--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this world, we walk beneath a sun that…" description: "\"“In this world, we walk beneath a sun that has spots on it, and we do so with no conflict of conscience over the matter. Similarly, where is the human ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/desmond-ford-14966_conscience_in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that_1623803.jpg" --- # In this world, we walk beneath a sun that has spots on it… ![“In this world, we walk beneath a sun that has spots on it, and we do so with no conflict of conscience over the matter. Similarly, where is the human organization that is free from defect, or the church that is infallible in faith or practice? It does not, and never will, exist in this life.” quote by Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/desmond-ford-14966_conscience_in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that_1623803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/desmond-ford-14966_conscience_in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that_1623803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/desmond-ford-14966_conscience_in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that_1623803.jpg) > ““In this world, we walk beneath a sun that has spots on it, and we do so with no conflict of conscience over the matter. Similarly, where is the human organization that is free from defect, or the church that is infallible in faith or practice? It does not, and never will, exist in this life.”” [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. No human institution is flawless; imperfections are inevitable. **In simple terms:** All organizations have flaws. Key Takeaway Accept imperfection and focus on improvement. Themes imperfection humanity faith institution Mood reflective critical Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church leadership - ethical decision making - personal growth - social reform Key Concepts theology philosophy organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance idealism with realism? - What role does humility play in institutions? A Different Perspective Idealizing perfection can hinder realistic progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church Infallible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-infallible-308938/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Defect Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defect-church-308937/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Infallible Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infallible-faith-308939/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [Clearly the person who accepts the Church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the Church teaches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/clearly-the-person-who-accepts-the-church-as-an-infallible-guide-will/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Whoever knows and fears God has conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/whoever-knows-and-fears-god-has-conscience/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/mirthfulness-is-in-the-mind-and-you-cannot-get-it-out-it-is-just-as/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/) [Boethius D. 524](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius-d-524/) > [A clear conscience is the softest pillow in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/a-clear-conscience-is-the-softest-pillow-in-the-world/) [N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/) > [A clere conscience is a sure carde.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/a-clere-conscience-is-a-sure-carde/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More by Desmond Ford > [“As we travel along through life's pilgrimage, our feet become soiled by our failures and mistakes. We do not need to go and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/as-we-travel-along-through-life-s-pilgrimage-our-feet-become-soiled/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“True religion, according to Romans, is about faith, hope, love; about the cross of Christ, and the love of God. It is about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/true-religion-according-to-romans-is-about-faith-hope-love-about-the/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Sanctification only begins our being made like our Lord Jesus Christ. It is never complete in this life. There is no perfect Christian, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/sanctification-only-begins-our-being-made-like-our-lord-jesus-christ/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Romans is the only book in the Bible that systematically tells us of the plan of salvation. The only book. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-is-the-only-book-in-the-bible-that-systematically-tells-us-of/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is the knowledge that God is mine and I am his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-keep-me-from-sin-is-the/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Romans was written by the chief theologian of Scripture, the apostle Paul. Jesus made the atonement, but Paul explained it. The atonement couldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-was-written-by-the-chief-theologian-of-scripture-the-apostle/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Only when we know that God accepts us can we accept ourselves, and only as we accept ourselves can we accept others. The power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/only-when-we-know-that-god-accepts-us-can-we-accept-ourselves-and/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“True religion is the union of the heart with God that brings an overflow to our relationship with other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/true-religion-is-the-union-of-the-heart-with-god-that-brings-an/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“The prophetic word is not intended as a minute history written in advance, but as a symbolic portrayal of what Christ has already done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-prophetic-word-is-not-intended-as-a-minute-history-written-in/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“It is fashionable to avoid talking of the wrath of God. Karl Barth for years neglected the theme and likewise most contemporary theologians. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/it-is-fashionable-to-avoid-talking-of-the-wrath-of-god-karl-barth-for/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Romans 3:21-26 are the most important verses in the Bible. They reveal that God has provided for our salvation in the cross of Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-3-21-26-are-the-most-important-verses-in-the-bible-they-reveal/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“It seems to me that God cannot bless us individually or as a church unless we practice His golden rule--which includes fairness and honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/it-seems-to-me-that-god-cannot-bless-us-individually-or-as-a-church/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Many denominations have as the root of their tensions the fact that administrators and scholars, leaders and laity, conservatives and liberals, diverge as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/many-denominations-have-as-the-root-of-their-tensions-the-fact-that/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Romans explains how God can justify the ungodly. "Justification" is a declaration by God that we are righteous only in Christ. We need justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-explains-how-god-can-justify-the-ungodly-justification-is-a/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“The book of Romans goes deep, deep into our souls, and we can only stand what we see there because Romans also goes deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-book-of-romans-goes-deep-deep-into-our-souls-and-we-can-only/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) [Explore all 44 Desmond Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) ## More Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) [Browse all 3,490 Conscience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In this world, we walk beneath a sun that has spots on it, and we do so with no conflict of conscience over the matter. Similarly, where is the human organization that is free from defect, or the church that is infallible in faith or practice? It does not, and never will, exist in this life.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Desmond Ford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that-has-spots-on-it-and-we-do-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that-has-spots-on-it-and-we-do-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/desmond-ford-14966_conscience_in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that_1623803.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/desmond-ford-14966_conscience_in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that_1623803.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bd/desmond-ford-14966_conscience_in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that_1623803.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In this world, we walk beneath a sun that has spots on it, and we do so with no conflict of conscience over…” — Desmond Ford", "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": "Desmond Ford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In this world, we walk beneath...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that-has-spots-on-it-and-we-do-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/in-this-world-we-walk-beneath-a-sun-that-has-spots-on-it-and-we-do-so/#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 } } ] } ```