---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The saint endeavors to recover a gift…"
description: "\"The saint endeavors to recover a gift which he has lost; the sinner tries to obtain something which was never his. In brief, he repeats the Fall.\" — Ar..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/arthur-machen-11940_endeavor_the-saint-endeavors-to-recover-a-gift-wh_90345.jpg"
---

#  The saint endeavors to recover a gift which he has lost…

![“The saint endeavors to recover a gift which he has lost; the sinner tries to obtain something which was never his. In brief, he repeats the Fall.” quote by Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/arthur-machen-11940_endeavor_the-saint-endeavors-to-recover-a-gift-wh_90345.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/arthur-machen-11940_endeavor_the-saint-endeavors-to-recover-a-gift-wh_90345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/arthur-machen-11940_endeavor_the-saint-endeavors-to-recover-a-gift-wh_90345.jpg)

> “The saint endeavors to recover a gift which he has lost; the sinner tries to obtain something which was never his. In brief, he repeats the Fall.”

[Arthur Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-machen/)

## About This Quote

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

The saint seeks to regain a lost divine gift, while the sinner pursues an unattainable, illicit desire, echoing the original transgression.

**In simple terms:** Contrast between redemption and overreach

Key Takeaway

Self‑knowledge versus illusion

Themes

redemption hubris spiritual loss human nature mythology

Mood

solemn reflective melancholic

Type

aphorism philosophical

When to use this quote

- theological reflection
- literary analysis
- personal crisis
- ethical debate

Key Concepts

the Fall gift of grace sinful ambition

Practical Applications

- spiritual counseling
- philosophical essays

Questions to Reflect On

- What does it mean to recover what was once given?
- How does striving for the unattainable repeat past errors?

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[Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/)

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