--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God bears with imperfect beings even when…" description: "\"God bears with imperfect beings even when they resist His goodness. We ought to imitate this merciful patience and endurance. It is only imperfection t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/francois-fenelon-2077_bears_god-bears-with-imperfect-beings-even-whe_1982635.jpg" --- # God bears with imperfect beings even when they resist His… ![“God bears with imperfect beings even when they resist His goodness. We ought to imitate this merciful patience and endurance. It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become toward the defects of other people.” quote by Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/francois-fenelon-2077_bears_god-bears-with-imperfect-beings-even-whe_1982635.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/francois-fenelon-2077_bears_god-bears-with-imperfect-beings-even-whe_1982635.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/francois-fenelon-2077_bears_god-bears-with-imperfect-beings-even-whe_1982635.jpg) > “God bears with imperfect beings even when they resist His goodness. We ought to imitate this merciful patience and endurance. It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become toward the defects of other people.” [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patience and mercy toward others arise from recognizing our own imperfections and striving for humility. **In simple terms:** Being imperfect makes us gentle toward others’ flaws. Key Takeaway Practice compassionate patience and humility. Themes compassion patience humility imperfection spirituality Mood contemplative empathetic Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - counseling - conflict resolution - spiritual practice Key Concepts theology ethics human nature Questions to Reflect On - How can you show mercy when others are unkind? - What practices foster humility? A Different Perspective The ideal may be hard to maintain in hostile environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Defects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defects/) [Endurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endurance/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Imperfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imperfection/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Merciful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merciful/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. 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We are all limited, highly imperfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/the-persistence-or-failure-of-human-relationships-cannot-be-predicted/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [As the reflections of our pride upon our defects are bitter, disheartening, and vexatious, so the return of the soul towards God is peaceful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/as-the-reflections-of-our-pride-upon-our-defects-are-bitter/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [If we were faultless we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so-much-annoyed-by-the-defects/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Children are excellent observers, and will often perceive your slightest defects. In general, those who govern children, forgive nothing in them, but everything in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/children-are-excellent-observers-and-will-often-perceive-your/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [If we were faultless, we should not be so much annoyed by the defects of those with whom we associate. If we were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-we-were-faultless-we-should-not-be-so-much-annoyed-by-the-defects-2/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [The more perfect we are, the more gentle and quiet we become toward the defects of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/the-more-perfect-we-are-the-more-gentle-and-quiet-we-become-toward/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [“ceases to be merciful, no matter what sins have been conv mitted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pohle/ceases-to-be-merciful-no-matter-what-sins-have-been-conv-mitted/) [Joseph Pohle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pohle/) > [Precise, graceful, and generous, the poems in SuperLoop, seem to be born out of a deep, careful attention and a profound compassion. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-limon/precise-graceful-and-generous-the-poems-in-superloop-seem-to-be-born/) [Ada Limon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-limon/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [My child, seek those things which make for peace. Cease to stir up the King against the Church, and urge upon him a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-child-seek-those-things-which-make-for-peace-cease-to-stir-up-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Francois Fenelon > [There is no real elevation of mind in a contempt of little things; it is, on the contrary, from too narrow views that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-real-elevation-of-mind-in-a-contempt-of-little-things-it/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [“If the riches of the Indies, or the crowns of all the kingdom of Europe, were laid at my feet in exchange for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/if-the-riches-of-the-indies-or-the-crowns-of-all-the-kingdom-of/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [That love of self, which the world advocates, is a thousand times more dangerous than any poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/that-love-of-self-which-the-world-advocates-is-a-thousand-times-more/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [There were some who said that a man at the point of death was more free than all others, because death breaks every bond,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-were-some-who-said-that-a-man-at-the-point-of-death-was-more/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Pity enlarges the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/pity-enlarges-the-heart/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [A general rule for the good use of time is to accustom oneself to live in a continual dependence on the Spirit of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/a-general-rule-for-the-good-use-of-time-is-to-accustom-oneself-to/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Nothing is more despicable than a professional talker who uses his words as a quack uses his remedies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/nothing-is-more-despicable-than-a-professional-talker-who-uses-his/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Prayer is so necessary, and the source of so many blessings, that he who has discovered the treasure cannot be prevented from having recourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/prayer-is-so-necessary-and-the-source-of-so-many-blessings-that-he/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [There is no true and constant gentleness without humility. While we are so fond of ourselves, we are easily offended with others. Let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-true-and-constant-gentleness-without-humility-while-we/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Let me follow in Thy footsteps, O Jesus ! I would imitate Thee, but cannot without the aid of Thy grace! O humble and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/let-me-follow-in-thy-footsteps-o-jesus-i-would-imitate-thee-but/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [O Lord, I do most cheerfully commit all unto Thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/o-lord-i-do-most-cheerfully-commit-all-unto-thee/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Our piety must be weak and imperfect if it do not conquer our fear of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/our-piety-must-be-weak-and-imperfect-if-it-do-not-conquer-our-fear-of/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Nothing is so costly as the pursuit of a cure for imaginary ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/nothing-is-so-costly-as-the-pursuit-of-a-cure-for-imaginary-ills/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [I love my country better than my family; but I love humanity better than my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/i-love-my-country-better-than-my-family-but-i-love-humanity-better/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [Crosses are of no use to us but inasmuch as we yield ourselves up to them and forget ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/crosses-are-of-no-use-to-us-but-inasmuch-as-we-yield-ourselves-up-to/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) [Explore all 187 Francois Fenelon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) ## More Bears quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [She'd read once that if you ran into a bear in the woods you should avoid eye contact and you shouldn't run away, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-ursu/she-d-read-once-that-if-you-ran-into-a-bear-in-the-woods-you-should/) [Anne Ursu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-ursu/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. 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