---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But still – that is our vocation: to…"
description: "\"“But still – that is our vocation: to convert the hostis into a hospes, the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-conver_1611516.jpg"
---

#  But still – that is our vocation: to convert the hostis…

![“But still – that is our vocation: to convert the hostis into a hospes, the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-conver_1611516.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-conver_1611516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-conver_1611516.jpg)

> ““But still – that is our vocation: to convert the hostis into a hospes, the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.””

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

## About This Quote

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

Transform hostility into hospitality, fostering fearless communal bonds.

**In simple terms:** Turn enemies into guests to build brave community.

Key Takeaway

Practice welcoming former foes.

Themes

hospitality peacebuilding brotherhood

Mood

thoughtful encouraging

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- community work
- interfaith dialogue
- team building
- education

Key Concepts

theology conflict resolution

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you welcome an adversary?
- What spaces allow safe vulnerability?

A Different Perspective

Changing deep‑seated animosity is difficult.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Brotherhood And Sisterhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood-and-sisterhood-222992/) [Brotherhood Sisterhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood-sisterhood-2728444/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guest/) [Henri-nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/henri-nouwen-81639/) [Hospitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitality/) [Reaching out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching-out/) [Sisterhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sisterhood/) [Sisterhood Formed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sisterhood-formed-4827542/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) [Welcome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcome/)

## Related quotes

> [That is our vocation: to convert the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-enemy-into-a-guest-and-to-create/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [The realization that we are all basically the same human beings who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering is very helpful in developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-realization-that-we-are-all-basically-the-same-human-beings-who/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [For a better, happier, more stable and civilized future, each of us must develop a sincere, warm-hearted feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/for-a-better-happier-more-stable-and-civilized-future-each-of-us-must/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [The greatest brotherhood, sisterhood that I was ever a part of are veterans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sestak/the-greatest-brotherhood-sisterhood-that-i-was-ever-a-part-of-are/)

[Joe Sestak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sestak/)

> [“We are the Bloodsworn, closer than kin. A brotherhood, a sisterhood: we live and die together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gwynne/we-are-the-bloodsworn-closer-than-kin-a-brotherhood-a-sisterhood-we/)

[John Gwynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gwynne/)

> [“To live! like a tree alone and free, To live! like a forest in brotherhood/sisterhood...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naz-m-hikmet/to-live-like-a-tree-alone-and-free-to-live-like-a-forest-in/)

[Nâzım Hikmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naz-m-hikmet/)

> [Sometimes religion becomes yet another source for more division and even open conflict. Because of that situation, I feel the different religious traditions have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/sometimes-religion-becomes-yet-another-source-for-more-division-and/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [The problems we face today, violent conflicts, destruction of nature, poverty, hunger and so on, are human-created problems which can be resolved through human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-problems-we-face-today-violent-conflicts-destruction-of-nature/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“In solitude we can come to the realization that we are not driven together but brought together. In solitude we come to know our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-solitude-we-can-come-to-the-realization-that-we-are-not-driven/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [“The Importance of Receiving Receiving often is harder than giving. Giving is very important: giving insight, giving hope, giving courage, giving advice, giving support,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-importance-of-receiving-receiving-often-is-harder-than-giving/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [“Who can save a child from a burning house without taking the risk of being hurt by the flames? Who can listen to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/who-can-save-a-child-from-a-burning-house-without-taking-the-risk-of/)

[Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/)

> [“The wise person is there not to be walked over but to stand up for the actual truth, to call the other person out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-wise-person-is-there-not-to-be-walked-over-but-to-stand-up-for/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [“I can be happy or unhappy in all situations. I am sure of it, because I have been. I have felt distraught and joyful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-j-m-nouwen/i-can-be-happy-or-unhappy-in-all-situations-i-am-sure-of-it-because-i/)

[Henri J.M. Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-j-m-nouwen/)

> [“THE FIVE CONTEMPLATIONS 1.This food is a gift of the Earth, the sky, numerous living beings, and much hard and loving work. 2.May we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/the-five-contemplations-1-this-food-is-a-gift-of-the-earth-the-sky/)

[Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/)

> [“Sometimes, you will go through awful trials in your life and then a miracle happens--God heals you. Don’t be disheartened when the people you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/sometimes-you-will-go-through-awful-trials-in-your-life-and-then-a/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

## More by Henri Nouwen

> [We are not the healers, we are not the reconcilers, we are not the givers of life. We are sinful, broken, vulnerable people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-are-not-the-healers-we-are-not-the-reconcilers-we-are-not-the/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-we-touch-the-intimate-love-of-god-which-creates-sustains-and/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [Feelings of guilt dominate our work as peacemakers we cannot last long. But when we have opened each other's eyes to the great human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/feelings-of-guilt-dominate-our-work-as-peacemakers-we-cannot-last/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [...we all want to hear stories, from the moment we are born to the moment we die. Stories connect our little lives with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/we-all-want-to-hear-stories-from-the-moment-we-are-born-to-the-moment/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [I have found it very important...to let go of my wishes and start hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-have-found-it-very-important-to-let-go-of-my-wishes-and-start-hoping/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [Somewhere we know that without silence, words lose their meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/somewhere-we-know-that-without-silence-words-lose-their-meaning/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [Jesus says, "Keep your heart on the kingdom first. Keep your heart on God's love. Keep focused on the fact that you are God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-says-keep-your-heart-on-the-kingdom-first-keep-your-heart-on/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [This sounds very simple and maybe even trite, but very few people know that they are loved without condition or limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/this-sounds-very-simple-and-maybe-even-trite-but-very-few-people-know/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [“The more preoccupied we are with security the more visible the force of death becomes, whether in the form of a pistol beside our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-more-preoccupied-we-are-with-security-the-more-visible-the-force/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [If you feel a great loneliness and a deep longing for human contact, you have to be extremely discerning...and ask yourself whether this situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/if-you-feel-a-great-loneliness-and-a-deep-longing-for-human-contact/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [I choose L'Arche; L'Arche chooses me. I would be dead if I weren't here. I need people to love me and care for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/i-choose-l-arche-l-arche-chooses-me-i-would-be-dead-if-i-weren-t-here/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God's eyes, called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/the-truth-even-though-i-cannot-feel-it-right-now-is-that-i-am-the/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [In a world so torn apart by rivalry, anger, and hatred, we have the privileged vocation to be living signs of a love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/in-a-world-so-torn-apart-by-rivalry-anger-and-hatred-we-have-the/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

> [Where true inner freedom is, there is God. And where God is, there we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/where-true-inner-freedom-is-there-is-god-and-where-god-is-there-we/)

[Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

[Explore all 452 Henri Nouwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/)

## More Brotherhood quotes

> [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/)

[Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/)

> [Saying that the origin of the Islamic State (IS) is within the Muslim Brotherhood organisation only strengthens IS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/saying-that-the-origin-of-the-islamic-state-is-is-within-the-muslim/)

[Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/)

> [“All the same I keep on looking for someone incomprehensible who won't understand me either, because I have a terrible thirst for brotherhood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-ajar/all-the-same-i-keep-on-looking-for-someone-incomprehensible-who-won-t/)

[Emile Ajar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-ajar/)

> [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

> [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

> [This is me and my older brother alasandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother/this-is-me-and-my-older-brother-alasandro/)

[Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother/)

> [You may call for peace as loudly as you wish, but where there is no brotherhood there can in the end be no peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/you-may-call-for-peace-as-loudly-as-you-wish-but-where-there-is-no/)

[Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/)

> [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/)

[Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/)

> [Overall, we had about 50 meetings where the brothers would say that I couldn't do any solo records, I couldn't write for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/overall-we-had-about-50-meetings-where-the-brothers-would-say-that-i/)

[Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/)

> [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/)

[Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/)

> [My brothers and I would try to talk our dad into letting us stay up and watch 'Star Trek.' I remember watching it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/my-brothers-and-i-would-try-to-talk-our-dad-into-letting-us-stay-up/)

[Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/)

> [I work incredibly hard - just like every other person in business and work. And aside from the fact of, yes, I am the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/i-work-incredibly-hard-just-like-every-other-person-in-business-and/)

[James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/)

> [I have 10 brothers and sisters. My mother raised us because my father died when I was 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/i-have-10-brothers-and-sisters-my-mother-raised-us-because-my-father/)

[Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/)

> [A League of Their Own' had some special meaning for me, I guess - it's about women joining together and being empowered, but also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebel-wilson/a-league-of-their-own-had-some-special-meaning-for-me-i-guess-it-s/)

[Rebel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebel-wilson/)

> [My older brothers were both basketball players so I just grew up around the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brook-lopez/my-older-brothers-were-both-basketball-players-so-i-just-grew-up/)

[Brook Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brook-lopez/)

[Browse all 3,733 Brotherhood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“But still – that is our vocation: to convert the hostis into a hospes, the enemy into a guest and to create the free and fearless space where brotherhood and sisterhood can be formed and fully experienced.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Henri Nouwen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-hostis-into-a-hospes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brotherhood"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-hostis-into-a-hospes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-conver_1611516.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-conver_1611516.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/287/henri-nouwen-600_brotherhood_but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-conver_1611516.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But still – that is our vocation: to convert the hostis into a hospes, the enemy into a guest and to create…” — Henri Nouwen",
                "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": "Henri Nouwen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“But still – that is our...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-hostis-into-a-hospes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/but-still-that-is-our-vocation-to-convert-the-hostis-into-a-hospes/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
