--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or…" description: "\"Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to Heaven; es..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_adversity_let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or_2461658.jpg" --- # Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as… ![“Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to Heaven; esteeming sin as the only true evil, and nothing truly good, but virtue which unites us to God.” quote by Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_adversity_let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or_2461658.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_adversity_let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or_2461658.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_adversity_let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or_2461658.jpg) > “Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to Heaven; esteeming sin as the only true evil, and nothing truly good, but virtue which unites us to God.” [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on spiritual values over material wealth, seeing sin as true evil and virtue as divine connection. **In simple terms:** Prioritize spiritual over material. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual virtue. Themes spirituality materialism virtue sin Mood reflective serene Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - daily decisions - financial planning - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts theology ethics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What worldly thing distracts you from spirituality? - How can virtue guide your choices? A Different Perspective Spiritual focus may clash with practical needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Elsewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elsewhere/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Esteem Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem-worldly-663235/) [Esteeming Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteeming-sin-663236/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Good Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-virtue-425722/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven Esteeming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-esteeming-663238/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [True evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-evil/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtue Unites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue-unites-663237/) [Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly/) ## Related quotes > [Charity is a supreme virtue, and the great channel through which the mercy of God is passed on to mankind. It is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-hilton/charity-is-a-supreme-virtue-and-the-great-channel-through-which-the/) [Conrad Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-hilton/) > [“Virtus Junxit Mors Non Separabit (Whom virtue unites, death cannot separate)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-scottish-rite-fourteenth-degree/virtus-junxit-mors-non-separabit-whom-virtue-unites-death-cannot/) [The Scottish Rite Fourteenth degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-scottish-rite-fourteenth-degree/) > [The moral cement of all society is virtue; it unites and preserves, while vice separates and destroys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-moral-cement-of-all-society-is-virtue-it-unites-and-preserves/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layers of frailty men want to be good and want to be loved. Indeed, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/in-uncertainty-i-am-certain-that-underneath-their-topmost-layers-of-7/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“We are good not in virtue of what we are but in virtue of what we are not, like darkness lit up by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-tanner/we-are-good-not-in-virtue-of-what-we-are-but-in-virtue-of-what-we-are/) [Kathryn Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-tanner/) > [“I believe that there is one story in the world, and only one, that has frightened and inspired us, so that we live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-believe-that-there-is-one-story-in-the-world-and-only-one-that-has-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The sage has no mind of his own. He is aware of the needs of others. I am good to people who are good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/the-sage-has-no-mind-of-his-own-he-is-aware-of-the-needs-of-others-i/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [I am good to people who are good. I am also good to people who are not good. Because Virtue is goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/i-am-good-to-people-who-are-good-i-am-also-good-to-people-who-are-not/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Evil must constantly re-spawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face. While virtue is venerable as nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/evil-must-constantly-re-spawn-while-good-while-virtue-is-immortal/) [john steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“In uncertainty I am certain that underneath their topmost layers of frailty men want to be good and want to be loved. Indeed, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/in-uncertainty-i-am-certain-that-underneath-their-topmost-layers-of-3/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [He (the sage) is good to those who are good. He is also good to those who are not good. That is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/he-the-sage-is-good-to-those-who-are-good-he-is-also-good-to-those/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“Old age is far more than white hair, wrinkles, the feeling that it is too late and the game is finished, that the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/old-age-is-far-more-than-white-hair-wrinkles-the-feeling-that-it-is/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [“True evil is always petty and often incompetent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-chilton/true-evil-is-always-petty-and-often-incompetent/) [Claire Chilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-chilton/) > [“I have experienced real horror. I have known true evil. Its name is human nature.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-newman/i-have-experienced-real-horror-i-have-known-true-evil-its-name-is/) [James Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-newman/) > [“I do think there is evil. But it is very rare. It is as rare as true goodness. And just as true goodness produces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-almond/i-do-think-there-is-evil-but-it-is-very-rare-it-is-as-rare-as-true/) [David Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-almond/) ## More by Gregory of Nazianzus > [That which He has not assumed He has not healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/that-which-he-has-not-assumed-he-has-not-healed/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [As far as we can reach, He Who Is, and God, are the special names of His Essence; and of these especially He Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/as-far-as-we-can-reach-he-who-is-and-god-are-the-special-names-of-his/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [But as the old Confusion of tongues was laudable, when men who were of one language in wickedness and impiety, even as some now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/but-as-the-old-confusion-of-tongues-was-laudable-when-men-who-were-of/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [If anyone does not believe that Holy Mary is the Mother of God, he is severed from the Godhead. If anyone should assert that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/if-anyone-does-not-believe-that-holy-mary-is-the-mother-of-god-he-is/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [What He was, He laid aside; what He was not, He assumed. He takes upon Himself the poverty of my flesh so that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/what-he-was-he-laid-aside-what-he-was-not-he-assumed-he-takes-upon/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [The first of all beautiful things is the continual possession of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/the-first-of-all-beautiful-things-is-the-continual-possession-of-god/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Such is the grace and power of baptism; not an overwhelming of the world as of old, but a purification of the sins of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/such-is-the-grace-and-power-of-baptism-not-an-overwhelming-of-the/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Keep the Feast of the Resurrection. Be a Peter or a John; hasten to the Sepulchre, running together, running against one another, vying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/keep-the-feast-of-the-resurrection-be-a-peter-or-a-john-hasten-to-the/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Our teaching may contain nothing impious, nothing diluted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/our-teaching-may-contain-nothing-impious-nothing-diluted/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Remember God more often than you breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/remember-god-more-often-than-you-breathe/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [If our Lord ascends up to Heaven, ascend with Him. Be one of those angels who escort Him, or one of those who receive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/if-our-lord-ascends-up-to-heaven-ascend-with-him-be-one-of-those/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [It is difficult to practice obedience; but it is even more difficult to practice leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/it-is-difficult-to-practice-obedience-but-it-is-even-more-difficult/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [May you be children of God, pure and unblameable, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation (cf. Phil. 1:15): and may you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/may-you-be-children-of-god-pure-and-unblameable-in-the-midst-of-a/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Worship the Trinity, which I call the only true devotion and saving doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/worship-the-trinity-which-i-call-the-only-true-devotion-and-saving/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) > [Christ is born: glorify Him. Christ comes from heaven: go out to meet Him. Christ descends to earth: let us be raised on high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/christ-is-born-glorify-him-christ-comes-from-heaven-go-out-to-meet/) [Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) [Explore all 55 Gregory of Nazianzus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [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/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to Heaven; esteeming sin as the only true evil, and nothing truly good, but virtue which unites us to God.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory of Nazianzus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or-adversity-as-things-real-or/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or-adversity-as-things-real-or/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_adversity_let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or_2461658.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_adversity_let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or_2461658.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdf/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_adversity_let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or_2461658.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live…” — Gregory of Nazianzus", "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": "Gregory of Nazianzus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nazianzus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let us not esteem worldly prosperity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or-adversity-as-things-real-or/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/let-us-not-esteem-worldly-prosperity-or-adversity-as-things-real-or/#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 } } ] } ```