Agony Quote by Frederic Farrar
“No true work since the world began was ever wasted; no true life since the world began has ever failed. Oh, understand those two perverted word, failure and success and measure them by the eternal, not the earthly, standard. When after thirty obscure, toilsome, unrecorded years in the shop of the village carpenter, one came forth to be pre-eminently the man of sorrows, to wander from city to city in homeless labors, and to expire in lonely agony upon the shameful cross -- was that a failure.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Life of Jesus Christ by Frederic Farrar, 1864
The quote argues that true work and true life are never wasted or failed when measured by eternal standards, not fleeting earthly ones.
In simple terms: Eternal standards make all effort valuable.
Key Takeaway
Measure success by lasting impact.
Themes
purpose
spirituality
perseverance
legacy
meaning
Mood
reflective
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
motivational
spiritual
When to use this quote
- career dedication
- volunteering
- creative projects
- long‑term research
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
eternity
value judgment
human dignity
suffering
redemption
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define lasting impact?
- What earthly goals align with eternal values?
A Different Perspective
Eternal standards are subjective and may conflict with practical realities.
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
