--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We ought to give thanks for all fortune…" description: "\"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility, contempt of this world a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_christian-thanksgivi_we-ought-to-give-thanks-for-all-fortune_2958657.png" --- # We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good… ![“We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility, contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.” quote by C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_christian-thanksgivi_we-ought-to-give-thanks-for-all-fortune_2958657.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_christian-thanksgivi_we-ought-to-give-thanks-for-all-fortune_2958657.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/047/c-s-lewis-2-132_christian-thanksgivi_we-ought-to-give-thanks-for-all-fortune_2958657.png) > “We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility, contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.” [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude transforms both good and bad experiences into growth, fostering patience, humility, and hope in eternity. **In simple terms:** Thankfulness turns all fortunes into lessons. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude in every circumstance. Themes gratitude patience humility Mood thoughtful hopeful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - daily journaling - adversity coping - spiritual practice Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does gratitude change your view of hardship? - What practices help you stay humble? A Different Perspective May overlook the complexity of suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-thanksgiving/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fortune Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune-good-767367/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-thanks-4495425/) [Patience Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-humility-1124254/) [Thankfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankfulness/) [Thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks/) [Thanks Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanks-fortune-4495424/) [Thanksgiving christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-christian/) [This world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-world/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [We ought to give thanks for all fortune: it is is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cs-lewis/we-ought-to-give-thanks-for-all-fortune-it-is-is-good-because-it-is/) [CS Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cs-lewis/) > [WHEREAS it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/whereas-it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/it-must-be-an-odd-feeling-to-be-thankful-to-nobody-in-particular/) [Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/) > [Houses of Congress have . . . requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/houses-of-congress-have-requested-me-to-recommend-to-the-people-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Thou that hast given so much to me give me one thing more, a grateful heart: not thankful when it pleaseth me, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/thou-that-hast-given-so-much-to-me-give-me-one-thing-more-a-grateful/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-have-been-the-recipients-of-the-choicest-bounties-of-heaven-we-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/what-we-re-really-talking-about-is-a-wonderful-day-set-aside-on-the/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/how-can-god-entrust-great-things-to-one-who-will-not-thankfully/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/gratitude-as-a-discipline-involves-a-conscious-choice-i-can-choose-to/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [But see, in our open clearings, how golden the melons lie; Enrich them with sweets and spices, and give us the pumpkin-pie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-junkin-preston/but-see-in-our-open-clearings-how-golden-the-melons-lie-enrich-them/) [Margaret Junkin Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-junkin-preston/) > [You know that just before that first Thanksgiving dinner there was one wise, old Native American woman saying, Don't feed them. If you feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-brody/you-know-that-just-before-that-first-thanksgiving-dinner-there-was/) [Dylan Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-brody/) > [A sensible thanksgiving for mercies received is a mighty prayer in the Spirit of God. It prevails with Him unspeakably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-sensible-thanksgiving-for-mercies-received-is-a-mighty-prayer-in/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence-of-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Foolish talking and jesting are not the ways in which Christian cheerfulness should express itself, but rather "giving of thanks" (Eph. 5:4). Religion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/foolish-talking-and-jesting-are-not-the-ways-in-which-christian/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [I can choose to grateful when I am criticized, even when my heart still responds in bitterness. I can choose to speak about goodness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-can-choose-to-grateful-when-i-am-criticized-even-when-my-heart/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) ## More by C. S. Lewis > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Either Jesus is the Son of God ; or a madman or worse. But His being just a great teacher? He's not left that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/either-jesus-is-the-son-of-god-or-a-madman-or-worse-but-his-being/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [To every soul, God will look like its first love because He IS its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/to-every-soul-god-will-look-like-its-first-love-because-he-is-its/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Don't you understand anything? Isn't it absolutely essential to keep a fierce Left and a fierce Right, both on their toes and each terrified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/don-t-you-understand-anything-isn-t-it-absolutely-essential-to-keep-a/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“Really great moral teachers never do introduce new moralities: it is quacks and cranks who do that. As”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/really-great-moral-teachers-never-do-introduce-new-moralities-it-is/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“When He died in the Wounded World He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/when-he-died-in-the-wounded-world-he-died-not-for-men-but-for-each/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If a man is going to write on chemistry, he learns chemistry. The same is true of Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/if-a-man-is-going-to-write-on-chemistry-he-learns-chemistry-the-same/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-first-fact-in-the-history-of-christendom-is-a-number-of-people/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I#pray because the need flows out of me all the time-walking and sleeping. It does not change # God - it changes me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/i-pray-because-the-need-flows-out-of-me-all-the-time-walking-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/are-the-gods-not-just-oh-no-child-what-would-become-us-us-if-they-were/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Love is more than an emotion, it is a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/love-is-more-than-an-emotion-it-is-a-decision/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Ink is the great cure for all human ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/ink-is-the-great-cure-for-all-human-ills/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/a-man-may-have-to-die-for-our-country-but-no-man-must-in-any/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [War creates no absolutely new situation: it simply aggravates the permanent human situation so that we can no longer ignore it. Human life has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/war-creates-no-absolutely-new-situation-it-simply-aggravates-the/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Explore all 1,190 C. S. Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) ## More Christian thanksgiving quotes > [WHEREAS it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/whereas-it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Foolish talking and jesting are not the ways in which Christian cheerfulness should express itself, but rather "giving of thanks" (Eph. 5:4). Religion is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/foolish-talking-and-jesting-are-not-the-ways-in-which-christian/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-the-duty-of-all-nations-to-acknowledge-the-providence-of-2/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/to-be-grateful-is-to-recognize-the-love-of-god-in-everything/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [A sensible thanksgiving for mercies received is a mighty prayer in the Spirit of God. It prevails with Him unspeakably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-sensible-thanksgiving-for-mercies-received-is-a-mighty-prayer-in/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [You know that just before that first Thanksgiving dinner there was one wise, old Native American woman saying, Don't feed them. If you feed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-brody/you-know-that-just-before-that-first-thanksgiving-dinner-there-was/) [Dylan Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-brody/) > [But see, in our open clearings, how golden the melons lie; Enrich them with sweets and spices, and give us the pumpkin-pie!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-junkin-preston/but-see-in-our-open-clearings-how-golden-the-melons-lie-enrich-them/) [Margaret Junkin Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-junkin-preston/) > [Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/gratitude-as-a-discipline-involves-a-conscious-choice-i-can-choose-to/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/how-can-god-entrust-great-things-to-one-who-will-not-thankfully/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/what-we-re-really-talking-about-is-a-wonderful-day-set-aside-on-the/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-have-been-the-recipients-of-the-choicest-bounties-of-heaven-we-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Thou that hast given so much to me give me one thing more, a grateful heart: not thankful when it pleaseth me, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/thou-that-hast-given-so-much-to-me-give-me-one-thing-more-a-grateful/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-can-turn-a-meal-into-a-feast/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Houses of Congress have . . . requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/houses-of-congress-have-requested-me-to-recommend-to-the-people-of/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-plantinga/it-must-be-an-odd-feeling-to-be-thankful-to-nobody-in-particular/) [Cornelius Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-plantinga/) [Browse all 17 Christian thanksgiving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-thanksgiving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good; if bad, because it works in us patience, humility, contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "C. S. 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