--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there are so many references in the…" description: "\"“If there are so many references in the Mass to poverty, sadness, failure and loss, it is because the Church views the ill, the frail of mind, the desp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/alain-de-botton-221_failure_if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-m_3146552.jpg" --- # If there are so many references in the Mass to poverty… ![“If there are so many references in the Mass to poverty, sadness, failure and loss, it is because the Church views the ill, the frail of mind, the desperate and the elderly as representing aspects of humanity and (even more meaningfully) of ourselves which we are tempted to deny, but which bring…” quote by Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/alain-de-botton-221_failure_if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-m_3146552.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/alain-de-botton-221_failure_if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-m_3146552.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/alain-de-botton-221_failure_if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-m_3146552.jpg) > ““If there are so many references in the Mass to poverty, sadness, failure and loss, it is because the Church views the ill, the frail of mind, the desperate and the elderly as representing aspects of humanity and (even more meaningfully) of ourselves which we are tempted to deny, but which bring us, when we can acknowledge them, closer to our need for one another. In our more arrogant moments, the sin of pride – or superbia, in Augustine’s Latin formulation – takes over our personalities and shuts us off from those around us. We become dull to others when all we seek to do is assert how well things are going for us, just as friendship has a chance to grow only when we dare to share what we are afraid of and regret. The rest is merely showmanship. The Mass encourages this sloughing off of pride. The flaws whose exposure we so dread, the indiscretions we know we would be mocked for, the secrets that keep our conversations with our so-called friends superficial and inert – all of these emerge as simply part of the human condition. We have no reason left to dissemble or lie in a building dedicated to honouring the terror and weakness of a man who was nothing like the usual heroes of antiquity, nothing like the fierce soldiers of Rome’s army or the plutocrats of its Senate, and yet who was nevertheless worthy of being crowned the highest of men, the king of kings.”” [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Mass highlights human vulnerability, urging us to acknowledge pain and humility to foster genuine connection, counteracting pride and superficiality. **In simple terms:** Recognizing weakness brings people together. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and share struggles. Themes humility community vulnerability pride faith Mood reflective serious hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - church services - counseling sessions - support groups - personal reflection - friendship building Key Concepts theology psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging personal flaws improve relationships? - What role does humility play in spiritual practice? A Different Perspective Pride can dominate even when intentions are sincere, limiting openness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Sin of pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-of-pride/) ## Related quotes > [The sin of pride is the sin of sins; in which all subsequent sins are included, as in their germ; they are but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-chenevix-trench/the-sin-of-pride-is-the-sin-of-sins-in-which-all-subsequent-sins-are/) [Richard Chenevix Trench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-chenevix-trench/) > [“You came clothed with the virtue of humility; and because God blessed your enterprises accordingly, you have stained yourself with the sin of pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/you-came-clothed-with-the-virtue-of-humility-and-because-god-blessed/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Angela was being reassuring. 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I shouldn’t commit the sin of pride by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-schultz/i-shouldn-t-complain-about-god-s-mercy-to-others-while-thanking-him/) [Teresa Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-schultz/) > [One of the things capitalism does is, it does enhance and exacerbate the sin of pride, making yourself, the material world the center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/one-of-the-things-capitalism-does-is-it-does-enhance-and-exacerbate/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Before we become too arrogant with the most deadly of the seven deadly sins, the sin of pride, let us remember that the two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/before-we-become-too-arrogant-with-the-most-deadly-of-the-seven/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy - the root of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-ask-god-to-give-you-power-to-fight-against-the-sin-of-pride/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sin of pride may be a small or a great thing in someone's life, and hurt vanity a passing pinprick, or a self-destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/the-sin-of-pride-may-be-a-small-or-a-great-thing-in-someone-s-life/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Theologians consider that it was the sin of pride, the sinful thought conceived in an instant: non serviam: I will not serve. That instant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/theologians-consider-that-it-was-the-sin-of-pride-the-sinful-thought/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [No one wrote better about the sin of pride, the corruption of power and the redemption of love. I will miss you, Gabriel García…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-lalami/no-one-wrote-better-about-the-sin-of-pride-the-corruption-of-power/) [Laila Lalami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-lalami/) > [“A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/a-person-who-is-obsessed-with-jesus-knows-that-the-sin-of-pride-is/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [People who parade their holiness are operating dangerously close to the sin of pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-grothe/people-who-parade-their-holiness-are-operating-dangerously-close-to/) [Mardy Grothe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-grothe/) > [There is no arguing with the pretenders to a divine knowledge and to a divine mission. They are possessed with the sin of pride,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/there-is-no-arguing-with-the-pretenders-to-a-divine-knowledge-and-to/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [It's a big mistake to think that your own cause, or your own country, or your own side has God in its corner. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-a-big-mistake-to-think-that-your-own-cause-or-your-own-country/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Part of the sin of Pride is a subtle but deep racism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-p-yohannan/part-of-the-sin-of-pride-is-a-subtle-but-deep-racism/) [K.P. Yohannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-p-yohannan/) ## More by Alain de Botton > [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“He feared that by leaving her he would ruin her life - so he stayed, and did just that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/he-feared-that-by-leaving-her-he-would-ruin-her-life-so-he-stayed-and/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [You have to be quite heavily invested in someone to do them the honour of telling them you're annoyed with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/you-have-to-be-quite-heavily-invested-in-someone-to-do-them-the/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“The Anxiety of Sunday afternoon: your unlived lives and infinite possibility pressing upon the constraints of reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-anxiety-of-sunday-afternoon-your-unlived-lives-and-infinite/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Those who divorce aren't necessarily the most unhappy, just those neatly able to believe their misery is caused by one other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/those-who-divorce-aren-t-necessarily-the-most-unhappy-just-those/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“We could not be fulfilled if we weren't inauthentic some of the time—inauthentic, that is, in relation to such things as our passing desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-could-not-be-fulfilled-if-we-weren-t-inauthentic-some-of-the-time/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Insofar as we appreciate order, it is when we perceive it as being accompanied by complexity, when we feel that a variety of elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/insofar-as-we-appreciate-order-it-is-when-we-perceive-it-as-being/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I like the values associated with a medical family - common sense, being practical but also thoughtful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/i-like-the-values-associated-with-a-medical-family-common-sense-being/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Anyone who urgently needs us deserves, in the true book of love, to be our friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/anyone-who-urgently-needs-us-deserves-in-the-true-book-of-love-to-be/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“We can then recognize that we invented religions to serve two central needs which continue to this day and which secular society has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/we-can-then-recognize-that-we-invented-religions-to-serve-two-central/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [It is perhaps when our lives are at their most problematic that we are likely to be most receptive to beautiful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/it-is-perhaps-when-our-lives-are-at-their-most-problematic-that-we/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Does what is praised becomes better? Does an emerald become worse if it isn't praised? 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You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. 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In our more arrogant moments, the sin of pride – or superbia, in Augustine’s Latin formulation – takes over our personalities and shuts us off from those around us. We become dull to others when all we seek to do is assert how well things are going for us, just as friendship has a chance to grow only when we dare to share what we are afraid of and regret. The rest is merely showmanship. The Mass encourages this sloughing off of pride. The flaws whose exposure we so dread, the indiscretions we know we would be mocked for, the secrets that keep our conversations with our so-called friends superficial and inert – all of these emerge as simply part of the human condition. We have no reason left to dissemble or lie in a building dedicated to honouring the terror and weakness of a man who was nothing like the usual heroes of antiquity, nothing like the fierce soldiers of Rome’s army or the plutocrats of its Senate, and yet who was nevertheless worthy of being crowned the highest of men, the king of kings.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alain de Botton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-mass-to-poverty-sadness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-mass-to-poverty-sadness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/alain-de-botton-221_failure_if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-m_3146552.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/alain-de-botton-221_failure_if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-m_3146552.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aea/alain-de-botton-221_failure_if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-m_3146552.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there are so many references in the Mass to poverty, sadness, failure and loss, it is because the Church…” — Alain de Botton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Alain de Botton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If there are so many references...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-mass-to-poverty-sadness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/if-there-are-so-many-references-in-the-mass-to-poverty-sadness/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```