A good man is willing to know the worst of himself, and particularly under affliction, desires to be told wherefore God contends with him and what God designs in correcting him.
Matthew HenryRead
I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth because it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Gratitude can be found even in difficult situations.
This quote reflects a profound sense of gratitude despite experiencing a negative event such as being robbed. The author highlights four reasons to be thankful: the absence of serious harm, the realization that material possessions are not everything, and the moral perspective that it is better to be a victim than to commit wrongdoings, showcasing a deep philosophical appreciation for life and values.
Themes
GratitudeThankfulnessPerspectivePhilosophyLife
In practice
Example use cases
Sharing this quote at a community meeting focused on overcoming adversity.
More from Matthew Henry
All quotes →There is a burden of care in getting riches; fear in keeping them; temptation in using them; guilt in abusing them; sorrow in losing them; and a burden of account at last to be given concerning them.
Matthew HenryRead
To wait on God is to live a life of desire toward Him, delight in Him, dependence on Him, and devotedness to Him.
Matthew HenryRead
Scriptures were written, not to satisfy our curiosity and make us astronomers, but to lead us to God, and make us saints.
Matthew HenryRead
What God requires of us he himself works in us, or it is not done. He that commands faith, holiness, and love, creates them by the power of his grace going along with his word, that he may have all the praise.
Matthew HenryRead
No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness.
Matthew HenryRead
Similar quotes
Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims, have been born of earnest struggle. The conflict has been exciting, agitating, all-absorbing, and for the time being, putting all other tumults to silence. It must do this or it does nothing. If there is no struggle there is no progress.
Frederick DouglassRead
From another direction he felt the sensation of being a sheep startled by a flying saucer, but it was virtually indistinguishable from the feeling of being a sheep startled by anything else it ever encountered, for they were creatures who learned very little on their journey through life, and would be startled to see the sun rising in the morning, and astonished by all the green stuff in the fields.
Douglas AdamsRead
Christmas is God lighting a candle; and you don't light a candle in a room that's already full of sunlight. You light a candle in a room that's so murky that the candle, when lit, reveals just how bad things really are.
N. T. WrightRead
Peace is not made at the council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men.
Herbert HooverRead
No man has a right in America to treat any other man "tolerantly" for tolerance is the assumption of superiority. Our liberties are equal rights of every citizen.
Wendell WillkieRead
People are eternally divided into two classes, the believer, builder, and praiser...and the unbeliever, destroyer and critic.
John RuskinRead