#quest

My life should be unique; it should be an alms, a battle, a conquest, a medicine. ↗

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

#battle #conquest #honest #life #living

We feel that, for the honour of God (and also, though we do not say this, for the sake of our own reputation as spiritual Christians), it is necessary for us to claim that we are, so to speak, already in the signal-box, here and now enjoying the inside information as to the why and wherefore of God’s doings. This comforting pretence becomes part of us: we feel sure that God has enabled us to understand all His ways with us and our circle thus far, and we take if for granted that we shall be able to see at once the reason for anything that may happen to us in the future. And then something very painful and quite inexplicable comes along, and our cheerful illusion of being in God’s secret councils is shattered. Our pride is wounded; we feel that God has slighted us; and unless at this point we repent, and humble ourselves very thoroughly for our former presumption, our whole subsequent spriritual life may be blighted. ↗

— J.I. Packer

#knowledge #questions #life

The problem with certainty is that it is static; it can do little but endlessly reassert itself. Uncertainty, by contrast, is full of unknowns, possibilities, and risks. (65) ↗

— Stephen Batchelor

#faith #questioning #spirituality #faith

Men lose more conquests by their own awkwardness than by any virtue in the woman. ↗

— Ninon de L'Enclos

#awkwardness #conquests #lose #men #more

Ask me no questions, and I'll tell you no lies. ↗

— Oliver Goldsmith

#humor #lies #questions #sarcasm #wit

You cannot always depend on prayers to be answered the way you want them answered but you can always depend on God. God, the loving Father often denies us those things which in the end would prove harmful to us. Every boy wants a revolver at age four, and no father yet has ever granted that request. Why should we think God is less wise? Someday we will thank God not only for what He gave us, but also for that which He refused. ↗

— Fulton J. Sheen

#god #prayer #request #age

Never had there been such an attempt to make conquest the servant of civilization. About keeping India there is no question. England has a real duty there. ↗

— Goldwin Smith

#attempt #been #civilization #conquest #duty

The ancients were afraid that if they went to the end of the earth they would fall off and be consumed by dragons. But once we understand that Christianity is true to what is there, true to the ultimate environment - the infinite, personal God who is really there - then our minds are freed. We can pursue any question and can be sure that we will not fall off the end of the earth. ↗

— Francis A. Schaeffer

#doubt #god #questions #spirituality #art

I do not have much patience with a thing of beauty that must be explained to be understood. If it does need additional interpretation by someone other than the creator, then I question whether it has fulfilled its purpose. ↗

— Charlie Chaplin

#additional #creator #does #explained #fulfilled

Asking a question simply implies that you already know the answer. However, the question that you are asking may simply be an illusion. The beauty of the answer truly blooms, when you ask the right question. ↗

— Lionel Suggs

#beauty