--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be willing to suffer in order to…" description: "\"To be willing to suffer in order to create is one thing; to realize that one's creation necessitates one's suffering, that suffering is one of the grea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a2/j-w-n-sullivan-42385_creation_to-be-willing-to-suffer-in-order-to-crea_3015254.jpg" --- # To be willing to suffer in order to create is one thing… ![“To be willing to suffer in order to create is one thing; to realize that one's creation necessitates one's suffering, that suffering is one of the greatest of God's gifts, is almost to reach a mystical solution of the problem of evil.” quote by J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a2/j-w-n-sullivan-42385_creation_to-be-willing-to-suffer-in-order-to-crea_3015254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a2/j-w-n-sullivan-42385_creation_to-be-willing-to-suffer-in-order-to-crea_3015254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a2/j-w-n-sullivan-42385_creation_to-be-willing-to-suffer-in-order-to-crea_3015254.jpg) > “To be willing to suffer in order to create is one thing; to realize that one's creation necessitates one's suffering, that suffering is one of the greatest of God's gifts, is almost to reach a mystical solution of the problem of evil.” [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suffering is integral to creation; recognizing it as a divine gift can transform pain into a spiritual solution. **In simple terms:** Suffering is a divine gift that fuels creation. Key Takeaway Seek meaning in suffering. Themes theodicy creativity spirituality Mood reflective solemn Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - artistic creation - theological study - personal healing - ritual practice Key Concepts divine purpose pain as catalyst Questions to Reflect On - How does one find purpose in pain? - Can creativity arise without suffering? A Different Perspective Suffering can be overwhelming; not all find meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [God's Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-gift/) [God's Gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-gifts/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Mystical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystical/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problem of evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-of-evil/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth. It purifies the soul. True love is measured by the thermometer of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/suffering-is-the-greatest-treasure-on-earth-it-purifies-the-soul-true/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Suffering is the greatest treasure on earth; it purifies the soul. In suffering, we learn who our true friend is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/suffering-is-the-greatest-treasure-on-earth-it-purifies-the-soul-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“No two people suffer in identical ways, and we must not discount any suffering. The greatest gift we can give each other is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newport/no-two-people-suffer-in-identical-ways-and-we-must-not-discount-any/) [Olivia Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newport/) > [“Suffering is one of the greatest spiritual teachers of humanity. Even though none of us really ever welcomes it...having had enough of it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/suffering-is-one-of-the-greatest-spiritual-teachers-of-humanity-even/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“All of us suffer in life, but the ones who bring the suffering find the greatest pain. The wounds we inflict upon others are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/all-of-us-suffer-in-life-but-the-ones-who-bring-the-suffering-find/) [Dragos Bratasanu, Ph.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/) > [When we are expecting only suffering, the least joy surprises us: Suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/therese-of-lisieux/when-we-are-expecting-only-suffering-the-least-joy-surprises-us/) [Therese of Lisieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/therese-of-lisieux/) > [Many are willing to suffer for their art. Few are willing to learn to draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-munnery/many-are-willing-to-suffer-for-their-art-few-are-willing-to-learn-to/) [Simon Munnery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-munnery/) > [Men of an amiable, yielding temper, willing to take the lowest place; to be least of all; and the servants to all...who live near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hasseltine-judson/men-of-an-amiable-yielding-temper-willing-to-take-the-lowest-place-to/) Ann Hasseltine Judson > [True leaders must be willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/true-leaders-must-be-willing-to-suffer-for-the-sake-of-objectives/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [“God is willing to suffer to get what He wants; evil is not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alan-turner/god-is-willing-to-suffer-to-get-what-he-wants-evil-is-not/) John Alan Turner > [If we're going to be authentic in our leadership, we will have to be willing to serve, and we have to be willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-kouzes/if-we-re-going-to-be-authentic-in-our-leadership-we-will-have-to-be/) [James M. Kouzes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-kouzes/) > [All artists are willing to suffer for their work. But why are so few prepared to learn to draw?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/all-artists-are-willing-to-suffer-for-their-work-but-why-are-so-few/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [There are people who are willing to suffer and swallow their tears at leisure, and God will not doubt reward them in heaven for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/there-are-people-who-are-willing-to-suffer-and-swallow-their-tears-at/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [Being willing to suffer often brings great rewards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-biel/being-willing-to-suffer-often-brings-great-rewards/) [Jessica Biel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-biel/) > [Every step you take will feel as if you were treading upon knife blades so sharp that blood must flow. I am willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-christian-andersen/every-step-you-take-will-feel-as-if-you-were-treading-upon-knife/) [Hans Christian Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-christian-andersen/) ## More by J. W. N. Sullivan > [It is much easier to make measurements than to know exactly what you are measuring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/it-is-much-easier-to-make-measurements-than-to-know-exactly-what-you/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [It is certain that the real function of art is to increase our self-consciousness; to make us more aware of what we are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/it-is-certain-that-the-real-function-of-art-is-to-increase-our-self/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [... it is certain that the real function of art is to increase our self-consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/it-is-certain-that-the-real-function-of-art-is-to-increase-our-self-2/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [We have reached one of the great stages in the adventure of thought … We are required to see the universe with new eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/we-have-reached-one-of-the-great-stages-in-the-adventure-of-thought/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [The hypothesis that life has developed from inorganic matter is, at present, still an article of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/the-hypothesis-that-life-has-developed-from-inorganic-matter-is-at/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [It is only in exceptional moods that we realize how wonderful are the commonest experiences of life. It seems to me sometimes that these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/it-is-only-in-exceptional-moods-that-we-realize-how-wonderful-are-the/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [The mathematician is entirely free, within the limits of the imagination, to construct what worlds he pleases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/the-mathematician-is-entirely-free-within-the-limits-of-the/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [The mathematician is entirely free, within the limits of his imagination, to construct what worlds he pleases. What he is to imagine is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/the-mathematician-is-entirely-free-within-the-limits-of-his/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) > [If a man in order to shoot a hare, were to discharge thousands of guns on a great moor in all possible directions; if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-w-n-sullivan/if-a-man-in-order-to-shoot-a-hare-were-to-discharge-thousands-of-guns/) [J. W. N. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) [Explore all 10 J. W. N. Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-w-n-sullivan/) ## More Creation quotes > [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/) [Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [And wheresoever, in his rich creation, Sweet music breathes--in wave, or bird, or soul-- 'Tis but the faint and far reverberation Of that great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-sargent-osgood/and-wheresoever-in-his-rich-creation-sweet-music-breathes-in-wave-or/) [Frances Sargent Osgood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-sargent-osgood/) > [I believe if there is a creator it will basically ask me two questions, how well did you enjoy my creation and what did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/i-believe-if-there-is-a-creator-it-will-basically-ask-me-two/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [With no other choices open to us, we'd turned our gaze seaward. The oceans were our America: they reached farther than any prairie, untamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carsten-jensen/with-no-other-choices-open-to-us-we-d-turned-our-gaze-seaward-the/) [Carsten Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carsten-jensen/) > [In the quiet moments of your day, what do you think and do? When you are with your Self and no one else, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/in-the-quiet-moments-of-your-day-what-do-you-think-and-do-when-you/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [The creation lives as genesis beneath the visible surface of the work. All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that storytelling and creation are very close to what the center of what magic is about. I think not just for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-moore/i-think-that-storytelling-and-creation-are-very-close-to-what-the/) [Alan Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-moore/) > [To be part of the creation, I must act humbly. I'll take that over a goddess any day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-o-hara/to-be-part-of-the-creation-i-must-act-humbly-i-ll-take-that-over-a/) [Maureen O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-o-hara/) > [The country of Iraq is somewhat of an artificial creation going back to colonial days. And so you have the Kurds and then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clapper/the-country-of-iraq-is-somewhat-of-an-artificial-creation-going-back/) [James Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clapper/) [Browse all 5,225 Creation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be willing to suffer in order to create is one thing; to realize that one's creation necessitates one's suffering, that suffering is one of the greatest of God's gifts, is almost to reach a mystical solution of the problem of evil.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. W. N. 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