--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Assuredly there is but one way in which…" description: "\"Assuredly there is but one way in which to achieve what is not merely difficult but utterly against human nature: to love those who hate us, to repay t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/john-calvin-490_achieve_assuredly-there-is-but-one-way-in-which_2562341.jpg" --- # Assuredly there is but one way in which to achieve what is… ![“Assuredly there is but one way in which to achieve what is not merely difficult but utterly against human nature: to love those who hate us, to repay their evil deeds with benefits, to return blessings for reproaches. It is that we remember not to consider men's evil intention but to look upon the…” quote by John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/john-calvin-490_achieve_assuredly-there-is-but-one-way-in-which_2562341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/john-calvin-490_achieve_assuredly-there-is-but-one-way-in-which_2562341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/779/john-calvin-490_achieve_assuredly-there-is-but-one-way-in-which_2562341.jpg) > “Assuredly there is but one way in which to achieve what is not merely difficult but utterly against human nature: to love those who hate us, to repay their evil deeds with benefits, to return blessings for reproaches. It is that we remember not to consider men's evil intention but to look upon the image of God in them, which cancels and effaces their transgressions, and with its beauty and dignity allures us to love and embrace them.” [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Loving enemies transforms hatred into compassion, reflecting divine image and erasing sin. **In simple terms:** Love your enemies to reflect God's image. Key Takeaway Love those who hate you. Themes forgiveness spirituality human nature love Mood inspirational spiritual Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - justice - personal healing - community building Key Concepts theology ethics redemptive love Questions to Reflect On - Can you love someone who harms you? - How does seeing God in others change your actions? A Different Perspective Loving enemies may be emotionally taxing and impractical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Allure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allure/) [Blessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessing/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dignity/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Human nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-nature/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Transgression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transgression/) ## Related quotes > [An evil intention perverts the best actions, and makes them sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/an-evil-intention-perverts-the-best-actions-and-makes-them-sins/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Half of the results of a good intentions are evil; half the results of an evil intention are good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/half-of-the-results-of-a-good-intentions-are-evil-half-the-results-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Do not desire to hear about the misfortunes of those who oppose you. For those who listen to such speech later reap the fruits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/do-not-desire-to-hear-about-the-misfortunes-of-those-who-oppose-you/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [But if one Subject giveth Counsell to another, to do anything contrary to the Lawes, whether that Counsell proceed from evil intention, or from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/but-if-one-subject-giveth-counsell-to-another-to-do-anything-contrary/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [We are not to reflect on the wickedness of men but to look to the image of God in them, an image which, covering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/we-are-not-to-reflect-on-the-wickedness-of-men-but-to-look-to-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse,” Paul says in Romans 12:14. He goes on: Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-redman/bless-those-who-persecute-you-bless-and-do-not-curse-paul-says-in/) Beth Redman > [“Why should I give up revenge? On behalf of what? Moral principles? And what of the higher order of things, in which evil deeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-sapkowski/why-should-i-give-up-revenge-on-behalf-of-what-moral-principles-and/) [Andrzej Sapkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-sapkowski/) > [Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/1-peter-3-9/do-not-repay-evil-for-evil-or-reviling-for-reviling-but-on-the/) 1 Peter 3:9 > [“He was incapable of nursing an injustice which would cost him good living to repay, an evil thought which it would undo him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-stead/he-was-incapable-of-nursing-an-injustice-which-would-cost-him-good/) [Christina Stead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-stead/) > [“When you repay evil with evil, you become evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/when-you-repay-evil-with-evil-you-become-evil/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-repay-anyone-evil-for-evil-be-careful-to-do-what-is-right-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Repay evil with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrthrill/repay-evil-with-kindness/) Mrthrill > [“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-robertson/do-not-repay-evil-with-evil-or-insult-with-insult-on-the-contrary/) [Alan Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-robertson/) > [There are those men who say to repay evil with kindness. But I say, how then are we to repay kindness? Repay kindness with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-are-those-men-who-say-to-repay-evil-with-kindness-but-i-say-how/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [It is absolutely forbidden to repay evil with evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/it-is-absolutely-forbidden-to-repay-evil-with-evil/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) ## More by John Calvin > [I have never seen either a drop of piety or a grain of truth or ingenuousness - nay, I have never found common sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/i-have-never-seen-either-a-drop-of-piety-or-a-grain-of-truth-or/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [It is no small honour that God for our sake has so magnificently adorned the world, in order that we may not only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/it-is-no-small-honour-that-god-for-our-sake-has-so-magnificently/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [No man can come to God but by an extraordinary revelation of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/no-man-can-come-to-god-but-by-an-extraordinary-revelation-of-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation to the observance of it, than when we are taught that all the endowments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stronger-exhortation-to-the/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-surest-source-of-destruction-to-men-is-to-obey-themselves/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The whole gospel is contained in Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-whole-gospel-is-contained-in-christ/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [For Scripture is the school of the Holy Spirit, in which, as nothing is omitted that is both necessary and useful to know, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-scripture-is-the-school-of-the-holy-spirit-in-which-as-nothing-is/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [“For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/for-earthly-princes-lay-aside-their-power-when-they-rise-up-against-2/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [If a preacher is not first preaching to himself, better that he falls on the steps of the pulpit and breaks his neck than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/if-a-preacher-is-not-first-preaching-to-himself-better-that-he-falls/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Again I ask whence it happened that the fall of Adam involved, without remedy, in eternal death so many nations, together with their infant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/again-i-ask-whence-it-happened-that-the-fall-of-adam-involved-without/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [Unless God's Word illumine the way, the whole life of men is wrapped in darkness and mist, so that they cannot but miserably stray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/unless-god-s-word-illumine-the-way-the-whole-life-of-men-is-wrapped/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) [Explore all 520 John Calvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. 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