with injuries? Meet them with patience. Hasty words rankle the wound; soft language dresses it.
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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