--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is ever the prior question of plain…" description: "\"There is ever the prior question of plain duty, with which nothing else, however tempting or promising of success, can come into conflict; and such sea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef2/alfred-edersheim-29152_conflict_there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plai_3098650.jpg" --- # There is ever the prior question of plain duty, with which… ![“There is ever the prior question of plain duty, with which nothing else, however tempting or promising of success, can come into conflict; and such seasons may be only those when our faith and patience are put on trial, so as to bring it clearly before us, whether or not, quite irrespective of all…” quote by Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef2/alfred-edersheim-29152_conflict_there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plai_3098650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef2/alfred-edersheim-29152_conflict_there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plai_3098650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef2/alfred-edersheim-29152_conflict_there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plai_3098650.jpg) > “There is ever the prior question of plain duty, with which nothing else, however tempting or promising of success, can come into conflict; and such seasons may be only those when our faith and patience are put on trial, so as to bring it clearly before us, whether or not, quite irrespective of all else, we are content to leave everything in the hands of God.” [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Duty demands obedience to divine will, even when worldly temptations arise, trusting that God’s plan supersedes personal desire. **In simple terms:** Faithful duty outweighs personal ambition. Key Takeaway Prioritize divine purpose over fleeting success. Themes faith obedience trust Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - Mission work - ethical decisions - life crises - career choices Key Concepts Theology Divine providence Moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What does “leaving everything in God's hands” mean for personal responsibility? - When should we question divine directives? A Different Perspective Blind obedience can ignore personal well‑being and moral nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Tempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-tempting-5360118/) [Faith and patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-and-patience/) [Faith Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-patience-393893/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Plain Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plain-duty-5360119/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Tempting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempting/) [Tempting Promising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempting-promising-5360120/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/) ## Related quotes > [Understand that the enemy always fights the hardest when he knows you are closest to your breakthrough. 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Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-riddle/) > [“Love is not about age, or caste, or any definite relation...; it's the ability to see the pain in heart, through the eyes...; feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep-prakash-sdk/love-is-not-about-age-or-caste-or-any-definite-relation-it-s-the/) [Sudeep Prakash Sdk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep-prakash-sdk/) > [ “\[...\] Wondering why white people named girl babies things like Hope and Faith and Patience - names they could never live up to -… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/wondering-why-white-people-named-girl-babies-things-like-hope-and/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Over the past 8 years, I have stripped my life down. I don’t need as much as I thought I did. It was hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/over-the-past-8-years-i-have-stripped-my-life-down-i-don-t-need-as/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [We are on the cusp of the emergence of a company of hidden men and women who with all faith and patience have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-chironna/we-are-on-the-cusp-of-the-emergence-of-a-company-of-hidden-men-and/) [Mark Chironna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-chironna/) > [The obstacles presented to us are not necessarily a challenge of endurance pathed by the cosmic forces, most of the time they are scathed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmina-siderovski/the-obstacles-presented-to-us-are-not-necessarily-a-challenge-of/) [Jasmina Siderovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmina-siderovski/) > [“Man was first a hunter, and an artist: his early vestiges tell us that alone. But he must always have dreamed, and recognized and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-davenport/man-was-first-a-hunter-and-an-artist-his-early-vestiges-tell-us-that/) [Guy Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-davenport/) > [There is nothing which so certifies the genuineness of a man's faith as his patience and his patient endurance, his keeping on steadily in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-nothing-which-so-certifies-the-genuineness-of-a-man-s-faith/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alfred Edersheim > [We cannot understand the meaning of many trials; God does not explain them. To explain a trial would be to destroy its object, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/we-cannot-understand-the-meaning-of-many-trials-god-does-not-explain/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“The hymn,' with which the Paschal Supper ended, had been sung. Probably we are to understand this of the second portion of the Hallel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/the-hymn-with-which-the-paschal-supper-ended-had-been-sung-probably/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [So true is it that all sin is ultimately against the Lord; so bitter is the root of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/so-true-is-it-that-all-sin-is-ultimately-against-the-lord-so-bitter/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“may have been wont to meet the Master. And as such it was known to Judas, and thither he led the armed band, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/may-have-been-wont-to-meet-the-master-and-as-such-it-was-known-to/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [For God to explain a trial would be to destroy its purpose, calling forth simple faith and implicit obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/for-god-to-explain-a-trial-would-be-to-destroy-its-purpose-calling/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [Let me be one of the upward and outward lookers, not one of the downward and inward lookers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/let-me-be-one-of-the-upward-and-outward-lookers-not-one-of-the/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“Indeed, to sacrifice seems as natural to man as to pray; the one indicates what he feels about himself, the other what he feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/indeed-to-sacrifice-seems-as-natural-to-man-as-to-pray-the-one/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [An outward observance without any real inward meaning is only a ceremony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/an-outward-observance-without-any-real-inward-meaning-is-only-a/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“The absolutely highest stage of intercourse with God is the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in the New Testament Church, when man’s individuality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/the-absolutely-highest-stage-of-intercourse-with-god-is-the/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“Judas Iscariot. Without attempting to gaze into the mysterious abyss of the Satanic element in his apostasy, we may trace his course in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/judas-iscariot-without-attempting-to-gaze-into-the-mysterious-abyss/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“So true is it that all sin is ultimately against the Lord; so bitter is the root of self; and so terrible the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/so-true-is-it-that-all-sin-is-ultimately-against-the-lord-so-bitter-2/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [God is the God of the present as well as of the future...even here on earth, He reigneth, dispensing good and evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/god-is-the-god-of-the-present-as-well-as-of-the-future-even-here-on/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“This formation of man from soft clay, and of woman from a hard bone, also illustrated why man was so much more easily reconcilable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/this-formation-of-man-from-soft-clay-and-of-woman-from-a-hard-bone/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [We cannot understand the meaning of many trials; God does not explain them. To explain a trial would be to destroy its object, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/we-cannot-understand-the-meaning-of-many-trials-god-does-not-explain-2/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“Christ is never in haste: least of all, on His errands of love. And He is never in haste, because He is always sure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/christ-is-never-in-haste-least-of-all-on-his-errands-of-love-and-he/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) [Explore all 18 Alfred Edersheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) ## More Conflict quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [There is a conflict in the Middle East between two entities, and they're both right, each in their own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/there-is-a-conflict-in-the-middle-east-between-two-entities-and-they/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Conflict isn't negative, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-crum/conflict-isn-t-negative-it-just-is/) [Thomas Crum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-crum/) > [I have lived in countries that were coming out of conflict: Ireland, South Africa, the Czech republic. People there are overflowing with energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-have-lived-in-countries-that-were-coming-out-of-conflict-ireland/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/) [Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/) > [The irrepressible conflict propounded by abolitionism has produced now its legitimate fruits - disunion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-irrepressible-conflict-propounded-by-abolitionism-has-produced/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [I understand the formula that producers hire directors and directors are hired to direct and actors are hired to act. I don't have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-trejo/i-understand-the-formula-that-producers-hire-directors-and-directors/) [Danny Trejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-trejo/) > [“While there is battle and hatred men have eyes for nothing save the fact that the enemy is the cause of all the troubles;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-butterfield/while-there-is-battle-and-hatred-men-have-eyes-for-nothing-save-the/) [Herbert Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-butterfield/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Browse all 3,969 Conflict quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is ever the prior question of plain duty, with which nothing else, however tempting or promising of success, can come into conflict; and such seasons may be only those when our faith and patience are put on trial, so as to bring it clearly before us, whether or not, quite irrespective of all else, we are content to leave everything in the hands of God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Edersheim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plain-duty-with-which-nothing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conflict" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plain-duty-with-which-nothing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef2/alfred-edersheim-29152_conflict_there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plai_3098650.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef2/alfred-edersheim-29152_conflict_there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plai_3098650.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef2/alfred-edersheim-29152_conflict_there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plai_3098650.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is ever the prior question of plain duty, with which nothing else, however tempting or promising of…” — Alfred Edersheim", "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": "Alfred Edersheim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is ever the prior question...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plain-duty-with-which-nothing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/there-is-ever-the-prior-question-of-plain-duty-with-which-nothing/#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 } } ] } ```