--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A righteous person is one who lives for…" description: "\"A righteous person is one who lives for the next generation.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_generations_a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for_1689393.jpg" --- # A righteous person is one who lives for the next generation. ![“A righteous person is one who lives for the next generation.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_generations_a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for_1689393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_generations_a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for_1689393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_generations_a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for_1689393.jpg) > “A righteous person is one who lives for the next generation.” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living selflessly for future generations defines true righteousness. **In simple terms:** Serve the next generation. Key Takeaway Prioritize future well‑being. Themes ethics legacy service Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family decisions - policy making - education reform - environmental activism Key Concepts intergenerational responsibility altruism Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are you willing to make for future generations? - How does this perspective shape daily choices? A Different Perspective Balancing present needs with future goals can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) [Righteous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteous/) ## Related quotes > [If there be one righteous person, the rain falls for his sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-there-be-one-righteous-person-the-rain-falls-for-his-sake/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-smith/the-prayer-of-a-righteous-person-is-powerful-and-effective-james-5-16/) [Scotty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-smith/) > [“We're all the same past our skin-deep differences. Is there even such thing as a righteous person in this world? I'm sure that even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masumi-seki/we-re-all-the-same-past-our-skin-deep-differences-is-there-even-such/) [Masumi Seki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masumi-seki/) > [The most important question of the 21st century is not what or how much, it is 'How?' How do you propose to turn your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-most-important-question-of-the-21st-century-is-not-what-or-how/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“But what sort of population are we going to have, one which expects the government to take care of them for the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-west/but-what-sort-of-population-are-we-going-to-have-one-which-expects/) [S.J. West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-west/) > [“Evil imaginations causes harm to others. Such things do not dwell in the mind of a righteous person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/evil-imaginations-causes-harm-to-others-such-things-do-not-dwell-in/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [“As a biblical foundation, the scriptures state that the fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful (Jas 5:16), that everyone in heaven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-evert/as-a-biblical-foundation-the-scriptures-state-that-the-fervent-prayer/) [Jason Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-evert/) > [There is more joy in heaven over a converted sinner than over a righteous person standing firm. A leader in battle has more love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-i/there-is-more-joy-in-heaven-over-a-converted-sinner-than-over-a/) [Pope Gregory I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-i/) > [Self-righteousness is unavoidable. 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They can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/an-enlightened-person-lives-in-the-world-passes-through-the-ten/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [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/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. 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This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Generations quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [“The fact that you are born means you have the potential of benefiting yourself and generations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abegunde-sunday-o/the-fact-that-you-are-born-means-you-have-the-potential-of-benefiting/) [Abegunde Sunday O](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abegunde-sunday-o/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [If every nation gets the government it deserves, every generation writes the history which corresponds with its view of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-janeway/if-every-nation-gets-the-government-it-deserves-every-generation/) [Elizabeth Janeway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-janeway/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think leading by example is important, as I know the next generation is watching us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-skolnik/i-think-leading-by-example-is-important-as-i-know-the-next-generation/) [Michael Skolnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-skolnik/) > [“Will this generation be able to turn things around and learn a valuable lesson from all of this? I hope so, but I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/will-this-generation-be-able-to-turn-things-around-and-learn-a/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [David Cronenberg is the most provocative, original, and consistently excellent North American director of his generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hoberman/david-cronenberg-is-the-most-provocative-original-and-consistently/) J. Hoberman > [The Next Generation Space Telescope, which will be located much further away from the Earth than the Hubble Space Telescope presently is, will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-nicollier/the-next-generation-space-telescope-which-will-be-located-much/) [Claude Nicollier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-nicollier/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. 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Some would fall with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-removed-several-pages-of-death-certificates-which-were-picked-up/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/progress-is-the-injustice-each-generation-commits-with-regard-to-its/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [Pay no heed to the passing religious vogue. Go back to the grass roots. Open your hearts and search the Scriptures. Bear your cross,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/pay-no-heed-to-the-passing-religious-vogue-go-back-to-the-grass-roots/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) [Browse all 5,661 Generations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A righteous person is one who lives for the next generation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for-the-next-generation/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Generations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for-the-next-generation/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_generations_a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for_1689393.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_generations_a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for_1689393.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8de/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_generations_a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for_1689393.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A righteous person is one who lives for the next generation.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "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": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A righteous person is one who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for-the-next-generation/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/a-righteous-person-is-one-who-lives-for-the-next-generation/#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 } } ] } ```