--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Caution: If you’re a person who will one…" description: "\"“Caution: If you’re a person who will one day mentor others, I have a sobering warning. If your ego hasn’t been annihilated by the cross of Jesus Chris..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/frank-viola-32808_mentor_caution-if-you-re-a-person-who-will-one_2058917.jpg" --- # Caution: If you’re a person who will one day mentor… ![“Caution: If you’re a person who will one day mentor others, I have a sobering warning. If your ego hasn’t been annihilated by the cross of Jesus Christ, you will end up becoming a Saul in the lives of those who are just as (or more) gifted than you are. And when God begins to elevate them in His…” quote by Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/frank-viola-32808_mentor_caution-if-you-re-a-person-who-will-one_2058917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/frank-viola-32808_mentor_caution-if-you-re-a-person-who-will-one_2058917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/frank-viola-32808_mentor_caution-if-you-re-a-person-who-will-one_2058917.jpg) > ““Caution: If you’re a person who will one day mentor others, I have a sobering warning. If your ego hasn’t been annihilated by the cross of Jesus Christ, you will end up becoming a Saul in the lives of those who are just as (or more) gifted than you are. And when God begins to elevate them in His service, you will go insane.”” [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If a mentor's ego remains unchecked, they risk becoming a tyrannical figure, stifling the growth of talented protégés. **In simple terms:** Ego can corrupt mentorship. Key Takeaway Check ego before leading. Themes leadership humility mentorship Mood cautionary reflective Type advice warning When to use this quote - corporate training - church leadership - academic advising - creative collaborations Key Concepts ego power dynamics spirituality Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep humility alive in mentorship? - What signs show ego is influencing your guidance? A Different Perspective Ego is hard to fully eradicate; humility requires ongoing effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cross Of Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-of-jesus/) [Mentor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentor/) [Mentorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentorship/) ## Related quotes > [Every man and woman alive is gifted by God in some special way. People who have a self-image of worth are going to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-walton/every-man-and-woman-alive-is-gifted-by-god-in-some-special-way-people/) [William Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-walton/) > [I know I have a left foot that was probably gifted to me by God, or someone up there, and I can always rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-podolski/i-know-i-have-a-left-foot-that-was-probably-gifted-to-me-by-god-or/) [Lukas Podolski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-podolski/) > [Herein lies a riddle: How can a people so gifted by God become so seduced by naked power, so greedy for money, so addicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-berrigan/herein-lies-a-riddle-how-can-a-people-so-gifted-by-god-become-so/) [Philip Berrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-berrigan/) > [The cross of Jesus Christ represents the intersection of God's love and God's holiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/the-cross-of-jesus-christ-represents-the-intersection-of-god-s-love/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [“But isn’t the whole idea of sanctification the fact that we’re not really there yet? That we’re still growing and becoming? Still learning how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/but-isn-t-the-whole-idea-of-sanctification-the-fact-that-we-re-not/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [“In confession occurs the breakthrough of the Cross. The root of all sin is pride, superbia. I want to be my own law, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/in-confession-occurs-the-breakthrough-of-the-cross-the-root-of-all/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The cross of Jesus is the fulcrum of the scriptures. The saving work of Jesus is His death. He is our Savior in His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-wolfmueller/the-cross-of-jesus-is-the-fulcrum-of-the-scriptures-the-saving-work/) [Bryan Wolfmueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-wolfmueller/) > [“The time to be judgmental was past on the cross of Jesus Christ ,try to have God's heart of mercy and grace which will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wordfaith3/the-time-to-be-judgmental-was-past-on-the-cross-of-jesus-christ-try/) wordfaith3 > [As I survey the cross of Jesus Christ, the more convinced I am that nothing was ever cute about my sin, I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-i-survey-the-cross-of-jesus-christ-the-more-convinced-i-am-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When, in adoration, we look at the consecrated Host, the sign of creation speaks to us. And so, we encounter the greatness of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/when-in-adoration-we-look-at-the-consecrated-host-the-sign-of/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Look at the girl I loved and who loved me and how she ended. She wore the cross of Jesus about her neck and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/look-at-the-girl-i-loved-and-who-loved-me-and-how-she-ended-she-wore/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [My sin in the past: forgiven. My current struggles: covered. My future failures: paid in full all by the marvelous, infinite, matchless grace found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/my-sin-in-the-past-forgiven-my-current-struggles-covered-my-future/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [The single most important thread in working through your disappointments is that your heart and mind ponder and grasp what the cross of Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/the-single-most-important-thread-in-working-through-your/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [The center of salvation is the Cross of Jesus, and the reason it is so easy to obtain salvation is because it cost God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-center-of-salvation-is-the-cross-of-jesus-and-the-reason-it-is-so/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/outside-of-the-cross-of-jesus-christ-there-is-no-hope-in-this-world/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) ## More by Frank Viola > [“Consider this thought: Adam’s entire existence was based upon what he ate. His diet determined his destiny. It also determined the entire course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/consider-this-thought-adam-s-entire-existence-was-based-upon-what-he/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“God’s idea of ministry training is a broken vessel. His idea of spiritual preparation is suffering, which includes rejection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/god-s-idea-of-ministry-training-is-a-broken-vessel-his-idea-of/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“Organic church life, however, is a wedding of glory and gore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/organic-church-life-however-is-a-wedding-of-glory-and-gore/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“history is God’s love story. There is no event in space or time unrelated to the Jesus story, and there is no metaphor in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/history-is-god-s-love-story-there-is-no-event-in-space-or-time/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“What history teaches us is that men have never learned anything from it.” —G. W. F. Hegel, nineteenth-century German philosopher”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/what-history-teaches-us-is-that-men-have-never-learned-anything-from/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“In fact, I’ve met countless believers who have said, “The church is an organism, not an organization.” Yet as they formed those very words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/in-fact-i-ve-met-countless-believers-who-have-said-the-church-is-an/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“In the minds of the early Christians, the people—not the architecture—constituted a sacred space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/in-the-minds-of-the-early-christians-the-people-not-the-architecture/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“The pulpit elevates the clergy to a position of prominence. True to its meaning, it puts the preacher at center “stage”—separating and placing him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/the-pulpit-elevates-the-clergy-to-a-position-of-prominence-true-to/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“In short, the goal of the gospel is not to get you out of hell and into heaven, but to get God out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/in-short-the-goal-of-the-gospel-is-not-to-get-you-out-of-hell-and/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.22”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/unless-the-lord-builds-the-house-its-builders-labor-in-vain-22/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“believers are discovering the experience of the body of Christ and what it means to gather under the headship of Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/believers-are-discovering-the-experience-of-the-body-of-christ-and/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“The Calf Path One day, through the primeval wood, A calf walked home, as good calves should; But made a trail all bent askew,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/the-calf-path-one-day-through-the-primeval-wood-a-calf-walked-home-as/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“The social location of the church meeting expresses and influences the character of the church.221”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/the-social-location-of-the-church-meeting-expresses-and-influences/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) [Explore all 14 Frank Viola quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) ## More Mentor quotes > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [You can’t be a successful leader or mentor until you have served. You can’t serve until you have stepped out of your comfort zone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-courtney/you-can-t-be-a-successful-leader-or-mentor-until-you-have-served-you/) [Bill Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-courtney/) > [Develop a mentor at each stage of your career - someone who will give you guidance and advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/develop-a-mentor-at-each-stage-of-your-career-someone-who-will-give/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“The Holy Spirit is the most influential mentor in your life. He is always willing to teach and guide you in all Truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisa-hope-wagner/the-holy-spirit-is-the-most-influential-mentor-in-your-life-he-is/) [Alisa Hope Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisa-hope-wagner/) > [I don't really have a mentor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/i-don-t-really-have-a-mentor/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [The three greatest people in my life as a young person were white, my high school superintendent, my high school coach and a -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-three-greatest-people-in-my-life-as-a-young-person-were-white-my/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [If you're early on in your career and they give you a choice between a great mentor or higher pay, take the mentor every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-druckenmiller/if-you-re-early-on-in-your-career-and-they-give-you-a-choice-between/) [Stanley Druckenmiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-druckenmiller/) > [You can only mentor somebody if they want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ramone/you-can-only-mentor-somebody-if-they-want-to-be/) [Phil Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ramone/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Years back, I had Chris Samuels when I was in Washington as a mentor. I always wanted to return that favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/years-back-i-had-chris-samuels-when-i-was-in-washington-as-a-mentor-i/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) > [Every 70-year-old needs a young person in their lives to mentor, and every 20-year-old needs a senior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/every-70-year-old-needs-a-young-person-in-their-lives-to-mentor-and/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [Mentors don't have to be the Daymond Johns or the Mark Cubans. A person running a successful bodega or a tax firm in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daymond-john/mentors-don-t-have-to-be-the-daymond-johns-or-the-mark-cubans-a/) [Daymond John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daymond-john/) > [“Expression is a function of intention and intention emanates from your thought faculty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/expression-is-a-function-of-intention-and-intention-emanates-from/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [One of the first things we did was to find role models or mentors at companies that had achieved what we wanted to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-harper/one-of-the-first-things-we-did-was-to-find-role-models-or-mentors-at/) Mitch Harper > [Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mentoring-is-a-brain-to-pick-an-ear-to-listen-and-a-push-in-the-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 988 Mentor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Caution: If you’re a person who will one day mentor others, I have a sobering warning. 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