#suffering

Conversion can also occur among those who already have the faith. Christians will become real Christians, with less façade and more foundation. Catastrophe will divide them from the world, force them to declare their basic loyalties; it will revive shepherds who shepherd rather than administrate, reverse the proportion of saints and scholars in favor of saints, create more reapers for the harvest, more pillars of fire for the lukewarm; it will make the rich see that real wealth is in the service of the needy; and, above all else, it will make the glory of Christ’s Cross shine out in a love of the brethren for one another as true and loyal sons of God. ↗

— Fulton J. Sheen

#hardship #suffering #faith

Death remains about the one certain fact in the lives of each one of us, and there will be suffering, sorrow, and sadness next week as there was last week. ↗

— Basil Hume

#certain #death #each #fact #in fact

I hope that the mistakes made and suffering imposed upon Japanese Americans nearly 60 years ago will not be repeated against Arab Americans whose loyalties are now being called into question. ↗

— Daniel Inouye

#ago #arab #being #called #hope

Suffering is the positive element in this world, indeed it is the only link between this world and the positive. ↗

— Franz Kafka

#element #indeed #link #only #positive

Almost everybody is enthusiastic about the promise of biotechnology to cure disease and to relieve suffering. ↗

— Leon Kass

#almost #biotechnology #cure #disease #enthusiastic

My intent was to carry out my duty as a doctor, to end their suffering. Unfortunately, that entailed, in their cases, ending of the life. ↗

— Jack Kevorkian

#cases #doctor #duty #end #ending

The greater the state, the more wrong and cruel its patriotism, and the greater is the sum of suffering upon which its power is founded. ↗

— Leo Tolstoy

#cruel #founded #greater #more #power

Acceptance of one's life has nothing to do with resignation; it does not mean running away from the struggle. On the contrary, it means accepting it as it comes, with all the handicaps of heredity, of suffering, of psychological complexes and injustices. ↗

— Paul Tournier

#accepting #away #comes #complexes #contrary

Suffering is the substance of life and the root of personality, for it is only suffering that makes us persons. ↗

— Miguel de Unamuno

#makes #only #personality #persons #root

The first question we must address deals with optimism, the possibility of achieving our goal. Are we in a position where we can actually hope to effect change? Assuming we become convinced that there are reasons for optimism, we move to the next question. Are we cetain that we want change? The stories about EHMs, jackals, and suffering around the globe strike raw nerves, but now we demand absolute proof that our grievances justify the efforts change will demand. Third: Is there a unifying principle that will validate our efforts? We look to ascertain that we are not merely seeking to impose our moral, religious, or philosophical values on others but instead are intent on creating something of true and lasting universal benefit. And finally: What can we each do? You and I personally need to evaluate our talents and passions. What are our individual options and desires? How do they fit into the bigger picture? ↗

— John Perkins

#optimism #suffering #change