Without the Spirit man is so infirm that he cannot, with all other means whatsoever, be enabled to think one right saving thought of God, of Christ, or of his blessed things.
John BunyanRead
For to speak the truth, there are but few that care thus to spend their time, but choose rather to be speaking of things to no profit.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the rarity of individuals who value truth over trivial conversations.
John Bunyan reflects on the nature of conversation and priorities, suggesting that many people prefer to engage in unproductive discourse rather than discussing meaningful truths. This commentary highlights the societal tendency to shy away from difficult but necessary conversations in favor of superficial topics that require less effort and engagement.
Themes
TruthConversationWisdomMeaningSociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on communication, this quote can be used to stress the importance of meaningful dialogue.
More from John Bunyan
All quotes βI saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, the same yesterday and today and forever.
John BunyanRead
I saw a man clothed with rags . . . a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back.
John BunyanRead
Look how fears have presented themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender of me, hath suffered me to be molested, but would with one Scripture or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, Were it awful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake.
John BunyanRead
There can be but one will the master in our salvation, but that shall never be the will of man, but of God; therefore man must be saved by grace.
John BunyanRead
I would say to my soul, O my soul, this is not the place of despair; this is not the time to despair in. As long as mine eyes can find a promise in the Bible, as long as there is a moment left me of breath or life in this world, so long will I wait or look for mercy, so long will I fight against unbelief and despair.
John BunyanRead
Similar quotes
In everything satiety closely follows the greatest pleasures.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
The philosophies of one age have become the absurdities of the next, and the foolishness of yesterday has become the wisdom of tomorrow.
William OslerRead
Not to be able to stop thinking is a dreadful affliction, but we don't realize this because almost everyone is suffering from it, so it is considered normal. This incessant mental noise prevents you from finding that realm of inner stillness that is inseparable from Being.
Eckhart TolleRead
Nothing of value is free. Even the breath of life is purchased at birth only through gasping effort and pain... The best things in life are beyond money; their price is agony and sweat and devotion... and the price demanded for the most precious of all things in life is life itself--ultimate cost for perfect value
Robert A. HeinleinRead
It took me forty years of dealing with buddhism to finally realize that actually Buddha's discovery was happiness and bliss.
Robert ThurmanRead
Stated as an English sentence, of course, this is just a banal platitude - but the fact is that, in the day-to-day trenches of adult existence, banal platitudes can have life-or-death importance. That may sound like hyperbole, or abstract nonsense.
David Foster WallaceRead