--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fire and water do not mix, neither can…" description: "\"Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/john-climacus-11711_christian_fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-yo_854156.jpg" --- # Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of… ![“Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment of God is hidden from men. It has happened that men have sinned greatly in the open but have done…” quote by John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/john-climacus-11711_christian_fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-yo_854156.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/john-climacus-11711_christian_fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-yo_854156.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/john-climacus-11711_christian_fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-yo_854156.jpg) > “Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment of God is hidden from men. It has happened that men have sinned greatly in the open but have done greater deeds in secret, so that those who would disparage them have been fooled, with smoke instead of sunlight in their eyes.” [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human judgment is limited; divine judgment is hidden, so refrain from condemning others. **In simple terms:** Do not judge others harshly. Key Takeaway Practice humility and compassion. Themes humility judgment spiritual humility Mood reflective serene Type religious ethical When to use this quote - courtroom - church counseling - personal relationships Key Concepts theology of divine justice ethical restraint Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to judge? - How can you balance truth and mercy? A Different Perspective Judgment can be necessary for accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Disparaging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disparaging/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Judgment of others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment-of-others/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Smoke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoke/) [Sunlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunlight/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Water and fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water-and-fire/) ## Related quotes > [The Glory of Israel will not lie or repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel/the-glory-of-israel-will-not-lie-or-repent-for-he-is-not-a-man-that/) [Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel/) > [People are distracted by objects of desire, and afterwards repent of the lust they've indulged, because they have indulged with a phantom and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/people-are-distracted-by-objects-of-desire-and-afterwards-repent-of/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“There is an emotional promiscuity we’ve noticed among many good young men and women. The young man understands something of the journey of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stasi-eldredge/there-is-an-emotional-promiscuity-we-ve-noticed-among-many-good-young/) [Stasi Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stasi-eldredge/) > [“Angels had fallen, men have sinned. It does not mean that God has failed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/angels-had-fallen-men-have-sinned-it-does-not-mean-that-god-has-failed/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [If Jupiter hurled his thunderbolt as often as men sinned, he would soon be out of thunderbolts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/if-jupiter-hurled-his-thunderbolt-as-often-as-men-sinned-he-would/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [The doctrine of original sin claims that all men sinned in Adam; but whether they did or whether it is merely a fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kaufmann/the-doctrine-of-original-sin-claims-that-all-men-sinned-in-adam-but/) [Walter Kaufmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kaufmann/) > [“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wherefore-as-by-one-man-sin-entered-into-the-world-and-death-by-sin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Teach the ignorant as much as you can; society is culpable in not providing a free education for all and it must answer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/teach-the-ignorant-as-much-as-you-can-society-is-culpable-in-not/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-guilty-one-is-not-he-who-commits-the-sin-but-the-one-who-causes/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-guilty-one-is-not-he-who-commits-the-sin-but-he-who-causes-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [It's a big mistake to think that your own cause, or your own country, or your own side has God in its corner. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-a-big-mistake-to-think-that-your-own-cause-or-your-own-country/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/if-the-soul-is-left-in-darkness-sins-will-be-committed-the-guilty-one/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [He that commits a sin shall find the pressing guilt lie heavy on his mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-creech/he-that-commits-a-sin-shall-find-the-pressing-guilt-lie-heavy-on-his/) [Thomas Creech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-creech/) > [“Every time I think about that girl, my mind commits a sin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-vander-ark/every-time-i-think-about-that-girl-my-mind-commits-a-sin/) [Jake Vander Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-vander-ark/) > [“...so unbelief alone commits sin..Hence Christ calls unbelief the only sin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/so-unbelief-alone-commits-sin-hence-christ-calls-unbelief-the-only-sin/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More by John Climacus > [When people begin to praise us, let us hurry to remember the multitude of ours transgressions, and we will see that we are truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/when-people-begin-to-praise-us-let-us-hurry-to-remember-the-multitude/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [He does not show humility who accuses himself (for who will not accept rebukes from himself?), but he who, being rebuked by another, does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/he-does-not-show-humility-who-accuses-himself-for-who-will-not-accept/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Pride is the utter poverty of soul disguised as riches, imaginary light where in fact there is darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/pride-is-the-utter-poverty-of-soul-disguised-as-riches-imaginary/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [A discerning man, when he eats grapes, takes only the ripe ones and leaves the sour. Thus also the discerning mind carefully marks the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/a-discerning-man-when-he-eats-grapes-takes-only-the-ripe-ones-and/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Do not stop praying as long as, by God's grace, the fire and the water have not been exhausted, for it may happen that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/do-not-stop-praying-as-long-as-by-god-s-grace-the-fire-and-the-water/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Holy love has a way of consuming some. This is what is meant by the one who said, 'You have ravished our hearts' (Sg.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/holy-love-has-a-way-of-consuming-some-this-is-what-is-meant-by-the/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [The first stage of this tranquility consists in silencing the lips when the heart is excited. The second, in silencing the mind when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/the-first-stage-of-this-tranquility-consists-in-silencing-the-lips/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Someone who is elated with wine speaks the truth on all subjects, even without meaning to. In the same way, anyone who is inebriated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/someone-who-is-elated-with-wine-speaks-the-truth-on-all-subjects-even/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [It can happen that when we are at prayer some brothers come to see us. Then we have to choose either to interrupt our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/it-can-happen-that-when-we-are-at-prayer-some-brothers-come-to-see-us/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [When a man has found the Lord, he no longer has to use words when he is praying, for the Spirit Himself will intercede…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/when-a-man-has-found-the-lord-he-no-longer-has-to-use-words-when-he/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Obedience is the burial of the will and the resurrection of humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/obedience-is-the-burial-of-the-will-and-the-resurrection-of-humility/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Humility is the only thing that no devil can imitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/humility-is-the-only-thing-that-no-devil-can-imitate/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/humility-is-the-only-virtue-that-no-devil-can-imitate-if-pride-made/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [Repentance lifts a man up. Mourning knocks at heaven's gate. Holy humility opens it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/repentance-lifts-a-man-up-mourning-knocks-at-heaven-s-gate-holy/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) > [When you are depressed, bear in mind the Lord's command to Peter to forgive a sinner seventy times seven (cf. Mt. 18:22). And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/when-you-are-depressed-bear-in-mind-the-lord-s-command-to-peter-to/) [John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) [Explore all 58 John Climacus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/) ## More Christian quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/) [Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [A real Christian in an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-real-christian-in-an-odd-number-anyway-he-feels-supreme-love-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [The world's history is a divine poem, of which the history of every nation is a canto, and every man a word. Its strains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/the-world-s-history-is-a-divine-poem-of-which-the-history-of-every/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [Poor David Hume is dying fast, but with more real cheerfulness and good humor and with more real resignation to the necessary course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/poor-david-hume-is-dying-fast-but-with-more-real-cheerfulness-and/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [We need to discover all over again that worship is natural to the Christian, as it was to the godly Israelites who wrote the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/we-need-to-discover-all-over-again-that-worship-is-natural-to-the/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) [Browse all 14,306 Christian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment of God is hidden from men. It has happened that men have sinned greatly in the open but have done greater deeds in secret, so that those who would disparage them have been fooled, with smoke instead of sunlight in their eyes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Climacus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-you-mix-judgment-of-others-with/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-you-mix-judgment-of-others-with/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/john-climacus-11711_christian_fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-yo_854156.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/john-climacus-11711_christian_fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-yo_854156.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/john-climacus-11711_christian_fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-yo_854156.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man…” — John Climacus", "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": "John Climacus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-climacus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fire and water do not mix,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-you-mix-judgment-of-others-with/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-climacus/fire-and-water-do-not-mix-neither-can-you-mix-judgment-of-others-with/#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 } } ] } ```