--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is infinitely easier to suffer in…" description: "\"It is infinitely easier to suffer in obedience to a human command than to accept suffering as free, responsible men.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_accepting_it-is-infinitely-easier-to-suffer-in-obe_1927973.jpg" --- # It is infinitely easier to suffer in obedience to a human… ![“It is infinitely easier to suffer in obedience to a human command than to accept suffering as free, responsible men.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_accepting_it-is-infinitely-easier-to-suffer-in-obe_1927973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_accepting_it-is-infinitely-easier-to-suffer-in-obe_1927973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a7/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_accepting_it-is-infinitely-easier-to-suffer-in-obe_1927973.jpg) > “It is infinitely easier to suffer in obedience to a human command than to accept suffering as free, responsible men.” [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. Obedience to authority can cause more pain than recognizing personal responsibility for suffering. **In simple terms:** Following orders can hurt more than owning one’s own pain. Key Takeaway Question authority and own your suffering. Themes responsibility authority ethics Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - military service - workplace pressure - social movements - personal crises Key Concepts theology moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do you accept pain as imposed or chosen? - How does responsibility change your response? A Different Perspective Blind obedience may ignore systemic injustice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?“ Winston thought. “By making him suffer”, he said. “Exactly. By making him suffer. Obedience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/how-does-one-man-assert-his-power-over-another-winston-winston-2/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“How does one man assert his power over another, Winston?” Winston thought. “By making him suffer,” he said. “Exactly. By making him suffer. 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Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) ## 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? 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