--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He made a pit and digged it. He was…" description: "\"“He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans and industrious in his labors. He stooped to the dirty work of digging. He did not fear to so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_calumny_he-made-a-pit-and-digged-it-he-was-cunni_92872.jpg" --- # He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans… ![“He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans and industrious in his labors. He stooped to the dirty work of digging. He did not fear to soil his own hands. He was willing to work in a ditch if others might fall therein. What mean things men will do to wreak revenge on the godly. They…” quote by Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_calumny_he-made-a-pit-and-digged-it-he-was-cunni_92872.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_calumny_he-made-a-pit-and-digged-it-he-was-cunni_92872.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b1/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_calumny_he-made-a-pit-and-digged-it-he-was-cunni_92872.jpg) > ““He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans and industrious in his labors. He stooped to the dirty work of digging. He did not fear to soil his own hands. He was willing to work in a ditch if others might fall therein. What mean things men will do to wreak revenge on the godly. They hunt for good men as if they were brute beasts - they that will not give them the fair chase afforded to the hare or the fox, but must secretly entrap them because they can neither run them down nor shoot them down. Our enemies will not meet us to the face for they fear us as much as they pretend to despise us. But let us look on to the end of the scene. The verse says he has fallen into the ditch that he has made. Ah, there he is. Let us laugh at his disappointment. Lo, he is himself the beast. He has hunted his own soul. The chase has brought him a goodly victim. So should it ever be.”” [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A cautionary tale of a schemer who becomes his own victim, illustrating that malicious intent ultimately self‑destructs. **In simple terms:** Self‑destruction of malice Key Takeaway Evil traps its maker Themes revenge hubris justice self‑sabotage morality Mood grim cautionary sober Type parable aphorism When to use this quote - political intrigue - personal betrayal - ethical downfall Key Concepts karma retribution human nature Practical Applications - moral teaching - literary allegory Questions to Reflect On - How does the metaphor of digging a ditch deepen the moral point? - Can malicious actions ever be justified? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-persecution/) [Dirty work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-work/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Gossip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gossip/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Slander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slander/) [Wickedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wickedness/) ## Related quotes > [ “No innocence can shield a man from the calumnies of the wicked. \[...\] As a shadow follows its substance, so envy pursues goodness. It… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/no-innocence-can-shield-a-man-from-the-calumnies-of-the-wicked-as-a/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [But Jesus wanted the crowd to know, look, 'John's (the baptist) the one who got this whole thing started.' In verse ten He says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/but-jesus-wanted-the-crowd-to-know-look-john-s-the-baptist-the-one/) [Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/) > [“In my own academic field, it is much easier to get a doctorate in biblical studies if you do a relentlessly left-brain analysis of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/in-my-own-academic-field-it-is-much-easier-to-get-a-doctorate-in/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [In her verse, she says: 'It's me and Karol G, and we let the rats talk.' I died, I revived, I died and revived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karol-g/in-her-verse-she-says-it-s-me-and-karol-g-and-we-let-the-rats-talk-i/) [Karol G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karol-g/) > [“The central ideas of Christianity — an angry God and vicarious atonement — are contrary to every fact in nature, as also to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/the-central-ideas-of-christianity-an-angry-god-and-vicarious/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [Stereotypes involving Christian identity, Christian persecution is so far back in history now that no one fears it being revived, unless you live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-easterbrook/stereotypes-involving-christian-identity-christian-persecution-is-so/) [Gregg Easterbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-easterbrook/) > [The sole purpose and effect of it is to exclude persecution and to secure the important right of religious liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/the-sole-purpose-and-effect-of-it-is-to-exclude-persecution-and-to/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [“It is unjust, but only Christlike, to suffer persecution for doing what is right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/it-is-unjust-but-only-christlike-to-suffer-persecution-for-doing-what/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [Does anyone know... does the Christian persecution complex have an expiration date? Because... uh... you've all been in charge pretty much since... uh... what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/does-anyone-know-does-the-christian-persecution-complex-have-an/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I support, defend, and admire prostitutes, gay or straight. They do important and necessary work, whether moralists of the Left and Right like it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-support-defend-and-admire-prostitutes-gay-or-straight-they-do/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Systems of religious error have been adopted in times of ignorance. It has been the interest of tyrannical kings, popes, and prelates to maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-ellsworth/systems-of-religious-error-have-been-adopted-in-times-of-ignorance-it/) [Oliver Ellsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-ellsworth/) > [Holocaust Museum said ISIS has carried out genocide against the Yazidis, but its investigation did not cover Christian persecution. Now there's concern the U.S.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/holocaust-museum-said-isis-has-carried-out-genocide-against-the/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [The actual point in question, throughout the centuries of Christian persecution, has never been faith in God, but faith in the Bible as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-actual-point-in-question-throughout-the-centuries-of-christian/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [It shouldn't be difficult, then, to make the transposition at this point into the early Christian vision of Jesus and the Spirit and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-shouldn-t-be-difficult-then-to-make-the-transposition-at-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Charles H. Spurgeon > [“Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/begin-as-you-mean-to-go-on-and-go-on-as-you-began-and-let-the-lord-be/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The man who talks about his experience as a Christian, who never does anything for Christ, is, I am afraid, only an idle dreamer.”–1894,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-man-who-talks-about-his-experience-as-a-christian-who-never-does/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-blood-of-jesus-christ-is-as-blessed-and-divine-a-payment-for-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“A certain man placed a fountain by the wayside, and he hung up a cup near to it by a little chain. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/a-certain-man-placed-a-fountain-by-the-wayside-and-he-hung-up-a-cup/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The roar of the sea may be joyous to a rejoicing spirit, but to the son of sorrow the wide, wide ocean is even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-roar-of-the-sea-may-be-joyous-to-a-rejoicing-spirit-but-to-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Beloved, no sin of a believer can now be an arrow mortally to wound him, no condemnation can now be a sword to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/beloved-no-sin-of-a-believer-can-now-be-an-arrow-mortally-to-wound/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The greatest of human actions will appear to be insignificant when we come to die, and especially those upon which men most pride themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-greatest-of-human-actions-will-appear-to-be-insignificant-when-we/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Paul saith, 'Not of works, lest any man should boast.' Now, faith excludes all boasting. The hand which receives charity does not say, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/paul-saith-not-of-works-lest-any-man-should-boast-now-faith-excludes/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The Lord's mercy often rides to the door of our hearts on the black horse of affliction. Jesus uses the whole range of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-lord-s-mercy-often-rides-to-the-door-of-our-hearts-on-the-black/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Patience is the fair handmaid and daughter of faith; we cheerfully wait when we are certain that we shall not wait in vain. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/patience-is-the-fair-handmaid-and-daughter-of-faith-we-cheerfully/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences: salvation is all of the grace of God; damnation is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/you-will-find-all-true-theology-summed-up-in-these-two-short/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Young gentlemen whose whiskers have not yet developed are authoritatively deciding that nothing can be decided, and dogmatically denouncing all dogmas. We meet them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/young-gentlemen-whose-whiskers-have-not-yet-developed-are/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Now, the more holy a man gets the more he cries in this fashion. While he is low down in the scale, he puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/now-the-more-holy-a-man-gets-the-more-he-cries-in-this-fashion-while/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Arise, believer, and behold the Lord Jesus yoking the whole of his divine Godhead to the chariot of salvation! How vast his grace, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/arise-believer-and-behold-the-lord-jesus-yoking-the-whole-of-his/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match which would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/as-a-general-principle-if-we-would-exercise-our-memories-more-wisely/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) [Explore all 241 Charles H. Spurgeon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) ## More Calumny quotes > [No matter how valuable you are and your ideas, fools will certainly play both of you down, so exclude yourselves from the inflammatory environs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/no-matter-how-valuable-you-are-and-your-ideas-fools-will-certainly/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I do not want to see the Republican party ride to political victory on the Four Horsemen of Calumny-fear, ignorance, bigotry and smear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-chase-smith/i-do-not-want-to-see-the-republican-party-ride-to-political-victory/) [Margaret Chase Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-chase-smith/) > [“Majority of people prefer a good name to a bad name, but to me, anyone can call me anything, as long as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/majority-of-people-prefer-a-good-name-to-a-bad-name-but-to-me-anyone/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I never think it necessary to repeat calumnies; they are sparks, which, if you do not blow them, will go out of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-boerhaave/i-never-think-it-necessary-to-repeat-calumnies-they-are-sparks-which/) [Herman Boerhaave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-boerhaave/) > [Something of calumny always sticks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/something-of-calumny-always-sticks/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Our credulity is greatest concerning the things we know least about. And since we know least about ourselves, we are ready to believe all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-credulity-is-greatest-concerning-the-things-we-know-least-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He has outsoared the shadow of our night; envy and calumny and hate and pain, and that unrest which men miscall delight, can touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/he-has-outsoared-the-shadow-of-our-night-envy-and-calumny-and-hate/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [After upwards of two thousand years Epicurus has been exonerated from the reproach that the doctrines of his philosophy recommended the pleasures of sensuality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-benton-clulow/after-upwards-of-two-thousand-years-epicurus-has-been-exonerated-from/) [William Benton Clulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-benton-clulow/) > [“Saint John of the Ladder explains it thus: "The devil tempts us to commit sin; and when he does not succeed, he points scornfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fr-belet/saint-john-of-the-ladder-explains-it-thus-the-devil-tempts-us-to/) Fr. Belet > [Mobs may assemble, calumny may defame, but the work of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/mobs-may-assemble-calumny-may-defame-but-the-work-of-god-will-go/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [A man calumniated is doubly injured -- first by him who utters the calumny, and then by him who believes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herodotus/a-man-calumniated-is-doubly-injured-first-by-him-who-utters-the/) [Herodotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herodotus/) > [Christ taught us truth; the Devil teaches us falsehood, and strives in every way to contradict every truth; devising various calumnies against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/christ-taught-us-truth-the-devil-teaches-us-falsehood-and-strives-in/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [But silence never shows itself to so great an advantage, as when it is made the reply to calumny and defamation, provided that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/but-silence-never-shows-itself-to-so-great-an-advantage-as-when-it-is/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [There is something mean in human nature that prefers to think evil, that gives a willing ear and a ready welcome to calumny, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-le-gallienne/there-is-something-mean-in-human-nature-that-prefers-to-think-evil/) [Richard Le Gallienne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-le-gallienne/) > [“Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-thou-as-chaste-as-ice-as-pure-as-snow-thou-shalt-not-escape-calumny/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) Browse all 94 Calumny quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans and industrious in his labors. He stooped to the dirty work of digging. He did not fear to soil his own hands. He was willing to work in a ditch if others might fall therein. What mean things men will do to wreak revenge on the godly. They hunt for good men as if they were brute beasts - they that will not give them the fair chase afforded to the hare or the fox, but must secretly entrap them because they can neither run them down nor shoot them down. Our enemies will not meet us to the face for they fear us as much as they pretend to despise us. But let us look on to the end of the scene. The verse says he has fallen into the ditch that he has made. Ah, there he is. Let us laugh at his disappointment. Lo, he is himself the beast. He has hunted his own soul. The chase has brought him a goodly victim. So should it ever be.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles H. 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