--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wise man has said: 'Only a Christian…" description: "\"A wise man has said: 'Only a Christian can live wholly in the present, for to him the past is pardoned and the future is safe in God.' ...the Christian..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/evelyn-underhill-4102_christian_a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can_915699.png" --- # A wise man has said: 'Only a Christian can live wholly in… ![“A wise man has said: 'Only a Christian can live wholly in the present, for to him the past is pardoned and the future is safe in God.' ...the Christian life must be a life without regrets, without remorse.” quote by Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/evelyn-underhill-4102_christian_a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can_915699.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/evelyn-underhill-4102_christian_a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can_915699.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/evelyn-underhill-4102_christian_a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can_915699.png) > “A wise man has said: 'Only a Christian can live wholly in the present, for to him the past is pardoned and the future is safe in God.' ...the Christian life must be a life without regrets, without remorse.” [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christian faith offers present‑focused peace, freeing believers from past guilt and future anxiety. **In simple terms:** Faith lets you live now, trusting God. Key Takeaway Live in present trusting God. Themes faith present‑moment trust spirituality Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - daily prayer - counseling - stress management - spiritual retreats Key Concepts theology psychology of religion Questions to Reflect On - Can you find present peace without religion? - How does faith shape your view of past and future? A Different Perspective Not all find comfort in religious certainty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Remorse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remorse/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [We do not segment our lives, giving some time to God, some to our business or schooling, while keeping parts to ourselves. The idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-do-not-segment-our-lives-giving-some-time-to-god-some-to-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We are called to service in the kingdom of God. The Christian life is not about what you claim. It is about what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-edwards/we-are-called-to-service-in-the-kingdom-of-god-the-christian-life-is/) [Tyler Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-edwards/) > [Teach us, Master, how to give All we have and are to Thee; Grant us, Saviour, while we live, Wholly, only Thine to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ridley-havergal/teach-us-master-how-to-give-all-we-have-and-are-to-thee-grant-us/) [Frances Ridley Havergal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ridley-havergal/) > [“Turn away from half measures and resolve to live wholly, fully and beautifully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-vickers/turn-away-from-half-measures-and-resolve-to-live-wholly-fully-and/) Julia Vickers > [Oh! it is sweet to be thus weaned from friends, and from myself, and dead to the present world, that so I may live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/oh-it-is-sweet-to-be-thus-weaned-from-friends-and-from-myself-and/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I can live only wholly with you or not at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/i-can-live-only-wholly-with-you-or-not-at-all/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [“I’m white and everything is made for me.” A black female student said, “I’m straight. I can hold hands with my boyfriend without fearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-m-white-and-everything-is-made-for-me-a-black-female-student-said-i/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Tertullian said of Christian belief that it was true because it was impossible. Perhaps love is essential because it's unnecessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/tertullian-said-of-christian-belief-that-it-was-true-because-it-was/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [Don't be too hasty," she warned. "Conserve your strength. If you're too eager to fight the undead, you may find yourselves joining them. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/don-t-be-too-hasty-she-warned-conserve-your-strength-if-you-re-too/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“Remember, the people who know me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda." "Is that what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/remember-the-people-who-know-me-are-the-ones-who-are-free-to-live-and/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [I like how someone once said being a Christian is not about having new ideas but having new eyes. This is the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/i-like-how-someone-once-said-being-a-christian-is-not-about-having/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Do not think me mad. It is not to make money that I believe a Christian should live. The noblest thing a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livingstone/do-not-think-me-mad-it-is-not-to-make-money-that-i-believe-a/) [David Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livingstone/) > [“Why is it "in" to be a christian, but "out" to live a holy life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/why-is-it-in-to-be-a-christian-but-out-to-live-a-holy-life/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Everybody needs to realize that it doesn't matter how old you are or how young you are, you still can be a Christian and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-howard/everybody-needs-to-realize-that-it-doesn-t-matter-how-old-you-are-or/) [Dwight Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-howard/) > [“Christian, be a Christian: live by faith; walk by the Spirit; serve in the strength that God supplies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/christian-be-a-christian-live-by-faith-walk-by-the-spirit-serve-in/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More by Evelyn Underhill > [Sometimes I think the resurrection of the body, unless much improved in construction, a mistake!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/sometimes-i-think-the-resurrection-of-the-body-unless-much-improved/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [But so many Christians are like deaf people at a concert. They study the programme carefully, believe every statement make in it, speak respectfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/but-so-many-christians-are-like-deaf-people-at-a-concert-they-study/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [“Therefore it is to a practical mysticism that the practical man is here invited: to a training of his latent faculties, a bracing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/therefore-it-is-to-a-practical-mysticism-that-the-practical-man-is/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [When you let intution have its way with you, you open up new levels of the world. Such opening-up is the most practical of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/when-you-let-intution-have-its-way-with-you-you-open-up-new-levels-of/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [In mysticism that love of truth which we saw as the beginning of all philosophy leaves the merely intellectual sphere, and takes on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/in-mysticism-that-love-of-truth-which-we-saw-as-the-beginning-of-all/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [As the social self can only be developed by contact with society, so the spiritual self can only be developed by contact with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/as-the-social-self-can-only-be-developed-by-contact-with-society-so/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [No metaphysician has yet shaken the ordinary individual's belief in his own existence. The uncertainties only begin for most of us when we ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/no-metaphysician-has-yet-shaken-the-ordinary-individual-s-belief-in/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [Love makes the whole difference between an execution and a martyrdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/love-makes-the-whole-difference-between-an-execution-and-a-martyrdom/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [A simple rule, to be followed whether one is in the light or not, gives backbone to one's spiritual life, as nothing else can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/a-simple-rule-to-be-followed-whether-one-is-in-the-light-or-not-gives/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [Every minute you are thinking of evil, you might have been thinking of good instead. Refuse to pander to a morbid interest in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/every-minute-you-are-thinking-of-evil-you-might-have-been-thinking-of/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [It seems so much easier in these days to live morally than to live beautifully. Lots of us manage to exist for years without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/it-seems-so-much-easier-in-these-days-to-live-morally-than-to-live/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [It is far easier, though not very easy, to develop and preserve a spiritual outlook on life than it is to make our everyday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/it-is-far-easier-though-not-very-easy-to-develop-and-preserve-a/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [though humility and acknowledgement of one's real failings is good, the gratuitous eating of worms not put before us by God does not nourish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/though-humility-and-acknowledgement-of-one-s-real-failings-is-good/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [Delicate humor is the crowning virtue of the saints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/delicate-humor-is-the-crowning-virtue-of-the-saints/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) > [All things are perceived in the light of charity, and hence under the aspect of beauty; for beauty is simply reality seen with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/all-things-are-perceived-in-the-light-of-charity-and-hence-under-the/) [Evelyn Underhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) [Explore all 116 Evelyn Underhill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [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/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A wise man has said: 'Only a Christian can live wholly in the present, for to him the past is pardoned and the future is safe in God.' ...the Christian life must be a life without regrets, without remorse.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Evelyn Underhill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can-live-wholly-in-the-present/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can-live-wholly-in-the-present/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/evelyn-underhill-4102_christian_a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can_915699.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/evelyn-underhill-4102_christian_a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can_915699.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/evelyn-underhill-4102_christian_a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can_915699.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A wise man has said: 'Only a Christian can live wholly in the present, for to him the past is pardoned and…” — Evelyn Underhill", "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": "Evelyn Underhill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-underhill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A wise man has said: 'Only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can-live-wholly-in-the-present/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-underhill/a-wise-man-has-said-only-a-christian-can-live-wholly-in-the-present/#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 } } ] } ```