---
title: "1 Means Shall Quotes By Hans Urs von Balthasar"
description: "1 Means Shall quotes by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Plus more from Hans Urs von Balthasar and more Means Shall sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_becoming_god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-whi_2692449.jpg"
---

> [God defines himself as "I am who I am", which also means: My being is such that I shall always be present in every moment of becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-which-also-means-my-being-is/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_becoming_god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-whi_2692449.jpg)

## More by Hans Urs von Balthasar

> [Only the Christian religion, which in its essence is communicated by the eternal child of God, keeps alive in its believers the lifelong awareness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/only-the-christian-religion-which-in-its-essence-is-communicated-by/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [The work with which we embark on this first volume of a series of theological studies is a work with which the philosophical person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-work-with-which-we-embark-on-this-first-volume-of-a-series-of/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [The Holy Spirit knows what a particular age's most pressing need is far better than men with their programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-holy-spirit-knows-what-a-particular-age-s-most-pressing-need-is/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [The first attempt at a response: there must have been a fall, a decline, and the road to salvation can only be the return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-first-attempt-at-a-response-there-must-have-been-a-fall-a-decline/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [There is a moment when the interior light of the "eyes of faith" becomes one with the exterior light that shines from Christ, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/there-is-a-moment-when-the-interior-light-of-the-eyes-of-faith/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [A truth that is merely handed on, without being thought anew from its very foundations, has lost its vital power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/a-truth-that-is-merely-handed-on-without-being-thought-anew-from-its/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [But the issue is not only life and death but our existence before God and our being judged by him. All of us were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/but-the-issue-is-not-only-life-and-death-but-our-existence-before-god/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [Faith means the fundamental response to the love that has offered itself up for me. It thus becomes clear that faith is ordered primarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/faith-means-the-fundamental-response-to-the-love-that-has-offered/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [Hell is to be contemplated strictly as a matter which concerns me alone. As part of the spiritual life it belongs behind the 'closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/hell-is-to-be-contemplated-strictly-as-a-matter-which-concerns-me/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/what-you-are-is-god-s-gift-to-you-what-you-become-is-your-gift-to-god/)

[Hans Urs Von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [Above all we must not wish to cling to our suffering. Suffering surely deepens us and enhances our person, but we must not desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/above-all-we-must-not-wish-to-cling-to-our-suffering-suffering-surely/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [The inner reality of love can be recognized only by love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-inner-reality-of-love-can-be-recognized-only-by-love/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [To be a child means to owe one's existence to another, and even in our adult life we never quite reach the point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/to-be-a-child-means-to-owe-one-s-existence-to-another-and-even-in-our/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [There is much in Christianity which can be subjected to exact analysis. But the ultimate things are shrouded in the silent mysteries of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/there-is-much-in-christianity-which-can-be-subjected-to-exact/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

> [“For all his gentleness and humility unto death on the Cross, God does not relinquish his attribute of being judge and consuming fire. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/for-all-his-gentleness-and-humility-unto-death-on-the-cross-god-does/)

[Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/hans-urs-von-balthasar/#itemlist",
            "name": "1 Means Shall Quotes By Hans Urs von Balthasar",
            "numberOfItems": 1,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "God defines himself as \"I am who I am\", which also means: My being is such that I shall always be present in every moment of becoming.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Hans Urs von Balthasar"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-which-also-means-my-being-is/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_becoming_god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-whi_2692449.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_becoming_god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-whi_2692449.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_becoming_god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-whi_2692449.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“God defines himself as \"I am who I am\", which also means: My being is such that I shall always be present in…” — Hans Urs von Balthasar",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/hans-urs-von-balthasar/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/hans-urs-von-balthasar/",
            "name": "Means Shall Quotes by Hans Urs von Balthasar",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/hans-urs-von-balthasar/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28b/hans-urs-von-balthasar-9350_becoming_god-defines-himself-as-i-am-who-i-am-whi_2692449.jpg"
            },
            "description": "1 Means Shall quotes by Hans Urs von Balthasar. Plus more from Hans Urs von Balthasar and more Means Shall sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/hans-urs-von-balthasar/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/hans-urs-von-balthasar/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Means Shall",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Hans Urs von Balthasar",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means-shall/hans-urs-von-balthasar/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```