--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I should as soon expect a farmer to…" description: "\"I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest, as expect ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/j-c-ryle-789_believer_i-should-as-soon-expect-a-farmer-to-pros_2242887.png" --- # I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business… ![“I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest, as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about his Bible reading, his prayers, and the use of his Sundays.” quote by J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/j-c-ryle-789_believer_i-should-as-soon-expect-a-farmer-to-pros_2242887.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/j-c-ryle-789_believer_i-should-as-soon-expect-a-farmer-to-pros_2242887.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/j-c-ryle-789_believer_i-should-as-soon-expect-a-farmer-to-pros_2242887.png) > “I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest, as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about his Bible reading, his prayers, and the use of his Sundays.” [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth requires active practice, not passive hope; diligence in study and prayer is essential for holiness. **In simple terms:** Holiness needs effort, not just belief. Key Takeaway Be diligent in spiritual habits. Themes faith discipline spirituality Mood reflective encouraging Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - Bible study - daily prayer - church attendance - personal devotion Key Concepts Christianity practical piety Questions to Reflect On - How can you make spiritual disciplines a habit? - What obstacles prevent consistent practice? A Different Perspective Neglecting practice leads to stagnation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) [Bible reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-reading/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Harvest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harvest/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Sunday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunday/) ## Related quotes > [The 'means of grace' are such as Bible reading, private prayer, and regularly worshiping God in Church, wherein one hears the Word taught and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-means-of-grace-are-such-as-bible-reading-private-prayer-and-2/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [It may well be feared, that there is not enough Biblereading among us. It is not sufficient to have the Book. We must actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/it-may-well-be-feared-that-there-is-not-enough-biblereading-among-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [A Bible reading laity is a nation's surest defence against error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/a-bible-reading-laity-is-a-nation-s-surest-defence-against-error/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let us seek friends that will stir up our prayers, our Bible reading, our use of time, and our salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-us-seek-friends-that-will-stir-up-our-prayers-our-bible-reading/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Next to praying there is nothing so important in practical religion as Bible-reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/next-to-praying-there-is-nothing-so-important-in-practical-religion-2/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [There is not enough Bible-reading among us. It is not sufficient to have the Book. We must actually READ it, and PRAY over it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/there-is-not-enough-bible-reading-among-us-it-is-not-sufficient-to/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The more you come to know the Bible - both in reading it extensively and also meditating on it deeply - the more integrated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/the-more-you-come-to-know-the-bible-both-in-reading-it-extensively/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“Until a man begins to read, then He will discover himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/until-a-man-begins-to-read-then-he-will-discover-himself/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-bible-is-a-book-that-has-been-read-more-and-examined-less-than/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [“My mother was in charge of language. My father had never really learned to read - he could manage slowly, with his fingers on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/my-mother-was-in-charge-of-language-my-father-had-never-really/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“When you stop trying to force the Bible to be something it's not--static, perspicacious, certain, absolute--then you're free to revel in what it is:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/when-you-stop-trying-to-force-the-bible-to-be-something-it-s-not/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [When I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my savior, and I asked him to forgive and to come into my life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/when-i-put-my-faith-in-jesus-christ-as-my-savior-and-i-asked-him-to/) [Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/) > [In 1962 and 1963, there were two abominable decisions out of the Supreme Court, and that was taking prayer out of school, and taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/in-1962-and-1963-there-were-two-abominable-decisions-out-of-the/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/there-are-more-sure-marks-of-authenticity-in-the-bible-than-in-any/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Christians think a long record of church attendence and Bible reading is equivalent to an advanced degree in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-kendall/christians-think-a-long-record-of-church-attendence-and-bible-reading/) [Graham Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-kendall/) ## More by J. C. Ryle > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/love-should-be-the-silver-thread-that-runs-through-all-your-conduct/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Amidst the flood of dangerous reading, I plead for my Master's book; I call upon you not to forget the book of the soul.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/amidst-the-flood-of-dangerous-reading-i-plead-for-my-master-s-book-i/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Persecution, in short, is like the goldsmith's stamp on real silver and gold - it is one of the marks of a converted man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/persecution-in-short-is-like-the-goldsmith-s-stamp-on-real-silver-and/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The parent who tries to train without setting a good example is building with one hand, and pulling down with the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-parent-who-tries-to-train-without-setting-a-good-example-is/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [We are all naturally self-righteous. It is the family disease of all the children of Adam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/we-are-all-naturally-self-righteous-it-is-the-family-disease-of-all/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best, which is practised most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practised-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [O Christian, look up and take comfort. Jesus has prepared a place for you, and those who follow Him shall never perish, neither shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/o-christian-look-up-and-take-comfort-jesus-has-prepared-a-place-for/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let your Christianity be so unmistakable, your eye so single, your heart so whole, your walk so straightforward, that all who see you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-your-christianity-be-so-unmistakable-your-eye-so-single-your/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Let it be a settled principle ...that men's salvation, if saved, is wholly of God; and that man's ruin, if lost, is wholly of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-it-be-a-settled-principle-that-men-s-salvation-if-saved-is-wholly/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [That Bible is read best - which is practiced most!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/that-bible-is-read-best-which-is-practiced-most/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [If we would know whether our faith is genuine, we do well to ask ourselves how we are living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/if-we-would-know-whether-our-faith-is-genuine-we-do-well-to-ask/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [To be born again is, as it were, to enter upon a new existence, to have a new mind, a new heart, new views,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/to-be-born-again-is-as-it-were-to-enter-upon-a-new-existence-to-have/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) [Explore all 369 J. C. Ryle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) ## More Believer quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [I've always been a believer in research. It's great to have an instinctual human reaction to a character, too, of course, but it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-ve-always-been-a-believer-in-research-it-s-great-to-have-an/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [God has given believers the responsibility of spreading the Gospel to all the world, and we need to use all at our disposal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-epp/god-has-given-believers-the-responsibility-of-spreading-the-gospel-to/) [Theodore Epp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-epp/) > [I am not a great believer in dialectical struggle. I am much more of a fusion person. I see it as a dialogue, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-warner/i-am-not-a-great-believer-in-dialectical-struggle-i-am-much-more-of-a/) [Marina Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-warner/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [Jesus taught that the mark of the Christian is the observable love shown among all true believers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/jesus-taught-that-the-mark-of-the-christian-is-the-observable-love/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [I'm a great believer in people and their untapped potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-bester/i-m-a-great-believer-in-people-and-their-untapped-potential/) [Alfred Bester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-bester/) > [Revival is the Spirit's passion within the believer to know and to obey the total will of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/revival-is-the-spirit-s-passion-within-the-believer-to-know-and-to/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/i-m-not-a-great-believer-in-awards-of-course-the-fact-that-i-ve-never/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Intuitionists think that there are cases in which, say, some identity statement between real numbers is neither true nor false, even though we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-f-heck/intuitionists-think-that-there-are-cases-in-which-say-some-identity/) [Richard F. 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What God promises us in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-mohler/the-problem-with-prosperity-theology-is-not-that-it-promises-too-much/) [Albert Mohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-mohler/) > [ I do not make decisions \[as governor\] based on what have I learned through my Bible studies, what have I learned in my religious… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-do-not-make-decisions-as-governor-based-on-what-have-i-learned/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I'm a great believer in life to saying yes and not saying no, and hopefully making people smile and just having fun in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-m-a-great-believer-in-life-to-saying-yes-and-not-saying-no-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) [Browse all 2,028 Believer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest, as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about his Bible reading, his prayers, and the use of his Sundays.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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