--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is but one way in which God should…" description: "\"There is but one way in which God should be loved, and that is to take no step except with Him and for Him, and to follow with a generous self-abandonm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/francois-fenelon-2077_abandonment_there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should_678409.png" --- # There is but one way in which God should be loved, and… ![“There is but one way in which God should be loved, and that is to take no step except with Him and for Him, and to follow with a generous self-abandonment every thing which He requires.” quote by Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/francois-fenelon-2077_abandonment_there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should_678409.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/francois-fenelon-2077_abandonment_there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should_678409.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/francois-fenelon-2077_abandonment_there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should_678409.png) > “There is but one way in which God should be loved, and that is to take no step except with Him and for Him, and to follow with a generous self-abandonment every thing which He requires.” [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. True devotion means aligning every action with God's will, surrendering self for His purpose. **In simple terms:** Love God by following His will completely. Key Takeaway Surrender self to divine purpose. Themes faith devotion obedience selflessness Mood reverent reflective Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - prayer - mission work - daily decisions - charitable acts Key Concepts theology spiritual surrender service Questions to Reflect On - What does self-abandonment look like in your life? - How can you balance personal needs with divine calling? A Different Perspective Human desire for autonomy can conflict with total surrender. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandonment/) [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) ## Related quotes > [Jealousy fuses megalomania and self-abandonment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/jealousy-fuses-megalomania-and-self-abandonment/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [The capacity for fear and for happiness are the same, the unrestricted openness to experience amounting to self-abandonment in which the vanquished rediscovers himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/the-capacity-for-fear-and-for-happiness-are-the-same-the-unrestricted/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [The world looks for happiness through self-assertion. The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. 'If a man will let himself be lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/the-world-looks-for-happiness-through-self-assertion-the-christian-2/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Writing is a good example of self-abandonment. I never completely forget myself except when I am writing and I am never more completely myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/writing-is-a-good-example-of-self-abandonment-i-never-completely/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“Jealousy, and attempting to match others in life and stride, is self-abandonment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/jealousy-and-attempting-to-match-others-in-life-and-stride-is-self/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [I am sometimes almost terrified at the scope of the demands made upon me, at the perfection of the self-abandonment required of me; yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-am-sometimes-almost-terrified-at-the-scope-of-the-demands-made-upon/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“GOD IS SO WONDERFULLY GENEROUS in his self-disclosure. He has not revealed himself to this race of rebels in some stinting way, but in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson-2/god-is-so-wonderfully-generous-in-his-self-disclosure-he-has-not/) [D.A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson-2/) > [“The power of God is shown, not so much in his creation of the world or in any of his miracles, but rather in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kallistos-ware/the-power-of-god-is-shown-not-so-much-in-his-creation-of-the-world-or/) [Kallistos Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kallistos-ware/) > [A sincere word of thanks is nothing but an extension of a generous self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hottiedevil/a-sincere-word-of-thanks-is-nothing-but-an-extension-of-a-generous/) HOttieDeviL > [How can both Nics, the loving and considerate and generous one, and the self-obsessed and self-destructive one, be the same person?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/how-can-both-nics-the-loving-and-considerate-and-generous-one-and-the/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [“Beauty lies in the total abandonment of the observer and the observed and there can be self-abandonment only when there is total austerity –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/beauty-lies-in-the-total-abandonment-of-the-observer-and-the-observed/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“Oh, that fear of his self-abandonment—far worse than my abandonment—how it goaded me! It was a barbed arrow-head in my breast; it tore me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/oh-that-fear-of-his-self-abandonment-far-worse-than-my-abandonment/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [God felt, God tasted and enjoyed is indeed God, but God with those gifts which flatter the soul, God in darkness, in privation, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/god-felt-god-tasted-and-enjoyed-is-indeed-god-but-god-with-those/) [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/) > [“God, how he loved Søren. Loved him. Loved him like a father, like a brother, like a friend and a lover…and loved him like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/god-how-he-loved-s-ren-loved-him-loved-him-like-a-father-like-a/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) ## 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 Abandonment quotes > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe in various degrees of hatred, paranoia, and abandonment. However much of that gets heaped upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-don-t-believe-in-fate-or-destiny-i-believe-in-various-degrees-of/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [“Sometimes people walk away from love because it is so beautiful that it terrifies them. Sometimes they leave because the connection shines a bright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-brown/sometimes-people-walk-away-from-love-because-it-is-so-beautiful-that/) [Jeff Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-brown/) > [Modern societies accepted the treasures and the power offered them by science. But they have not accepted - they have scarcely even heard -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-monod/modern-societies-accepted-the-treasures-and-the-power-offered-them-by/) [Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-monod/) > [Judaism is absolutely incompatible with the abandonment of the Torah.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-schechter/judaism-is-absolutely-incompatible-with-the-abandonment-of-the-torah/) [Solomon Schechter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-schechter/) > [“Abandonment is ugly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-moore/abandonment-is-ugly/) [Michelle Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-moore/) > [In our culture of constant access and nonstop media, nothing feels more like a curse from God than time in the wilderness. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-martin/in-our-culture-of-constant-access-and-nonstop-media-nothing-feels/) [Jonathan Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-martin/) > [“When you give everything, you have nothing to lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mcgahan/when-you-give-everything-you-have-nothing-to-lose/) [Kate McGahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mcgahan/) > [The only thing worse than being abandoned, is not being worthy of an explanation. It hurts to let go... but the feeling you're falling..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joryneville/the-only-thing-worse-than-being-abandoned-is-not-being-worthy-of-an/) JoryNeville > [“I am not so different in my history of abandonment from anyone else after all. We have all been split away from each other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-griffin/i-am-not-so-different-in-my-history-of-abandonment-from-anyone-else/) [Susan Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-griffin/) > [“The introduction to horrors so young impressed on me just how helpless and vulnerable I was. Parents are supposed to empower their children to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-enevoldsen/the-introduction-to-horrors-so-young-impressed-on-me-just-how/) [Christina Enevoldsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-enevoldsen/) > [Heartbreak has an archetypal core, all heartbroken individuals suffer from the same kind of torture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginette-paris/heartbreak-has-an-archetypal-core-all-heartbroken-individuals-suffer/) Ginette Paris > [“Lonely Balcony The deterioration brought by weariness was visible. Its burden of abandonment can be perceived at a glance. The balcony ache with longings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqra-iqbal/lonely-balcony-the-deterioration-brought-by-weariness-was-visible-its/) [iqra iqbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqra-iqbal/) > [God causes us to promise in time of peace what He exacts from us in time of war; He enables us to make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/god-causes-us-to-promise-in-time-of-peace-what-he-exacts-from-us-in/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) [Browse all 348 Abandonment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandonment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is but one way in which God should be loved, and that is to take no step except with Him and for Him, and to follow with a generous self-abandonment every thing which He requires.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois Fenelon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should-be-loved-and-that-is-to-take/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abandonment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should-be-loved-and-that-is-to-take/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/francois-fenelon-2077_abandonment_there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should_678409.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/francois-fenelon-2077_abandonment_there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should_678409.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/francois-fenelon-2077_abandonment_there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should_678409.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is but one way in which God should be loved, and that is to take no step except with Him and for Him…” — Francois Fenelon", "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": "Francois Fenelon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is but one way in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should-be-loved-and-that-is-to-take/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-but-one-way-in-which-god-should-be-loved-and-that-is-to-take/#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 } } ] } ```