--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: May God preserve me from being rich while…" description: "\"May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to cure their diseases, from eating good food,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_ability_may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-whil_1339052.jpg" --- # May God preserve me from being rich while they are… ![“May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to cure their diseases, from eating good food, clothing myself well and resting in my home if I do not share with them a piece of my bread and give them, in the measure of my abilities, part of…” quote by Gregory of Nazianzus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_ability_may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-whil_1339052.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_ability_may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-whil_1339052.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_ability_may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-whil_1339052.jpg) > “May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to cure their diseases, from eating good food, clothing myself well and resting in my home if I do not share with them a piece of my bread and give them, in the measure of my abilities, part of my clothes and if I do not welcome them into my home” [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. A plea to avoid wealth and comfort when others are in need, urging sharing of resources and hospitality. **In simple terms:** Don't hoard wealth while others suffer; share what you have. Key Takeaway Give generously according to ability. Themes charity humility social responsibility Mood reflective compassionate Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - personal finances - community aid - housing - food distribution Key Concepts Christian ethics altruism poverty alleviation Questions to Reflect On - How can you help within your capacity? - What barriers prevent you from sharing? A Different Perspective May be impractical for those with limited means. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Being rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-rich/) [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Eating good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating-good/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-food/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) ## Related quotes > [When you are diligent with your intelligent,you can not be indigent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olalekan-ayo-omojayogbe/when-you-are-diligent-with-your-intelligent-you-can-not-be-indigent/) Olalekan Ayo Omojayogbe > [I know a lot of people in Washington would say, well, you know, indigent people can't manage their health savings account. They're too stupid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-know-a-lot-of-people-in-washington-would-say-well-you-know-indigent/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [The very wealthy and the very famous have a much closer affinity with the indigent street person than with the rest of us. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-pinsky/the-very-wealthy-and-the-very-famous-have-a-much-closer-affinity-with/) [Drew Pinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-pinsky/) > [I may be indigent in name, position, and in appearance, but in my own mind I am an unrivaled goddess -](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/i-may-be-indigent-in-name-position-and-in-appearance-but-in-my-own/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [Now, since everything else is furnished with the exact amount of needle and thread required to maintain its being, it is in truth incredible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/now-since-everything-else-is-furnished-with-the-exact-amount-of/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/democracy-is-when-the-indigent-and-not-the-men-of-property-are-the/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [You can say to this unemployed family, people are indigent, that they must pay for water and this and that and refuse removal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/you-can-say-to-this-unemployed-family-people-are-indigent-that-they/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [How low, how little are the proud, How indigent the great!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/how-low-how-little-are-the-proud-how-indigent-the-great/) [Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/) > [“God preserve us from the things we can get used to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-singer/god-preserve-us-from-the-things-we-can-get-used-to/) Isaac Singer > [It is only when men associate with the wicked with the desire and purpose of doing them good, that they can rely upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/it-is-only-when-men-associate-with-the-wicked-with-the-desire-and/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [May God preserve you and watch over you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muqtada-al-sadr/may-god-preserve-you-and-watch-over-you/) [Muqtada al Sadr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muqtada-al-sadr/) > [I pray God may preserve your health and life many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junipero-serra/i-pray-god-may-preserve-your-health-and-life-many-years/) [Junipero Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junipero-serra/) > [God preserve us from writers who regurgitate what they have learnt from books! It is people's secrets we want to know - it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-strindberg/god-preserve-us-from-writers-who-regurgitate-what-they-have-learnt/) [August Strindberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-strindberg/) > [“The world will not be free of me who will establish religion secretly and openly in order that the proofs of God are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imam-al-ghazali/the-world-will-not-be-free-of-me-who-will-establish-religion-secretly/) [Imam Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imam-al-ghazali/) > [God preserve me from idiots and men in love, which is the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-v-heberden/god-preserve-me-from-idiots-and-men-in-love-which-is-the-same-thing/) M. V. Heberden ## 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to cure their diseases, from eating good food, clothing myself well and resting in my home if I do not share with them a piece of my bread and give them, in the measure of my abilities, part of my clothes and if I do not welcome them into my home", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory of Nazianzus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-while-they-are-indigent-from/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-while-they-are-indigent-from/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_ability_may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-whil_1339052.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_ability_may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-whil_1339052.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9f/gregory-of-nazianzus-12417_ability_may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-whil_1339052.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to…” — 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": "May God preserve me from being...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-while-they-are-indigent-from/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nazianzus/may-god-preserve-me-from-being-rich-while-they-are-indigent-from/#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 } } ] } ```