--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God did not make this person as I would…" description: "\"“God did not make this person as I would have made him. He did not give him to me as a brother for me to dominate and control, but in order that I migh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_brotherhood_god-did-not-make-this-person-as-i-would_2669901.jpg" --- # God did not make this person as I would have made him. He… ![“God did not make this person as I would have made him. He did not give him to me as a brother for me to dominate and control, but in order that I might find above him the Creator. Now the other person, in the freedom with which he was created, becomes the occasion of joy, whereas before he was…” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_brotherhood_god-did-not-make-this-person-as-i-would_2669901.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_brotherhood_god-did-not-make-this-person-as-i-would_2669901.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d1/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_brotherhood_god-did-not-make-this-person-as-i-would_2669901.jpg) > ““God did not make this person as I would have made him. He did not give him to me as a brother for me to dominate and control, but in order that I might find above him the Creator. Now the other person, in the freedom with which he was created, becomes the occasion of joy, whereas before he was only a nuisance and an affliction. God does not will that I should fashion the other person according to the image that seems good to me, that is, in my own image; rather in his very freedom from me God made this person in His image. I can never know beforehand how God's image should appear in others. That image always manifests a completely new and unique form that comes solely from God's free and sovereign creation. To me the sight may seem strange, even ungodly. But God creates every man in the likeness of His Son, the Crucified. After all, even that image certainly looked strange and ungodly to me before I grasped it.”” [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. God creates each person uniquely, not as a mirror of ourselves, so we must see others as reflections of divine freedom and love rather than objects to control. **In simple terms:** People are made in God's image, not ours, and should be valued for their own freedom. Key Takeaway Treat others as divine creations, not possessions. Themes faith humility divine image relationship freedom Mood reflective hopeful inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - interfaith dialogue - conflict resolution - personal growth - leadership training Key Concepts theology anthropology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize God's image in someone unlike you? - What practices help you honor others' freedom? A Different Perspective It may overlook cultural differences in interpreting divine image. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Creates Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creates-man-252169/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-god/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God Creates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-creates/) [God image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-image/) [God Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-person/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Spiritual-friendships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-friendships-175813/) [The-cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-cross/) ## Related quotes > [God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-creates-out-of-nothing-therefore-until-a-man-is-nothing-god-can/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is only God who creates. Man merely rearranges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/it-is-only-god-who-creates-man-merely-rearranges/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [“For, when the friendship is purely spiritual, the love of God grows with it; and the more the soul remembers it, the more it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-de-la-cruz/for-when-the-friendship-is-purely-spiritual-the-love-of-god-grows/) [Juan de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-de-la-cruz/) > [“In confession occurs the breakthrough of the Cross. The root of all sin is pride, superbia. 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But one thing we know and can stand upon. Jesus has burst open the gates of LIFE. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anusha-atukorala/life-doesn-t-always-go-our-way-but-one-thing-we-know-and-can-stand/) [Anusha Atukorala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anusha-atukorala/) > [“To those who rejected Him, righteousness would one day appear as a terrible justice; to the sinful men who accepted Him and allied themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/to-those-who-rejected-him-righteousness-would-one-day-appear-as-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“To shame our sins He blushed in blood; He closed His eyes to show us God; Let all the world fall down and know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/to-shame-our-sins-he-blushed-in-blood-he-closed-his-eyes-to-show-us/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) ## 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. 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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. 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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 Brotherhood quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Saying that the origin of the Islamic State (IS) is within the Muslim Brotherhood organisation only strengthens IS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/saying-that-the-origin-of-the-islamic-state-is-is-within-the-muslim/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [“All the same I keep on looking for someone incomprehensible who won't understand me either, because I have a terrible thirst for brotherhood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-ajar/all-the-same-i-keep-on-looking-for-someone-incomprehensible-who-won-t/) [Emile Ajar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-ajar/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. 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He did not give him to me as a brother for me to dominate and control, but in order that I might find above him the Creator. Now the other person, in the freedom with which he was created, becomes the occasion of joy, whereas before he was only a nuisance and an affliction. God does not will that I should fashion the other person according to the image that seems good to me, that is, in my own image; rather in his very freedom from me God made this person in His image. I can never know beforehand how God's image should appear in others. That image always manifests a completely new and unique form that comes solely from God's free and sovereign creation. To me the sight may seem strange, even ungodly. But God creates every man in the likeness of His Son, the Crucified. 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