--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is impossible that one who has turned…" description: "\"It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and feels its anxieties, and engages his heart in the wish to please men, can fulfill that first ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_anxiety_it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned_70981.png" --- # It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and… ![“It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and feels its anxieties, and engages his heart in the wish to please men, can fulfill that first and great commandment of the Master, 'You shall love God with all your heart and with all your strength' (Mt. 22:37).” quote by Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_anxiety_it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned_70981.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_anxiety_it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned_70981.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_anxiety_it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned_70981.png) > “It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and feels its anxieties, and engages his heart in the wish to please men, can fulfill that first and great commandment of the Master, 'You shall love God with all your heart and with all your strength' (Mt. 22:37).” [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True devotion to God requires detachment from worldly approval and anxiety, prioritizing divine love over human validation. **In simple terms:** Divine love outweighs human praise. Key Takeaway Love God fully, not for applause. Themes spiritual devotion detachment inner peace moral priority faith Mood contemplative sincere hopeful Type aphorism theological insight When to use this quote - praying in a busy society - making ethical decisions under peer pressure - seeking purpose beyond career success - confronting social expectations Key Concepts love of God human anxiety selflessness spiritual discipline Practical Applications - spiritual counseling - personal meditation practice Questions to Reflect On - How does seeking human approval hinder spiritual growth? - What practices help shift focus from external validation to divine love? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Orthodox christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-christian/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your resources.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-wilder/you-shall-love-the-lord-your-god-with-all-your-heart-with-all-your/) [Lin Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-wilder/) > [“You  shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-shall-love-the-lord-your-god-with-all-your-heart-and-with-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who has realized love for God in his heart is tireless in his pursuit of the Lord his God, and bears every hardship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/he-who-has-realized-love-for-god-in-his-heart-is-tireless-in-his/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If a man really sets his heart upon the will of God, God will enlighten a little child to tell that man what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorotheus-of-gaza/if-a-man-really-sets-his-heart-upon-the-will-of-god-god-will/) [Dorotheus of Gaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorotheus-of-gaza/) > [When you pray either aloud or to yourself for others ? for instance, for the members of your household or for strangers, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/when-you-pray-either-aloud-or-to-yourself-for-others-for-instance-for/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [... you... are stones of the temple of the Father, prepared for the Father's building, and drawn up on high by the instrument of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/you-are-stones-of-the-temple-of-the-father-prepared-for-the-father-s/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [... men... who say that there is no one in our times and in our midst who is able to keep the Gospel commandments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/symeon-the-new-theologian/men-who-say-that-there-is-no-one-in-our-times-and-in-our-midst-who-is/) [Symeon the New Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/symeon-the-new-theologian/) > [By keeping the Commandments the soul is purified and the mind too is enlightened, and starts to function as nature intended it to. 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorotheus-of-gaza/by-keeping-the-commandments-the-soul-is-purified-and-the-mind-too-is/) [Dorotheus of Gaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorotheus-of-gaza/) > [... if, to me, to live is Christ (Phil. 1:21), truly my words ought to be about Christ, my every thought and deed ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/if-to-me-to-live-is-christ-phil-1-21-truly-my-words-ought-to-be-about/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [If the words of God are uttered merely as verbal expressions, and their message is not rooted in the virtuous way of life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-the-words-of-god-are-uttered-merely-as-verbal-expressions-and/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [For virtue is a light and buoyant thing, and all who live in her way fly like clouds as Isaiah says, and as doves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/for-virtue-is-a-light-and-buoyant-thing-and-all-who-live-in-her-way/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [There is one antidote for evil passions: the purification of our souls which takes place through the mystery of godliness. The chief act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/there-is-one-antidote-for-evil-passions-the-purification-of-our-souls/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [Now there have been delivered to us in the Gospel three Persons and names through whom the generation or birth of believers takes place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/now-there-have-been-delivered-to-us-in-the-gospel-three-persons-and/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [“You don't have to put your hand on Mary's heart to get strength and consolation and rescue, and the other things we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/you-don-t-have-to-put-your-hand-on-mary-s-heart-to-get-strength-and/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Your heart is not wrong. Your heart is your strength. You don't have to be ashamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/your-heart-is-not-wrong-your-heart-is-your-strength-you-don-t-have-to/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) ## More by Gregory of Nyssa > [For when one considers the universe, can anyone be so simple-minded as not to believe that the Divine is present in everything, pervading, embracing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/for-when-one-considers-the-universe-can-anyone-be-so-simple-minded-as/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [Peace is defined as harmony among those who are divided. When, therefore, we end the civil war within our nature and cultivate peace within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/peace-is-defined-as-harmony-among-those-who-are-divided-when/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [But if one wishes to be absolute master of all, to obtain the entire inheritance, and to exclude his brothers from even a third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/but-if-one-wishes-to-be-absolute-master-of-all-to-obtain-the-entire/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [“and the creation, in the world and above the world, that once was at variance with itself, is knit together in friendship: and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/and-the-creation-in-the-world-and-above-the-world-that-once-was-at/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [It is impossible for one to live without tears who considers things exactly as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-for-one-to-live-without-tears-who-considers-things/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [Hope always draws the soul from the beauty which is seen to what is beyond, always kindles the desire for the hidden through what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/hope-always-draws-the-soul-from-the-beauty-which-is-seen-to-what-is/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [God's name is not known; it is wondered at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/god-s-name-is-not-known-it-is-wondered-at/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [If custom is to avail for proof of soundness, we too, surely, may advance our prevailing custom; and if they reject this, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/if-custom-is-to-avail-for-proof-of-soundness-we-too-surely-may/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [Who gives you the day will give you also the things necessary for the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/who-gives-you-the-day-will-give-you-also-the-things-necessary-for-the/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [Today the darkness begins to grow shorter and the light to lengthen, as the hours of night become fewer… Realize that the true light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/today-the-darkness-begins-to-grow-shorter-and-the-light-to-lengthen/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [If we truly think of Christ as our source of holiness, we shall refrain from anything wicked or impure in thought or act and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/if-we-truly-think-of-christ-as-our-source-of-holiness-we-shall/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [We are not entitled to such licence, I mean that of affirming what we please; we make the Holy Scriptures the rule and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/we-are-not-entitled-to-such-licence-i-mean-that-of-affirming-what-we/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [Our human weakness is protected by the assistance of the Angels and...in all our perils, provided faith remain with us, we are defended by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/our-human-weakness-is-protected-by-the-assistance-of-the-angels-and/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [For truly barren is profane education, which is always in labor but never gives birth. For what fruit worthy of such pangs does philosophy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/for-truly-barren-is-profane-education-which-is-always-in-labor-but/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) > [There is one antidote for evil passions: the purification of our souls which takes place through the mystery of godliness. The chief act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/there-is-one-antidote-for-evil-passions-the-purification-of-our-souls/) [Gregory of Nyssa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) [Explore all 33 Gregory of Nyssa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) Nagisa Tatsumi > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and feels its anxieties, and engages his heart in the wish to please men, can fulfill that first and great commandment of the Master, 'You shall love God with all your heart and with all your strength' (Mt. 22:37).", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gregory of Nyssa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned-to-the-world-and-feels-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned-to-the-world-and-feels-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_anxiety_it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned_70981.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_anxiety_it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned_70981.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e4/gregory-of-nyssa-19296_anxiety_it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned_70981.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is impossible that one who has turned to the world and feels its anxieties, and engages his heart in the…” — Gregory of Nyssa", "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 Nyssa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-of-nyssa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is impossible that one who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned-to-the-world-and-feels-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-of-nyssa/it-is-impossible-that-one-who-has-turned-to-the-world-and-feels-its/#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 } } ] } ```