God and man Quote by Fulton J. Sheen
““Love of God thus becomes the dominant passion of life; like every other worth-while love, it demands and inspires sacrifice. But love of God and man, as an ideal, has lately been replaced by the new ideal of tolerance which inspires no sacrifice. Why should any human being in the world be merely tolerated? What man has ever made a sacrifice in the name of tolerance? It leads men, instead, to express their own egotism in a book or a lecture that patronizes the downtrodden group. One of the cruelest things that can happen to a human being is to be tolerated. Never once did Our Lord say, “Tolerate your enemies!” But He did say, “Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you” (Matt. 5:44). Such love can be achieved only if we deliberately curb our fallen nature’s animosities.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Love of God and Tolerance, 1957
True love for God demands sacrifice, whereas mere tolerance lacks the depth of self‑sacrificial love and can mask egoism.
In simple terms: Godly love needs sacrifice; tolerance alone is shallow.
Key Takeaway
Choose love that costs something.
Themes
faith
love
sacrifice
ego
tolerance
Mood
reflective
serious
inspirational
Type
philosophical
spiritual
ethical
When to use this quote
- church preaching
- personal relationships
- social justice
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
Christian ethics
self‑transcendence
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you sacrifice for someone you dislike?
- Can tolerance become a form of indifference?
A Different Perspective
Tolerance without love may become passive acceptance, not active compassion.
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