--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Comfort the troubled, and trouble the…" description: "\"Comfort the troubled, and trouble the comfortable.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_comfort_comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-com_2457891.jpg" --- # Comfort the troubled, and trouble the comfortable. ![“Comfort the troubled, and trouble the comfortable.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_comfort_comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-com_2457891.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_comfort_comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-com_2457891.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_comfort_comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-com_2457891.jpg) > “Comfort the troubled, and trouble the comfortable.” [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. It urges protecting the vulnerable while challenging complacency among the privileged. **In simple terms:** Help those in need; question comfort. Key Takeaway Act with compassion, demand justice. Themes compassion justice social responsibility Mood concerned determined Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - charity work - activism - community leadership - policy advocacy Key Concepts ethics power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you support the troubled without fostering dependency? - What comforts keep you from seeing injustice? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic causes of comfort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Comfort Troubled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-troubled-626211/) [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Trouble Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-comfortable-626212/) [Troubled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troubled/) [Troubled Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/troubled-trouble-626213/) ## Related quotes > [The interesting thing about coaching is that you have to trouble the comfortable, and comfort the troubled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-charlesworth/the-interesting-thing-about-coaching-is-that-you-have-to-trouble-the/) [Ric Charlesworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-charlesworth/) > [In trouble to be troubled, Is to have your trouble doubled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/in-trouble-to-be-troubled-is-to-have-your-trouble-doubled/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [In trouble to be troubled, Is to have your trouble doubled! \[People who get upset and worried at the first sign of misfortune are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-defoe/in-trouble-to-be-troubled-is-to-have-your-trouble-doubled-people-who/) [Daniel Defoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-defoe/) > [The heart clings to collected treasure. Stored-up possessions get between me and God. Where my treasure is, there is my trust, my security, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-heart-clings-to-collected-treasure-stored-up-possessions-get/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [You can't comfort the afflicted with afflicting the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/you-can-t-comfort-the-afflicted-with-afflicting-the-comfortable/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [“When we get too comfortable, we stop dreaming.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-rachelle/when-we-get-too-comfortable-we-stop-dreaming/) [Joyce Rachelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-rachelle/) > [A perfect relationship starts when you are comfortable with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/a-perfect-relationship-starts-when-you-are-comfortable-with-each-other/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Our ability to fall in love requires enough comfort with our masculinity to join it with someone's femininity and feel enhanced. .. . If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/our-ability-to-fall-in-love-requires-enough-comfort-with-our/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [“You have to direct change; if you don't do so, change will direct you. Guess... the direction change will offer you is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-have-to-direct-change-if-you-don-t-do-so-change-will-direct-you/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We have become dangerously comfortable- believers ooze with wealth and let their addictions to comfort and security numb the radical urgency of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-have-become-dangerously-comfortable-believers-ooze-with-wealth-and/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I was more comfortable somehow in a European Tour setting. I have never really felt comfortable in the States and therefore I have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-montgomerie/i-was-more-comfortable-somehow-in-a-european-tour-setting-i-have/) [Colin Montgomerie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-montgomerie/) > [My style is mainly about comfort. It has to be comfortable, it has to lay right on me, know what I mean?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/my-style-is-mainly-about-comfort-it-has-to-be-comfortable-it-has-to/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [I have no problem with the idea of comfort, but it is not an important thing aesthetically. If you look at a shoe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/i-have-no-problem-with-the-idea-of-comfort-but-it-is-not-an-important/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [When the Savior Himself was born, there were troubled times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/when-the-savior-himself-was-born-there-were-troubled-times/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Earthly majesty is always akin to the fallen angel, who is proud and unhappy, beautiful but troubled, and whose plans and efforts, though vast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/earthly-majesty-is-always-akin-to-the-fallen-angel-who-is-proud-and/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) ## 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. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. 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 Comfort quotes > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-get-lost-in-a-really-strange-place-nothing-is-more/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I think that comfort is underrated in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-think-that-comfort-is-underrated-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) [Browse all 4,542 Comfort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Comfort the troubled, and trouble the comfortable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-comfortable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Comfort" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-comfortable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_comfort_comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-com_2457891.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_comfort_comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-com_2457891.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d01/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_comfort_comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-com_2457891.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Comfort the troubled, and trouble the comfortable.” — 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": "Comfort the troubled, and trouble the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-comfortable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/comfort-the-troubled-and-trouble-the-comfortable/#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 } } ] } ```