QuoteProject
True virtue never appears so lovely as when it is most oppressed; and the divine excellency of real Christianity is never exhibited with such advantage as when under the greatest trials; then it is that true faith appears much more precious than gold, and upon this account is "found to praise and honour and glory.
Jonathan Edwards
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

True virtue shines brightest in adversity, demonstrating the true value of faith under trials.

This quote by Jonathan Edwards emphasizes that genuine virtue and the essence of Christianity reveal themselves most beautifully during challenging times. In moments of suffering or oppression, the strength of true faith becomes evident, akin to valuable gold that is refined in fire; this which, in turn, garners praise and recognition.

Themes

VirtueFaithAdversityTrialsChristianityStrength

In practice

Example use cases

This quote is perfect for a speech about overcoming life's challenges.

More from Jonathan Edwards

Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
So that it must be only by the imagination that Satan has access to the soul, to tempt and delude it, or suggest anything to it. And this seems to be the reason why persons that are under the disease of melancholy are commonly so visibly and remarkably subject to the suggestions and temptations of Satan... Innumerable are the ways by which the mind may be led on to all kind of evil thoughts, by the exciting of external ideas in the imagination.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
The deceitfulness of the heart of man appears in no one thing so much as this of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. The subtlety of Satan appears in its height, in his managing persons with respect to this sin. And perhaps one reason may be that here he has most experience; he knows the way of its coming in; he is acquainted with the secret springs of it: it was his own sin. Experience gives vast advantage in leading souls, either in good or evil.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.
Jonathan EdwardsRead
Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.
Jonathan EdwardsRead

Similar quotes

The foolish man conceives the idea of 'self.' The wise man sees there is no ground on which to build the idea of 'self;' thus, he has a right conception of the world and well concludes that all compounds amassed by sorrow will be dissolved again, but the truth will remain.
BuddhaRead
For before this I was born once a boy, and a maiden, and a plant, and a bird, and a darting fish in the sea.
EmpedoclesRead
The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.
Albert CamusRead
It doesn’t matter how old I get, but as long as I continue to live I’ll always discover something new about myself.
Haruki MurakamiRead
We've become embarrassed about asking ourselves the straightforward, simple questions that are actually the most relevent: what is it to be human? How can we steer a course between self-indulgence and self-denial and be the very best version of ourselves that we can?
Bettany HughesRead
Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded.
J. I. PackerRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.