--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bonhoeffer’s rule never to speak about a…" description: "\"“Bonhoeffer’s rule never to speak about a brother in his absence. Bonhoeffer knew that living according to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-s-rule-never-to-speak-about-a_1478557.png" --- # Bonhoeffer’s rule never to speak about a brother in his… ![“Bonhoeffer’s rule never to speak about a brother in his absence. Bonhoeffer knew that living according to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount was not “natural” for anyone.” quote by Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-s-rule-never-to-speak-about-a_1478557.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-s-rule-never-to-speak-about-a_1478557.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/190/eric-metaxas-1651_bonhoeffer_bonhoeffer-s-rule-never-to-speak-about-a_1478557.png) > ““Bonhoeffer’s rule never to speak about a brother in his absence. Bonhoeffer knew that living according to what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount was not “natural” for anyone.”” [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True friendship requires speaking kindly about absent friends, reflecting Christ’s teachings. **In simple terms:** Speak well of those not present. Key Takeaway Guard your words about others. Themes friendship integrity faith Mood reflective thoughtful Type maxilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - church community - family gatherings - online discussions Key Concepts Christian ethics speech presence absence Questions to Reflect On - nullWhat do you say about someone when they’re not there? - How can you honor Christ’s teachings in everyday speech? A Different Perspective Social media ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sermon on the mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sermon-on-the-mount/) ## Related quotes > [Bonhoeffer knew that twisting the Truth to sell it more effectively was inexcusable. 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To look at them as something that can be fulfilled within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/the-ethics-of-the-sermon-on-the-mount-are-nothing-less-than/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“Bonhoeffer's experiences with African American community underscored an idea that was developing in his mind: the only real piety and power that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-experiences-with-african-american-community-underscored/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“If you board the wrong train it is no use running along the corridor in the opposite direction. —DIETRICH BONHOEFFER”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-you-board-the-wrong-train-it-is-no-use-running-along-the-corridor/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Death reveals that the world is not as it should be but that it stands in need of redemption. Christ alone is the conquering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/death-reveals-that-the-world-is-not-as-it-should-be-but-that-it-2/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“We will have to move through a very deep valley, I believe much deeper than we can sense now, before we will be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/we-will-have-to-move-through-a-very-deep-valley-i-believe-much-deeper/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. Do not defend God's word, but testify to it. Trust to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/do-not-try-to-make-the-bible-relevant-its-relevance-is-axiomatic-do/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“In his Bible that day or the next, Bonhoeffer was reading Psalm 74. This was the text he happened to be meditating upon. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/in-his-bible-that-day-or-the-next-bonhoeffer-was-reading-psalm-74/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Wilberforce, because of his faith, stood up for African slaves. Bonhoeffer, because of his faith, stood up for Jews. That's Christianity to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/wilberforce-because-of-his-faith-stood-up-for-african-slaves/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The rich world of his ancestors set the standards for Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s own life. It gave him a certainty of judgment and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-rich-world-of-his-ancestors-set-the-standards-for-dietrich/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Describing Bonhoeffer's demeanor on returning to danger in Germany rather than safety in America, with "with a strong and joyful firmness such as only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/describing-bonhoeffer-s-demeanor-on-returning-to-danger-in-germany/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [The family trees of Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer are everywhere so laden with figures of accomplishment that one might expect future generations to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-family-trees-of-karl-and-paula-bonhoeffer-are-everywhere-so-laden/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) ## More by Eric Metaxas > [“If we believe miracles cannot happen today but happened to our distant ancestors, what we really seem to be saying is not that miracles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/if-we-believe-miracles-cannot-happen-today-but-happened-to-our/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [Religious liberty is the salt and light that has made us the great nation we are in a whole number of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/religious-liberty-is-the-salt-and-light-that-has-made-us-the-great/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“But we know that true grace comes to us by costly sacrifice. 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Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. 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But if your enemy has no conscience like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/if-your-opponent-has-a-conscience-then-follow-gandhi-and-nonviolence/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Bonhoeffer and Luther draw on Christ’s paradox of gaining one’s life by losing it. So we come to the ultimate paradox: by service—and ultimately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-nichols/bonhoeffer-and-luther-draw-on-christ-s-paradox-of-gaining-one-s-life/) [Stephen J. Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-nichols/) > [I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer, before taking off his prison garb, kneeling on the floor praying fervently to his God. I was most deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/i-saw-pastor-bonhoeffer-before-taking-off-his-prison-garb-kneeling-on/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“Bonhoeffer categorically refuses to demythologize the resurrection ... he finally walked to his execution, saying that for him it was the beginning of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bonhoeffer-categorically-refuses-to-demythologize-the-resurrection-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The rich world of his ancestors set the standards for Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s own life. It gave him a certainty of judgment and manner that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-rich-world-of-his-ancestors-set-the-standards-for-dietrich/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“Jeremiah was not eager to become a prophet of God. When the call came to him all of a sudden, he shrank back, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxes/jeremiah-was-not-eager-to-become-a-prophet-of-god-when-the-call-came/) Eric Metaxes > [. A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol. Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraha-lincon/a-god-who-let-us-prove-his-existence-would-be-an-idol-dietrich/) Abraha Lincon > [“Bonhoeffer's experiences with African American community underscored an idea that was developing in his mind: the only real piety and power that he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-experiences-with-african-american-community-underscored/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [ “His soul really shone in the dark desperation of our prison . . . \[Bonhoeffer\] had always been afraid that he would not be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payne-best/his-soul-really-shone-in-the-dark-desperation-of-our-prison/) Payne Best > [“Grace is costly because it calls us through our person to the person of Jesus Christ. And when we follow the person of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-root/grace-is-costly-because-it-calls-us-through-our-person-to-the-person/) [Andrew Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-root/) > [The family trees of Karl and Paula Bonhoeffer are everywhere so laden with figures of accomplishment that one might expect future generations to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-family-trees-of-karl-and-paula-bonhoeffer-are-everywhere-so-laden/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) Browse all 54 Bonhoeffer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Bonhoeffer’s rule never to speak about a brother in his absence. 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