--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My own experience is that the Bible is…" description: "\"My own experience is that the Bible is dull when I am dull. When I am really alive, and set in upon the text with a tidal pressure of living affinities..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/horace-bushnell-10962_affinity_my-own-experience-is-that-the-bible-is-d_3207828.jpg" --- # My own experience is that the Bible is dull when I am… ![“My own experience is that the Bible is dull when I am dull. When I am really alive, and set in upon the text with a tidal pressure of living affinities, it opens, it multiplies discoveries, and reveals depths even faster than I can note them. The worldly spirit shuts the Bible; the Spirit of God…” quote by Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/horace-bushnell-10962_affinity_my-own-experience-is-that-the-bible-is-d_3207828.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/horace-bushnell-10962_affinity_my-own-experience-is-that-the-bible-is-d_3207828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/555/horace-bushnell-10962_affinity_my-own-experience-is-that-the-bible-is-d_3207828.jpg) > “My own experience is that the Bible is dull when I am dull. When I am really alive, and set in upon the text with a tidal pressure of living affinities, it opens, it multiplies discoveries, and reveals depths even faster than I can note them. The worldly spirit shuts the Bible; the Spirit of God makes it a fire, flaming out all meanings and glorious truths.” [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When engaged deeply, the Bible becomes a dynamic source of insight, whereas a passive approach yields dullness. **In simple terms:** Deep engagement makes the Bible lively. Key Takeaway Read actively with personal relevance. Themes faith interpretation spiritual vitality Mood contemplative inspirational Type spiritual educational When to use this quote - personal study - group discussion - teaching - meditation - writing Key Concepts theology personal experience scriptural study Questions to Reflect On - What personal experiences can you bring to your reading? - How does active engagement change your faith? A Different Perspective Passive reading may miss deeper meanings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affinity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affinity/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-dull-5982409/) [Bible Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-spirit-1350367/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Dull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dull/) [Experience Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-bible-5982411/) [Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faster/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Glorious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glorious/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Shuts Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shuts-bible-5982410/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirit of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-of-god/) [Worldly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worldly/) ## Related quotes > [“The Holy Bible is the Spirit of God exposed to humanity in the Language of Heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-wantang/the-holy-bible-is-the-spirit-of-god-exposed-to-humanity-in-the/) [Felix Wantang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-wantang/) > [“The Bible, written by men, instills the idea of God; but the Bible isn‘t God. The Bible is an idea of the spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishwanath/the-bible-written-by-men-instills-the-idea-of-god-but-the-bible-isn-t/) [Vishwanath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishwanath/) > [Christ is redemption only as He actually redeems and delivers our nature from sin. If He is not the law and spring of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/christ-is-redemption-only-as-he-actually-redeems-and-delivers-our/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [The affinity of blood or pure haemoglobins for oxygen is a complex phenomenon, depending upon a number of conditions, the most important of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-krogh/the-affinity-of-blood-or-pure-haemoglobins-for-oxygen-is-a-complex/) [August Krogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-krogh/) > [I found myself being more and more involved with people who were rejected by society - with drug addicts, alcoholism, battered this, battered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/i-found-myself-being-more-and-more-involved-with-people-who-were/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [I've got German, Cornish and Scottish ancestry. It might help explain my affinity for forests, the sea, and fatty foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/i-ve-got-german-cornish-and-scottish-ancestry-it-might-help-explain/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [A man is known by the books he reads, by the company he keeps, by the praise he gives, by his dress, by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-known-by-the-books-he-reads-by-the-company-he-keeps-by-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Gay men are perfect men for girls who are tough. They're not threatened by strong women, and they're usually very in touch with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/gay-men-are-perfect-men-for-girls-who-are-tough-they-re-not/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [My father being in the movie business, I thought being an actor would be great. But when I started singing to people in coffeehouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/my-father-being-in-the-movie-business-i-thought-being-an-actor-would/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [Savages have often been likened to children, and the comparison is not only correct but also highly instructive. Many naturalists consider that the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/savages-have-often-been-likened-to-children-and-the-comparison-is-not/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [I receive huge support from Irish and British sports fans alike and it is greatly appreciated. Likewise I feel I have a great affinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-receive-huge-support-from-irish-and-british-sports-fans-alike-and/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [Your brain may give birth to any technology, but other brains will decide whether the technology thrives. The number of possible technologies is infinite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/your-brain-may-give-birth-to-any-technology-but-other-brains-will/) [Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/) > [This formula of Love is universal; all the laws of Nature are its servitors. Thus, gravitation, chemical affinity, electrical potential, and the rest -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/this-formula-of-love-is-universal-all-the-laws-of-nature-are-its/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [There certainly is an affinity between a person and his work, but it is not easy to define what this affinity is, and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/there-certainly-is-an-affinity-between-a-person-and-his-work-but-it/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I have an affinity with the Leicester community and want the best for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morrison/i-have-an-affinity-with-the-leicester-community-and-want-the-best-for/) [Mark Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morrison/) ## More by Horace Bushnell > [To understand a philosopher requires a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/to-understand-a-philosopher-requires-a-philosopher/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Be sure that Christ is not behind you, but before, calling and drawing you on. This is the liberty, the beautiful liberty of Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/be-sure-that-christ-is-not-behind-you-but-before-calling-and-drawing/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Nature has no promise for society, least of all, any remedy for sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/nature-has-no-promise-for-society-least-of-all-any-remedy-for-sin/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Christ's sacrifice stands in glorious proportions with the work to be done. Nothing else or less would suffice. It is a work supernatural, transacted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/christ-s-sacrifice-stands-in-glorious-proportions-with-the-work-to-be/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [It doth not yet appear what we shall be. We lie here in our nest, unfledged and weak, guessing dimly at our future, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/it-doth-not-yet-appear-what-we-shall-be-we-lie-here-in-our-nest/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Every man's life is a plan of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/every-man-s-life-is-a-plan-of-god/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [However dark our lot may be, there is light enough on the other side of the cloud, in that pure empyrean where God dwells,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/however-dark-our-lot-may-be-there-is-light-enough-on-the-other-side/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Guilt is the very nerve of sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/guilt-is-the-very-nerve-of-sorrow/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Live as with God; and, whatever be your calling, pray for the gift that will perfectly qualify you in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/live-as-with-god-and-whatever-be-your-calling-pray-for-the-gift-that/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [When has the world seen a phenomenon like this? a lonely uninstructed youth, coming from amid the moral darkness of Galilee, even more distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/when-has-the-world-seen-a-phenomenon-like-this-a-lonely-uninstructed/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Great occasions rally great principles, and brace the mind to a lofty bearing, a bearing that is even above itself. But trials that make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/great-occasions-rally-great-principles-and-brace-the-mind-to-a-lofty/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [It is the grand endeavor of the gospel to communicate God to men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/it-is-the-grand-endeavor-of-the-gospel-to-communicate-god-to-men/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Morality, taken as apart from religion, is but another name for decency in sin. It is just that negative species of virtue which consists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/morality-taken-as-apart-from-religion-is-but-another-name-for-decency/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [In the sacred fact of obligation you touch the immutable, and lay hold, as it were, on the eternities. At the very center of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/in-the-sacred-fact-of-obligation-you-touch-the-immutable-and-lay-hold/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) > [Jesus is the true manifestation of God, and He is manifested to be the regenerating power of a divine life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-bushnell/jesus-is-the-true-manifestation-of-god-and-he-is-manifested-to-be-the/) [Horace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) [Explore all 62 Horace Bushnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-bushnell/) ## More Affinity quotes > [I have an affinity with the Leicester community and want the best for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morrison/i-have-an-affinity-with-the-leicester-community-and-want-the-best-for/) [Mark Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morrison/) > [There certainly is an affinity between a person and his work, but it is not easy to define what this affinity is, and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/there-certainly-is-an-affinity-between-a-person-and-his-work-but-it/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [This formula of Love is universal; all the laws of Nature are its servitors. Thus, gravitation, chemical affinity, electrical potential, and the rest -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/this-formula-of-love-is-universal-all-the-laws-of-nature-are-its/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [Your brain may give birth to any technology, but other brains will decide whether the technology thrives. The number of possible technologies is infinite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/your-brain-may-give-birth-to-any-technology-but-other-brains-will/) [Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/) > [I receive huge support from Irish and British sports fans alike and it is greatly appreciated. Likewise I feel I have a great affinity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-receive-huge-support-from-irish-and-british-sports-fans-alike-and/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [Savages have often been likened to children, and the comparison is not only correct but also highly instructive. Many naturalists consider that the early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lubbock/savages-have-often-been-likened-to-children-and-the-comparison-is-not/) [John Lubbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lubbock/) > [My father being in the movie business, I thought being an actor would be great. But when I started singing to people in coffeehouses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/my-father-being-in-the-movie-business-i-thought-being-an-actor-would/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [Gay men are perfect men for girls who are tough. They're not threatened by strong women, and they're usually very in touch with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/gay-men-are-perfect-men-for-girls-who-are-tough-they-re-not/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [A man is known by the books he reads, by the company he keeps, by the praise he gives, by his dress, by his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-is-known-by-the-books-he-reads-by-the-company-he-keeps-by-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I've got German, Cornish and Scottish ancestry. It might help explain my affinity for forests, the sea, and fatty foods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-maclachlan/i-ve-got-german-cornish-and-scottish-ancestry-it-might-help-explain/) [Kyle MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-maclachlan/) > [I found myself being more and more involved with people who were rejected by society - with drug addicts, alcoholism, battered this, battered that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/i-found-myself-being-more-and-more-involved-with-people-who-were/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [The affinity of blood or pure haemoglobins for oxygen is a complex phenomenon, depending upon a number of conditions, the most important of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-krogh/the-affinity-of-blood-or-pure-haemoglobins-for-oxygen-is-a-complex/) [August Krogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-krogh/) > [Even if you have money, access to MoCap technology, and strong choreographic and computer-animation abilities, don't try to make a film like this if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martine-epoque/even-if-you-have-money-access-to-mocap-technology-and-strong/) [Martine Epoque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martine-epoque/) > [Would movie moguls release a film portraying Adolph Hitler as a great benefactor of the Jews? 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