---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe in comforting the afflicted and…"
description: "\"I believe in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.\" — Halford Luccock"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/halford-luccock-44729_believe_i-believe-in-comforting-the-afflicted-an_1155813.jpg"
---

#  I believe in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the…

![“I believe in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.” quote by Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/halford-luccock-44729_believe_i-believe-in-comforting-the-afflicted-an_1155813.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/halford-luccock-44729_believe_i-believe-in-comforting-the-afflicted-an_1155813.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af9/halford-luccock-44729_believe_i-believe-in-comforting-the-afflicted-an_1155813.jpg)

> “I believe in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.”

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates helping the suffering while challenging those in power.

**In simple terms:** Help the afflicted; confront the comfortable.

Key Takeaway

Support the vulnerable, question authority.

Themes

social justice compassion power dynamics

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical activist

When to use this quote

- charity work
- political activism
- community organizing

Key Concepts

ethical responsibility activism

Questions to Reflect On

- Who are the afflicted in your community?
- How can you responsibly challenge comfort?

A Different Perspective

May provoke backlash from privileged groups.

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[Afflicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afflicted/) [Afflicting Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afflicting-comfortable-1066023/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe Comforting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-comforting-995224/) [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Comforting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting/) [Comforting Afflicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comforting-afflicted-2782832/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [I believe in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe-in/)

## Related quotes

> [Sometimes comforting the afflicted does require afflicting the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/sometimes-comforting-the-afflicted-does-require-afflicting-the/)

[Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/)

> [“You can’t comfort the afflicted,” the note read, “without afflicting the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-andersen/you-can-t-comfort-the-afflicted-the-note-read-without-afflicting-the/)

[Christopher Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-andersen/)

> [You can't comfort the afflicted with afflicting the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/you-can-t-comfort-the-afflicted-with-afflicting-the-comfortable/)

[Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/)

> [There didn't seem to her any harm in it, and the make-believe was so comforting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/there-didn-t-seem-to-her-any-harm-in-it-and-the-make-believe-was-so/)

[Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/)

> [I can't believe I'm comforting a billionaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-can-t-believe-i-m-comforting-a-billionaire/)

[Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/)

> [I spend half my time comforting the afflicated, and the other half afflicting the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wess-stafford/i-spend-half-my-time-comforting-the-afflicated-and-the-other-half/)

[Wess Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wess-stafford/)

> [At the very least i should fear you. some would say that I should hate you." "Many would say that." "Yet i neither fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/at-the-very-least-i-should-fear-you-some-would-say-that-i-should-hate/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“The capacity to pay attention to an afflicted person is something very rare, very difficult; it is nearly a miracle. It is a miracle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-capacity-to-pay-attention-to-an-afflicted-person-is-something/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [Dillinger at one point was the second most popular man in America after President Roosevelt. And he was a national hero for a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/dillinger-at-one-point-was-the-second-most-popular-man-in-america/)

[Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/)

> [“The Gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-gospel-is-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the/)

[Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/)

> [Saints spring and thrive most internally, when they are most externally afflicted. Afflictions are the mother of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/saints-spring-and-thrive-most-internally-when-they-are-most/)

[Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/)

> [We seem to be afflicted by a widespread and eroding reluctance to take any stand on any values, moral, behavioral or esthetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/we-seem-to-be-afflicted-by-a-widespread-and-eroding-reluctance-to/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [The truest help we can render an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but to call out his best energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-truest-help-we-can-render-an-afflicted-man-is-not-to-take-his/)

[Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/)

> [ Every writer since the beginning of time, just like other people, has been afflicted by what \[a\] friend of mine calls "the fleas of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/every-writer-since-the-beginning-of-time-just-like-other-people-has/)

[William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/)

> [“Feeble, I’d become afflicted And my agony had no closure, To love I’d become immune Despite my abundant exposure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-marino/feeble-i-d-become-afflicted-and-my-agony-had-no-closure-to-love-i-d/)

[Joy Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-marino/)

## More by Halford Luccock

> [The Christian message is not an exhortation - "try hard to be good." Good advice, but there is no saving gospel in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/the-christian-message-is-not-an-exhortation-try-hard-to-be-good-good/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

> [The aim of preaching is not the elucidation of a subject, but the transformation of a person. Our task is the sharing of intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/the-aim-of-preaching-is-not-the-elucidation-of-a-subject-but-the/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

> [A scientist said, making a plea for exchange scholarships between nations, "The best way to send an idea is to wrap it up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/a-scientist-said-making-a-plea-for-exchange-scholarships-between/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

> [There is the liability of accepting prematurely an artificial horizon for our own character and personality, of losing the horizon of the possible person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/there-is-the-liability-of-accepting-prematurely-an-artificial-horizon/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

> [Many years ago Rudyard Kipling gave an address at McGill University in Montreal. He said one striking thing which deserves to be remembered. Warning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/many-years-ago-rudyard-kipling-gave-an-address-at-mcgill-university/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

> [No one can whistle a symphony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/no-one-can-whistle-a-symphony/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

> [Expressions of sharp and even violent criticism of religion and the church have been welcomed, for they usually imply sincerity of thought. If caustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/expressions-of-sharp-and-even-violent-criticism-of-religion-and-the/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

> [We have a moral obligation to be interesting, for our gospel is loaded with life-and-death interest for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halford-luccock/we-have-a-moral-obligation-to-be-interesting-for-our-gospel-is-loaded/)

[Halford Luccock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

[Explore all 9 Halford Luccock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halford-luccock/)

## More Afflicted quotes

> [“Feeble, I’d become afflicted And my agony had no closure, To love I’d become immune Despite my abundant exposure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-marino/feeble-i-d-become-afflicted-and-my-agony-had-no-closure-to-love-i-d/)

[Joy Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-marino/)

> [ Every writer since the beginning of time, just like other people, has been afflicted by what \[a\] friend of mine calls "the fleas of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-styron/every-writer-since-the-beginning-of-time-just-like-other-people-has/)

[William Styron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-styron/)

> [The truest help we can render an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but to call out his best energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/the-truest-help-we-can-render-an-afflicted-man-is-not-to-take-his/)

[Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/)

> [We seem to be afflicted by a widespread and eroding reluctance to take any stand on any values, moral, behavioral or esthetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/we-seem-to-be-afflicted-by-a-widespread-and-eroding-reluctance-to/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [Saints spring and thrive most internally, when they are most externally afflicted. Afflictions are the mother of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/saints-spring-and-thrive-most-internally-when-they-are-most/)

[Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/)

> [“The Gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-gospel-is-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the/)

[Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/)

> [Dillinger at one point was the second most popular man in America after President Roosevelt. And he was a national hero for a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mann/dillinger-at-one-point-was-the-second-most-popular-man-in-america/)

[Michael Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mann/)

> [“The capacity to pay attention to an afflicted person is something very rare, very difficult; it is nearly a miracle. It is a miracle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/the-capacity-to-pay-attention-to-an-afflicted-person-is-something/)

[Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/)

> [You can't comfort the afflicted with afflicting the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/you-can-t-comfort-the-afflicted-with-afflicting-the-comfortable/)

[Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/)

> [Even in the greatest afflictions, we ought to testify to God, that, in receiving them from his hand, we feel pleasure in the midst…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/even-in-the-greatest-afflictions-we-ought-to-testify-to-god-that-in/)

[John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/)

> [Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error to an afflicted truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/men-are-apt-to-prefer-a-prosperous-error-to-an-afflicted-truth/)

[Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/)

> [We are all afflicted by original sin; people succumbing to temptations to do and to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-are-all-afflicted-by-original-sin-people-succumbing-to-temptations/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [What single organization has done more for the orphan than the Catholic Church? What one, through hospital and asylum, more for the sick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/what-single-organization-has-done-more-for-the-orphan-than-the/)

[David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/)

> [It is an easy thing to talk of patience to the afflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/it-is-an-easy-thing-to-talk-of-patience-to-the-afflicted/)

[William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/)

> [Eastern Muslim countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, are relative success stories, as they are not afflicted by the Arab heritage of retreat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/eastern-muslim-countries-such-as-indonesia-and-malaysia-are-relative/)

[Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/)

[Browse all 65 Afflicted quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afflicted/)

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