--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might…" description: "\"“The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might say, “There is a time for everything—a time to be laid-back and a time to be outraged; a time to be tolerant a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/brian-d-mclaren-8226_fighting_the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might_127332.jpg" --- # The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might say, “There is a… ![“The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might say, “There is a time for everything—a time to be laid-back and a time to be outraged; a time to be tolerant and a time to stand up and say, ‘I’m not going to take this anymore.’” The challenge for all fighters, of course, is to be sure they find out what is…” quote by Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/brian-d-mclaren-8226_fighting_the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might_127332.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/brian-d-mclaren-8226_fighting_the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might_127332.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/brian-d-mclaren-8226_fighting_the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might_127332.jpg) > ““The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might say, “There is a time for everything—a time to be laid-back and a time to be outraged; a time to be tolerant and a time to stand up and say, ‘I’m not going to take this anymore.’” The challenge for all fighters, of course, is to be sure they find out what is now truly worth fighting against, and then to be sure they have something that is truly worth fighting for.”” [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identify true injustices, then commit to fighting them with purpose and conviction. **In simple terms:** Know what to fight for and why. Key Takeaway Align actions with core values. Themes justice activism values spirituality Mood thoughtful inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal reflection - social movements - community activism Key Concepts moral discernment ethical action Questions to Reflect On - What causes truly merit outrage? - How to balance tolerance and resistance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on anger can alienate allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Fighting Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting-sure-1184580/) [Preacher Ecclesiastes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preacher-ecclesiastes-1469155/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tolerant Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerant-time-1469154/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Worth Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worth-fighting/) ## Related quotes > [As a mother, I always have something better to be doing. I love work still, but I'm less tolerant of my time being wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-crawford/as-a-mother-i-always-have-something-better-to-be-doing-i-love-work/) [Cindy Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-crawford/) > [If fighting is sure to result in victory, then you must fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-fighting-is-sure-to-result-in-victory-then-you-must-fight/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If fighting is sure to result in victory, than you must fight, even though the ruler forbid it; if fighting will not result in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-fighting-is-sure-to-result-in-victory-than-you-must-fight-even/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [When you love someone, it's worth fighting for no matter what the odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-love-someone-it-s-worth-fighting-for-no-matter-what-the-odds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am sure that there are some single payer advocates who think the only thing worth fighting for is single payer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/i-am-sure-that-there-are-some-single-payer-advocates-who-think-the/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [A warrior is always aware of what is worth fighting for. He does not go into combat over things that do not concern him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/a-warrior-is-always-aware-of-what-is-worth-fighting-for-he-does-not/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Sometimes in life people are worth fighting for and those that are you will feel in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-buckmaster/sometimes-in-life-people-are-worth-fighting-for-and-those-that-are/) [Natasha Buckmaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-buckmaster/) > [“Sometimes love is worth fighting for. And if you don’t fight for it, then it slips through your fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-hahn/sometimes-love-is-worth-fighting-for-and-if-you-don-t-fight-for-it/) [Chanda Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-hahn/) > [Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings. Dedicate yourself. Anything you truly want must be worth fighting for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/intelligence-without-ambition-is-a-bird-without-wings-dedicate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They say true love is worth fighting for, but if its true love..why do you have to fight for it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/they-say-true-love-is-worth-fighting-for-but-if-its-true-love-why-do/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“I study the chessboard and concede defeat. "You can gain yourself in five moves" says the Colonel. "Worth fighting to the end. In five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-study-the-chessboard-and-concede-defeat-you-can-gain-yourself-in/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Why does the world have to start ending when I finally found something worth fighting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-zanetti/why-does-the-world-have-to-start-ending-when-i-finally-found/) [Rebecca Zanetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-zanetti/) > [“I won’t break your heart. For the first time in my life, I’ve found something worth fighting for, someone more important than me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelle-bliss/i-won-t-break-your-heart-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-ve-found/) [Chelle Bliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelle-bliss/) > [Sometimes couple have to argue not to prove what is right or wrong but to be reminded that there love is worth fighting for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-nwakama/sometimes-couple-have-to-argue-not-to-prove-what-is-right-or-wrong/) [Anne Nwakama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-nwakama/) ## More by Brian D. McLaren > [I love writers who are insightful enough to be cynical but choose not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-love-writers-who-are-insightful-enough-to-be-cynical-but-choose-not/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“I have a confession to make.121 Almost every time I tune in to religious radio or TV, I want to change my religion. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-have-a-confession-to-make-121-almost-every-time-i-tune-in-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“If, for you, orthodox means finally “getting it right” or “getting it straight,” mine is a pretty disappointing, curvy orthodoxy. But if, for you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/if-for-you-orthodox-means-finally-getting-it-right-or-getting-it/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [That in itself is an act of peacemaking, because we're seeking to align our wills with God's will, our dreams with God's dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/that-in-itself-is-an-act-of-peacemaking-because-we-re-seeking-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [Since I was introduced to the practice of God's presence, which in turn led me into the contemplative way, I have nearly always felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/since-i-was-introduced-to-the-practice-of-god-s-presence-which-in/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“There’s a lot of dirty theology out there, the religious counterpart to dirty politics and dirty business, I suppose. You might call it spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/there-s-a-lot-of-dirty-theology-out-there-the-religious-counterpart/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“For me, Carol, we can't be faithful to God unless we're faithful to the facts, faithful to the data if you will. And so,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/for-me-carol-we-can-t-be-faithful-to-god-unless-we-re-faithful-to-the/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [The scarily brilliant Romantic poet and visionary William Blake dared to say what many of us have perhaps thought but kept to ourselves: “A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/the-scarily-brilliant-romantic-poet-and-visionary-william-blake-dared/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“A generous orthodoxy is like that. It acknowledges that we’re all a mess. It sees in our worst failures the possibility of our deepest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/a-generous-orthodoxy-is-like-that-it-acknowledges-that-we-re-all-a/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“Why is it that the choice among churches always seems to be the choice between intelligence on ice and ignorance on fire? —as quoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/why-is-it-that-the-choice-among-churches-always-seems-to-be-the-2/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“globalism (for better or worse) transforms personal and ethnic identities, creating hyphenated and cosmopolitan identities—in which people consider themselves first and foremost citizens of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/globalism-for-better-or-worse-transforms-personal-and-ethnic/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [We must never underestimate our power to be wrong when talking about God, when thinking about God, when imagining God, whether in prose or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/we-must-never-underestimate-our-power-to-be-wrong-when-talking-about/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“We must, therefore, never underestimate our power to be wrong when talking about God, when thinking about God, when imagining God—whether in prose or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/we-must-therefore-never-underestimate-our-power-to-be-wrong-when/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [You know what, the thing that breaks my heart is that there's no way I can answer it without hurting someone on either side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/you-know-what-the-thing-that-breaks-my-heart-is-that-there-s-no-way-i/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“This is a book about getting naked—not physically, but spiritually. It’s about stripping away the symbols and status of public religion—the Sunday-dress version people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/this-is-a-book-about-getting-naked-not-physically-but-spiritually-it/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) [Explore all 82 Brian D. McLaren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) ## More Fighting quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“I bet she thought she was getting into a fight with a vanilla wafer on roller skates but little did she know she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-bet-she-thought-she-was-getting-into-a-fight-with-a-vanilla-wafer/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [You have to fight gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-wine/you-have-to-fight-gravity/) [Sherwin Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-wine/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [Well, He had known what love was-a sharp pang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he was struggling! but, through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/well-he-had-known-what-love-was-a-sharp-pang-a-fierce-experience-in/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sort of interesting that in our society this days we are very quick to apply the term 'war' to places where thare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/it-is-sort-of-interesting-that-in-our-society-this-days-we-are-very/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [The devil has been defeated, stop trying to defeat him. What we have left is the fight of faith, and it's a good fight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/the-devil-has-been-defeated-stop-trying-to-defeat-him-what-we-have/) [Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/) > [There comes a time when you're losing a fight that it just doesn't make sense to keep on fighting. It's not that you're being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paul-curtis/there-comes-a-time-when-you-re-losing-a-fight-that-it-just-doesn-t/) [Christopher Paul Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paul-curtis/) [Browse all 13,685 Fighting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might say, “There is a time for everything—a time to be laid-back and a time to be outraged; a time to be tolerant and a time to stand up and say, ‘I’m not going to take this anymore.’” The challenge for all fighters, of course, is to be sure they find out what is now truly worth fighting against, and then to be sure they have something that is truly worth fighting for.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian D. McLaren" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might-say-there-is-a-time-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fighting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might-say-there-is-a-time-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/brian-d-mclaren-8226_fighting_the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might_127332.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/brian-d-mclaren-8226_fighting_the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might_127332.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/brian-d-mclaren-8226_fighting_the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might_127332.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might say, “There is a time for everything—a time to be laid-back and a…” — Brian D. McLaren", "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": "Brian D. McLaren", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might-say-there-is-a-time-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might-say-there-is-a-time-for/#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 } } ] } ```