--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true secret of spiritual strength is…" description: "\"The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.\" — J. C. Ryle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/j-c-ryle-789_distrust_the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is_62283.png" --- # The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and… ![“The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.” quote by J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/j-c-ryle-789_distrust_the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is_62283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/j-c-ryle-789_distrust_the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is_62283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/j-c-ryle-789_distrust_the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is_62283.png) > “The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.” [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 resilience stems from recognizing one's limits and maintaining humility, rather than overconfidence. **In simple terms:** Humility fuels inner strength. Key Takeaway Self‑distrust breeds growth. Themes humility self‑awareness spirituality resilience growth mindset Mood reflective inspired Type aphorism philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - spiritual practice - leadership challenges - creative blocks Key Concepts inner strength personal development Practical Applications - coaching - meditation guidance Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging uncertainty empower you? - What role does humility play in your spiritual journey? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep Humilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-humilty-844213/) [Distrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrust/) [Distrust Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrust-deep-844216/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Distrust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-distrust-844215/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-strength/) [Strength Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength-self-844214/) ## Related quotes > [I have never felt any inward assurance of genius, or any presentiment of glory or of happiness. I have never seen myself in imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/i-have-never-felt-any-inward-assurance-of-genius-or-any-presentiment/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [All you need is already within you, only you must approach your self with reverence and love. Self-condemnation and self-distrust are grievous errors. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-you-need-is-already-within-you-only-you-must-approach-your-self/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Self distrust is good, but only if it leads to trust in God. Otherwise it ends as spiritual paralysis, inability and unwillingness to undertake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cole/self-distrust-is-good-but-only-if-it-leads-to-trust-in-god-otherwise/) [Alan Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cole/) > [A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/a-lack-of-transparency-results-in-distrust-and-a-deep-sense-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I self distrust every relationship so that I don't get hurt, I never let anyone get close enough but in truth I just hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/concord/i-self-distrust-every-relationship-so-that-i-don-t-get-hurt-i-never/) [CONCORD®](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/concord/) > [Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-ullman/worry-fear-self-distrust-bows-the-heart-and-turns-the-spirit-back-to/) [Samuel Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-ullman/) > [And I have yet to find one single individual who has attained conspicuous success in bringing down enemy aeroplanes who can be said to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rickenbacker/and-i-have-yet-to-find-one-single-individual-who-has-attained/) [Eddie Rickenbacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rickenbacker/) > [“All you need is already within you, only you must approach yourself with reverence and love. Self-condemnation and self-distrust are grievous errors . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/all-you-need-is-already-within-you-only-you-must-approach-yourself/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-distrust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/the-true-teacher-defends-his-pupils-against-his-own-personal/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [“People build defenses around a weakness, not around strength. Where self-esteem is strong, a defense is unnecessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/people-build-defenses-around-a-weakness-not-around-strength-where/) [David W. Earle LPC- Love is Not Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc-love-is-not-enough/) > [“I am beautiful because the kindness of my heart is beautiful. I am strong because my strength is my self-confidence. I am courageous because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-am-beautiful-because-the-kindness-of-my-heart-is-beautiful-i-am/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [The biggest challenge in life is to make yourself aware of your inner strength & your self worthiness. It is challenge in life which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/the-biggest-challenge-in-life-is-to-make-yourself-aware-of-your-inner/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [My inner strength and self respect is getting stronger every day. Thank you to those who tried to bring me down. You made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/my-inner-strength-and-self-respect-is-getting-stronger-every-day/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“POWER THOUGHT 1 I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ. “I have strength for all things in Christ Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/power-thought-1-i-can-do-whatever-i-need-to-do-in-life-through-christ/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Successful people are able to rise above crises by relaxing no matter what the external situation. Their belief in themselves, the strength of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/successful-people-are-able-to-rise-above-crises-by-relaxing-no-matter/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [Do not glory in your own faith, your own feelings, your own knowledge, or your own diligence. Glory in nothing but Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/do-not-glory-in-your-own-faith-your-own-feelings-your-own-knowledge/) [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 Distrust quotes > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At no time in the past century has public distrust of the government been so broadly distributed across the political spectrum, as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-zimmermann/at-no-time-in-the-past-century-has-public-distrust-of-the-government/) [Phil Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-zimmermann/) > [So often do you see collegians enter life with high resolve and lofty purpose and then watch them shrink and shrink to sordid, selfish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/so-often-do-you-see-collegians-enter-life-with-high-resolve-and-lofty/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [We believe a scientist because he can substantiate his remarks, not because he is eloquent and forcible in his enunciation. In fact, we distrust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i-a-richards/we-believe-a-scientist-because-he-can-substantiate-his-remarks-not/) [I. A. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/i-a-richards/) > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Let not the world see fear and sad distrust govern the motion of a kingly eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-not-the-world-see-fear-and-sad-distrust-govern-the-motion-of-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Excessive distrust is not less hurtfJul than its opposite. Most men become useless to him who is unwilling to risk being deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-de-clapiers/excessive-distrust-is-not-less-hurtfjul-than-its-opposite-most-men/) [Luc de Clapiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-de-clapiers/) > [Objection, evasion, joyous distrust, and love of irony are signs of health; everything absolute belongs to pathology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/objection-evasion-joyous-distrust-and-love-of-irony-are-signs-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [On one thing, at least, men & women both agree: They both distrust women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/on-one-thing-at-least-men-women-both-agree-they-both-distrust-women/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demosthenes/there-is-one-safeguard-known-generally-to-the-wise-which-is-an/) [Demosthenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demosthenes/) > [When I arrived in America, though I had left the war physically far behind, in my mind, the soldiers were still chasing to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loung-ung/when-i-arrived-in-america-though-i-had-left-the-war-physically-far/) [Loung Ung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loung-ung/) > [If you would improve, submit to be considered wihout sense and foolish with respect to externals. Wish to be considered to know nothing; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-you-would-improve-submit-to-be-considered-wihout-sense-and-foolish/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [You have to believe in something, and you have to believe in the things that you feel and find value in those things, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-choi/you-have-to-believe-in-something-and-you-have-to-believe-in-the/) [Roy Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-choi/) [Browse all 582 Distrust quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distrust/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. C. Ryle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Distrust" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/j-c-ryle-789_distrust_the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is_62283.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/j-c-ryle-789_distrust_the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is_62283.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/j-c-ryle-789_distrust_the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is_62283.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The true secret of spiritual strength is self-distrust and deep humilty.” — J. C. Ryle", "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": "J. C. Ryle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The true secret of spiritual strength...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/the-true-secret-of-spiritual-strength-is-self-distrust-and-deep/#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 } } ] } ```