--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Behold a tree. Does it not speak to us…" description: "\"Behold a tree. Does it not speak to us thusly: 'Don't you see that God is not working himself into a frenzy in me? I am calmly, quietly, silently pouri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/clarence-jordan-31516_doe_behold-a-tree-does-it-not-speak-to-us-th_1978478.jpg" --- # Behold a tree. Does it not speak to us thusly: 'Don't you… ![“Behold a tree. Does it not speak to us thusly: 'Don't you see that God is not working himself into a frenzy in me? I am calmly, quietly, silently pouring forth my life and bringing forth fruit. Do thou likewise.'” quote by Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/clarence-jordan-31516_doe_behold-a-tree-does-it-not-speak-to-us-th_1978478.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/clarence-jordan-31516_doe_behold-a-tree-does-it-not-speak-to-us-th_1978478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/910/clarence-jordan-31516_doe_behold-a-tree-does-it-not-speak-to-us-th_1978478.jpg) > “Behold a tree. Does it not speak to us thusly: 'Don't you see that God is not working himself into a frenzy in me? I am calmly, quietly, silently pouring forth my life and bringing forth fruit. Do thou likewise.'” [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uses a tree metaphor to illustrate divine calmness and fruitfulness, urging humans to emulate quiet service. **In simple terms:** Encourages peaceful, productive living. Key Takeaway Live calmly and bear fruit like the tree. Themes spirituality nature service Mood contemplative inspirational Type religious philosophical When to use this quote - personal meditation - environmental stewardship - community service - spiritual teaching Key Concepts metaphor divine humility personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How can quiet strength influence active change? - What does “fruit” represent in personal goals? A Different Perspective May be seen as overly passive in urgent contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [“Man doth usurp all space, Stares thee, in rock, bush, river, in the face. Never thine eyes behold a tree; 'Tis no sea thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sutton/man-doth-usurp-all-space-stares-thee-in-rock-bush-river-in-the-face/) Henry Sutton > [God loves the world. Go thou and do likewise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/god-loves-the-world-go-thou-and-do-likewise/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Rise, heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing His praise Without delays, Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise With Him mayst rise:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/rise-heart-thy-lord-is-risen-sing-his-praise-without-delays-who-takes/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [So may'st thou live, till like ripe fruit thou drop Into thy mother's lap, or be with ease Gathered, not harshly plucked, for death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-may-st-thou-live-till-like-ripe-fruit-thou-drop-into-thy-mother-s-2/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Have I no harvest but a thorn To let me bloud, and not restore What I have lost with cordiall fruit? Sure there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/have-i-no-harvest-but-a-thorn-to-let-me-bloud-and-not-restore-what-i/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [So may'st thou live, till like ripe fruit thou drop Into thy mother's lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/so-may-st-thou-live-till-like-ripe-fruit-thou-drop-into-thy-mother-s/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The frenzy of nations is the statesmanship of fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-frenzy-of-nations-is-the-statesmanship-of-fate/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The Democratic Party hasn't whipped anybody into a frenzy. The assumption is that the people that are marching and protesting and standing up against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/the-democratic-party-hasn-t-whipped-anybody-into-a-frenzy-the/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Whats a gonzotic frenzy? Well its me in the throes of an ink splattering attempt to capture the feeling I have at that particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-steadman/whats-a-gonzotic-frenzy-well-its-me-in-the-throes-of-an-ink/) [Ralph Steadman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-steadman/) > [For a lot of young girls, the media frenzy and the social media challenges becomes so overwhelming that maybe they don't go to inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-foudy/for-a-lot-of-young-girls-the-media-frenzy-and-the-social-media/) [Julie Foudy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-foudy/) > [You know how ESPN works; they'll throw themselves into a frenzy over Tebow's white bread lame ass niceness and then vilify Johnny Football just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/you-know-how-espn-works-they-ll-throw-themselves-into-a-frenzy-over/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [What frenzy dictates, jealousy believes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gay/what-frenzy-dictates-jealousy-believes/) [John Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gay/) > [“The mass communications that could enable our politics for good have instead turned it into a bland conglomeration of stinted opinion cloaked in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-mass-communications-that-could-enable-our-politics-for-good-have/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [So many people are on the front lines of this fossil fuel frenzy. It is infused with a sense of urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-lewis/so-many-people-are-on-the-front-lines-of-this-fossil-fuel-frenzy-it/) [Avi Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-lewis/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) ## More by Clarence Jordan > [God will seek us -- how long? Until he finds us. And when he's found the last little shriveling rebellious soul and has depopulated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/god-will-seek-us-how-long-until-he-finds-us-and-when-he-s-found-the/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [Fear is the polio of the soul. Faith is the life based on unseen realities; it is the word become flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/fear-is-the-polio-of-the-soul-faith-is-the-life-based-on-unseen/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [Now faith is the turning of dreams into deeds. It is betting your life on the unseen realities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/now-faith-is-the-turning-of-dreams-into-deeds-it-is-betting-your-life/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but coworkers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/what-the-poor-need-is-not-charity-but-capital-not-caseworkers-but/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [Fear is the polio of the soul which prevents our walking by faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/fear-is-the-polio-of-the-soul-which-prevents-our-walking-by-faith/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [The measure of a Christian is not in the height of his grasp but in the depth of his love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/the-measure-of-a-christian-is-not-in-the-height-of-his-grasp-but-in/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [God is not a celestial prison warden jangling the keys on a bunch of lifers--he's a shepherd seeking for sheep, a woman searching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/god-is-not-a-celestial-prison-warden-jangling-the-keys-on-a-bunch-of/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [Even though people about us choose the path of hate and violence and warfare and greed and prejudice, we who are Christ's body must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/even-though-people-about-us-choose-the-path-of-hate-and-violence-and/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [What the poor need is not charity, but capital, not caseworkers but coworkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/what-the-poor-need-is-not-charity-but-capital-not-caseworkers-but-2/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [The crowning evidence that Jesus was alive was not a vacant grave, but a spirit-filled fellowship. Not a rolled away stone, but a carried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/the-crowning-evidence-that-jesus-was-alive-was-not-a-vacant-grave-but/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [The resurrection of Jesus was simply God's unwillingness to take our 'no' for an answer. He raised Jesus, not as an invitation to us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/the-resurrection-of-jesus-was-simply-god-s-unwillingness-to-take-our/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [Wars are generally fought for material things; they're not fought over ideals. After we get into them, we are told we are fighting for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/wars-are-generally-fought-for-material-things-they-re-not-fought-over/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [One wonders why Christians today get off so easily. Is it because unchristian Americans are that much better than unchristian Romans, or is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/one-wonders-why-christians-today-get-off-so-easily-is-it-because/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [The crowning evidence that he lives is not a vacant grave, but a spirit-filled fellowship. Not a rolled-away stone, but a carried-away church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/the-crowning-evidence-that-he-lives-is-not-a-vacant-grave-but-a/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) > [Faith is not belief in spite of evidence but a life in scorn of the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-jordan/faith-is-not-belief-in-spite-of-evidence-but-a-life-in-scorn-of-the/) [Clarence Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) [Explore all 16 Clarence Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-jordan/) ## More Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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