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Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond…

“Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity;" it is the most acid fruit that grows on the stock of sin, a fluid so subtle that nothing but the fire of divine love can purge it from the soul.” quote by Hosea Ballou
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“Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity;" it is the most acid fruit that grows on the stock of sin, a fluid so subtle that nothing but the fire of divine love can purge it from the soul.”

Hosea Ballou

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Envy is portrayed as a corrosive, bitter sin that contaminates the soul, removable only by divine love's purifying fire.

In simple terms: Envy is a corrosive sin cleansed by divine love.

Key Takeaway

Envy is a destructive sin requiring spiritual purification.

Themes

sin spiritual purification divine love human frailty moral decay

Mood

somber reflective

Type

maxim theological observation

When to use this quote

  • personal guilt
  • moral introspection
  • spiritual counseling
  • theological study
  • ethical teaching

Key Concepts

enviousness purification spirituality

Practical Applications

  • spiritual guidance
  • moral education

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does envy affect one's spiritual health?
  • What role does divine love play in overcoming sin?
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