Trials make more room for consolation. There is nothing that makes a man have a big heart like a great trial. I always find that little, miserable people, whose hearts are about the size of a grain of mustard seed, never have had much to try them. I have found that those people who have no sympathy for their fellows — who never weep for the sorrows of others — very seldom have had any woes of their own. Great hearts can only be made by great troubles.
Interpretation
Facing trials and hardships can cultivate empathy and a generous spirit in individuals.
This quote reflects on the transformative power of adversity, suggesting that significant challenges lead to the development of compassion and understanding in people. It posits that those who have experienced substantial trials are more likely to possess generous hearts, in contrast to those who lack empathy due to a sheltered existence free from struggles.
In practice
A motivational speaker sharing this quote to inspire resilience among young adults.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
You will not be carried to Heaven lying at ease upon a feather bed.
Words sing. They hurt. They teach. They sanctify. They were man's first, immeasurable feat of magic. They liberated us from ignorance and our barbarous past.
Keeping score of old scores and scars, getting even and one-upping, always makes you less than you are.
No hour is ever eternity, but it has its right to weep.
Don't find fault, find a remedy.
What suffering has taught me is the uselessness of suffering.
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