Strictly speaking, one should not even rightly compare virginity to marriage because you cannot make a comparison between two things if one is good and the other evil.
Thank God I am deemed worthy to be hated by the world.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses a sense of pride in being recognized for one's beliefs, even if it leads to opposition from society.
St. Jerome's quote reflects the idea that being deemed worthy of hatred by the world can be a badge of honor for oneβs convictions and values. It highlights the notion that standing firm in one's beliefs, especially against mainstream opinion, is a courageous act that can lead to both conflict and personal integrity. Embracing such disdain from society can indicate a commitment to truth or higher ideals, suggesting that the critic's backlash can signify a profound truth in one's stance.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about standing up for one's beliefs in the face of adversity.
More from St. Jerome
All quotes βThe Church was founded upon Peter: although elsewhere the same is attributed to all the Apostles, and they all receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven, the strength of the Church depends upon them all alike, yet one among the twelve is chosen so that when a head has been appointed, there may be no occasion for schism.
Either we must speak as we dress, or dress as we speak. Why do we profess one thing and display another? The tongue talks of chastity, but the whole body reveals impurity.
Beauty when unadorned is adorned the most.
To ignore Scripture is to ignore Christ.
Those who persevere in sin are those who are held in abhorrence by God, but those who abandon the ways of sin are loved by the Lord.
Similar quotes
The body can't distinguish between cleansing and punishing for the body is ignorant, and mute besides.
Daily, I examine myself in three areas. Have I done my best when doing things for others? Have I been trustworthy in my dealings with my friends? Have I revised the lessons I have been taught?
To the rulers of the state then, if to any, it belongs of right to use falsehood, to deceive either enemies or their own citizens, for the good of the state: and no one else may meddle with this privilege.
I believe every person has a guardian spirit or angel. They assist us in the transition between life and death and they also help us pick our parents before we are born.
I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken - and I'd rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.
The texture and hardship of poverty and eviction is something that I think left the deepest impression on me, and I hope that I try to convey a little bit of that to the reader.