--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There cannot be a surer rule, nor a…" description: "\"There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation to the observance of it, than when we are taught that all the endowments which we possess are ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/john-calvin-490_deposits_there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stron_28715.jpg" --- # There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation… ![“There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation to the observance of it, than when we are taught that all the endowments which we possess are divine deposits entrusted to us for the very purpose of being distributed for the good of our neighbour.” quote by John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/john-calvin-490_deposits_there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stron_28715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/john-calvin-490_deposits_there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stron_28715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/john-calvin-490_deposits_there-cannot-be-a-surer-rule-nor-a-stron_28715.jpg) > “There cannot be a surer rule, nor a stronger exhortation to the observance of it, than when we are taught that all the endowments which we possess are divine deposits entrusted to us for the very purpose of being distributed for the good of our neighbour.” [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. The passage asserts that our talents and resources are gifts from a higher power, intended to be shared for the benefit of others, making stewardship a moral duty. **In simple terms:** Our gifts are divine trusts to help others. Key Takeaway Share what you have for the common good. Themes Stewardship Altruism Divine purpose Community Moral responsibility Mood Inspirational Reflective Type Moral teaching Philosophical statement When to use this quote - Philanthropy planning - Corporate social responsibility - Family budgeting - Volunteer coordination Key Concepts Resource allocation Ethical duty Social cohesion Practical Applications - Designing charitable programs - Guiding ethical investment decisions Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing resources as a trust change your spending habits? - What responsibilities arise from believing your talents are divinely given? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deposits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deposits/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divine Deposits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-deposits-419925/) [Endowment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endowment/) [Endowments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endowments-419923/) [Endowments Possess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endowments-possess-419922/) [Neighbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbour/) [Observance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observance/) [Observance Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observance-taught-419924/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Stewardship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stewardship/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Endowments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-endowments-419921/) ## Related quotes > [No man can survey himself without forthwith turning his thoughts towards the God in whom he lives and moves; because it is perfectly obvious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/no-man-can-survey-himself-without-forthwith-turning-his-thoughts/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition, that they should be dispensed for the benefit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/all-the-blessings-we-enjoy-are-divine-deposits-committed-to-our-trust/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [You cannot imagine a more certain rule or a more powerful suggestion than this, that all the blessings we enjoy are divine deposits which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/you-cannot-imagine-a-more-certain-rule-or-a-more-powerful-suggestion/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [I used to ask myself why American universities are financed through endowments. Now I know: During the early days of America, the state was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/i-used-to-ask-myself-why-american-universities-are-financed-through/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [Inquire what the effect of large endowments are upon colleges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-cornell/inquire-what-the-effect-of-large-endowments-are-upon-colleges/) [Ezra Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-cornell/) > [“We may not have the power to profess our gifts as the artist does, and yet we come to recognize, and in a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hyde/we-may-not-have-the-power-to-profess-our-gifts-as-the-artist-does-and/) [Lewis Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hyde/) > [That Man indeed can never be good at heart, who is full of himself and his own Endowments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-astell/that-man-indeed-can-never-be-good-at-heart-who-is-full-of-himself-and/) [Mary Astell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-astell/) > [Without religion the highest endowments of intellect can only render the possessor more dangerous if he be ill disposed; if well disposed, only more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/without-religion-the-highest-endowments-of-intellect-can-only-render/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [Enquire what the effect of large endowments are upon colleges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-cornell/enquire-what-the-effect-of-large-endowments-are-upon-colleges/) [Ezra Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-cornell/) > [Believe me, when my ‘personal endowments’ are being discussed, I always pay attention.” ~ Cam Rohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/believe-me-when-my-personal-endowments-are-being-discussed-i-always/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“the Declaration of Independence does not mean we are equal in endowments, only in rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-d-souza/the-declaration-of-independence-does-not-mean-we-are-equal-in/) [Dinesh D'Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-d-souza/) > [“Universities use their endowments to finance a range of activities, from scholarships to building projects. Harvard has promised to use its financial resources to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/universities-use-their-endowments-to-finance-a-range-of-activities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-nibley/the-worst-sinners-according-to-jesus-are-not-the-harlots-and/) [Hugh Nibley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-nibley/) > [All worldly pursuits have but one unavoidable and inevitable end, which is sorrow; acquisitions end in dispersion; buildings in destruction; meetings in separation; births…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/all-worldly-pursuits-have-but-one-unavoidable-and-inevitable-end/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [“But it will be asked, why are they now admonished of their duty, and not rather left to the guidance of the Spirit? Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-it-will-be-asked-why-are-they-now-admonished-of-their-duty-and/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) [Explore all 520 John Calvin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) ## More Deposits quotes > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [It's rewarding to know that a song is doing more than just helping someone to have a nice day: it's actually leaving a deposit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-grant/it-s-rewarding-to-know-that-a-song-is-doing-more-than-just-helping/) [Natalie Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-grant/) > [If you are training properly, you should progress steadily. This doesn't necessarily mean a personal best every time you race ... Each training session…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grete-waitz/if-you-are-training-properly-you-should-progress-steadily-this-doesn/) [Grete Waitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grete-waitz/) > [Whether or not we belong to a church or service organization or have a job that provides meaningful service opportunities, not a day goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/whether-or-not-we-belong-to-a-church-or-service-organization-or-have/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [All safe deposit boxes in banks or financial institutions have been sealed... and may only be opened in the presence of an agent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/all-safe-deposit-boxes-in-banks-or-financial-institutions-have-been/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [It is important for America that the moral truths which make freedom possible should be passed on to each new generation. Every generation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/it-is-important-for-america-that-the-moral-truths-which-make-freedom/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [This is a unique deposit not just in terms of reserves, but also in terms of extraction techniques. Therefore there're grounds to talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-khristenko/this-is-a-unique-deposit-not-just-in-terms-of-reserves-but-also-in/) [Viktor Khristenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-khristenko/) > [It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/it-wasn-t-all-romantic-i-didn-t-have-a-dorm-room-so-i-slept-on-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [You don't want flame to hit your food. Flame is bad. Flame does nasty things to food. It makes soot and it makes deposits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/you-don-t-want-flame-to-hit-your-food-flame-is-bad-flame-does-nasty/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-functionaries-of-every-government-have-propensities-to-command-at/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The life we live is just a colourful and deposit toy. 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