--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the soul betrays itself and loses…" description: "\"When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing it. And let it arm itself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/john-climacus-11711_arms_when-the-soul-betrays-itself-and-loses-t_2746787.jpg" --- # When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and… ![“When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing it. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever caused this. For the former fervor can return only through the same door through which it was lost.” quote by John Climacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/john-climacus-11711_arms_when-the-soul-betrays-itself-and-loses-t_2746787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/john-climacus-11711_arms_when-the-soul-betrays-itself-and-loses-t_2746787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/john-climacus-11711_arms_when-the-soul-betrays-itself-and-loses-t_2746787.jpg) > “When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing it. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever caused this. For the former fervor can return only through the same door through which it was lost.” [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. When the soul loses zeal, investigate its loss and rekindle it through the same path it was lost. **In simple terms:** Find why zeal faded, restore it similarly. Key Takeaway Reflect, renew, pursue spiritual fervor. Themes spiritual decline self‑examination renewal Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - spiritual retreats - life coaching Key Concepts asceticism psychology of motivation Questions to Reflect On - What caused your spiritual drift? - How can you rebuild lost passion? A Different Perspective Recovery may require new methods, not just old ones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Betray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray/) [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Caused Fervor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caused-fervor-3068478/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Fervor Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fervor-return-3068480/) [Former](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/former/) [Longed Fervor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longed-fervor-3068477/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Longing Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing-zeal-3068479/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Soul Betrays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-betrays-3068476/) [Zeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zeal/) ## Related quotes > [Love is not a fire to be shut up in a soul. Everything betrays us: voice, silence, eyes; half-covered fires burn all the brighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/love-is-not-a-fire-to-be-shut-up-in-a-soul-everything-betrays-us/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [Moral crusaders with zeal but no ethical understanding are likely to give us solutions that are worse than the problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/moral-crusaders-with-zeal-but-no-ethical-understanding-are-likely-to/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [Now that I have written many words, and let out so many loves, for so many, and been altogether what I always was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/now-that-i-have-written-many-words-and-let-out-so-many-loves-for-so/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [If we have no zeal for the glory of God our mercy must be superficial, man-centred human improvement with no eternal significance. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-we-have-no-zeal-for-the-glory-of-god-our-mercy-must-be-superficial/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wesley/do-all-the-good-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you-can-to-all-the-souls-you/) [John Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wesley/) > [Let a good person do good deeds with the same zeal that an evil person does bad ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sholom-rokeach/let-a-good-person-do-good-deeds-with-the-same-zeal-that-an-evil/) [Sholom Rokeach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sholom-rokeach/) > [The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-saints-are-sinners-still-our-best-tears-need-to-be-wept-over-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The successful conduct of an industrial enterprise requires two quite distinct qualifications: fidelity and zeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-successful-conduct-of-an-industrial-enterprise-requires-two-quite/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Spiritual infirmities such as tepidity are caused, not only by chills but also by fevers, that is, by excessive zeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/spiritual-infirmities-such-as-tepidity-are-caused-not-only-by-chills/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/adults-look-upon-a-child-as-something-empty-that-is-to-be-filled/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Female Virtues are of a Domestick turn. The Family is the proper Province for Private Women to Shine in. If they must be showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/female-virtues-are-of-a-domestick-turn-the-family-is-the-proper/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Have therefore zeal to better thyself and then mayst thou have zeal to thy neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/have-therefore-zeal-to-better-thyself-and-then-mayst-thou-have-zeal/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [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/) ## 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 Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the soul betrays itself and loses the blessed and longed-for fervor, let it carefully investigate the reason for losing it. And let it arm itself with all its longing and zeal against whatever caused this. 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