Condemns Quote by Graham Greene
““The Church is in the world, it is part of the suffering in the world, and though Christ condemned the disciple who struck off the ear of the high priest's servant, our hearts go out in sympathy to all who are moved to violence by the suffering of others. The Church condemns violence, but it condemns indifference more harshly. Violence can be the expression of love, indifference never. One is an imperfection of charity, the other the perfection of egoism.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, 1940
The Church must reject both violence and indifference, but it condemns indifference more severely because love can manifest as violence while indifference is a moral failure.
In simple terms: Church opposes violence and indifference, but sees indifference as worse.
Key Takeaway
Recognize love can be misdirected; avoid indifference.
Themes
morality
violence
indifference
religion
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- conflict resolution
- pastoral care
- social activism
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
theology
ethics
egoism
charity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance love and non‑violence?
- When is indifference truly worse than violence?
A Different Perspective
Violence may be justified in extreme cases, complicating the moral hierarchy.
![“I tossed up whether I'd see [the critic] or not: I knew too well the pompous phrases of his article, the buried significance he would discover of which I was unaware and the faults I was tired of facing.” quote by Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc1/graham-greene-441_literary-criticism_i-tossed-up-whether-i-d-see-the-critic-o_72760.jpg)
