--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a common thing for men to benumb…" description: "\"It is a common thing for men to benumb their own arms, and make them as dead and useless by leaning too much upon them: so it is in a moral as well as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/john-flavel-4295_arms_it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-t_1746588.jpg" --- # It is a common thing for men to benumb their own arms, and… ![“It is a common thing for men to benumb their own arms, and make them as dead and useless by leaning too much upon them: so it is in a moral as well as a natural way: all the prudence and pains in the world avail nothing without God. So saith the Psalmist, in Psalm cxxvii. 2.” quote by John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/john-flavel-4295_arms_it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-t_1746588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/john-flavel-4295_arms_it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-t_1746588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/john-flavel-4295_arms_it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-t_1746588.jpg) > “It is a common thing for men to benumb their own arms, and make them as dead and useless by leaning too much upon them: so it is in a moral as well as a natural way: all the prudence and pains in the world avail nothing without God. So saith the Psalmist, in Psalm cxxvii. 2.” [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human effort alone cannot overcome spiritual helplessness; divine aid is essential. **In simple terms:** We need God's help beyond our own strength. Key Takeaway Rely on God, not just personal effort. Themes faith dependence spirituality Mood humble reflective Type spiritual theological When to use this quote - personal crisis - health struggles - ethical decisions - career setbacks Key Concepts theology human limitation divine providence Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal responsibility with reliance on God? - When have you felt God's presence in a difficult situation? A Different Perspective Human effort can still be valuable when paired with faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Arms Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-make-1566187/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-things/) [Leaning Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaning-moral-1566186/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Benumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-benumb-1566188/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Prudence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prudence/) [Psalmist Psalm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psalmist-psalm-1566189/) [Psalms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psalms/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/useless/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Without god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without-god/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [For the theatre one needs long arms... an artiste with short arms can never make a fine gesture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bernhardt/for-the-theatre-one-needs-long-arms-an-artiste-with-short-arms-can/) [Sarah Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bernhardt/) > [“I so ill deserve the place his arms make for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/i-so-ill-deserve-the-place-his-arms-make-for-me/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [For the theatre one needs long arms; it is better to have them too long than too short. An artiste with short arms can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/for-the-theatre-one-needs-long-arms-it-is-better-to-have-them-too/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [I can do things with my arms that make guys throw up sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-can-do-things-with-my-arms-that-make-guys-throw-up-sometimes/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [I had a real epiphany. I guess it was during and after the operation. I did what's a common thing; I kind of raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/i-had-a-real-epiphany-i-guess-it-was-during-and-after-the-operation-i/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [I remember learning new words, trying to figure out what common things like cider, finding myself upset that my parents couldn't help me understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/i-remember-learning-new-words-trying-to-figure-out-what-common-things/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [Christianity has ever been the enemy of human love; it has forever cursed and expelled and crucified the one passion which sweetens and smiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ouida/christianity-has-ever-been-the-enemy-of-human-love-it-has-forever/) [Ouida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ouida/) > [The most common thing that real reporters say to me is, "I wish I could say what you say." What I don't understand is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/the-most-common-thing-that-real-reporters-say-to-me-is-i-wish-i-could/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [The most common thing that I get is, ‘Am I the only one who doesn’t think that Anna Kendrick is pretty? And youre like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kendrick/the-most-common-thing-that-i-get-is-am-i-the-only-one-who-doesn-t/) [Anna Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kendrick/) > [I just want to comment on how It's become a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in Love with my sloppy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-avery/i-just-want-to-comment-on-how-it-s-become-a-common-thing-in-the-nhl/) [Sean Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-avery/) > [I used to do Korean classical music and started training to join an idol group after someone set me up an interview with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-him-chan/i-used-to-do-korean-classical-music-and-started-training-to-join-an/) [Kim Him-chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-him-chan/) > [There was an awful rainbow once in heaven: We know her woof, her texture; she is given In the dull catalogue of common things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/there-was-an-awful-rainbow-once-in-heaven-we-know-her-woof-her/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [And the Truth turns out to be nothing less than the amazing but undeniable fact that the whole outer world -whether it be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmet-fox/and-the-truth-turns-out-to-be-nothing-less-than-the-amazing-but/) [Emmet Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmet-fox/) > [“The secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/the-secret-to-success-is-to-do-the-common-things-uncommonly-well/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [We can sanctify ourselves in common things. We must do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-erskine-stuart/we-can-sanctify-ourselves-in-common-things-we-must-do-so/) [Janet Erskine Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-erskine-stuart/) ## More by John Flavel > [No doctrine is more excellent, or necessary to be preached and studied, than Jesus Christ, and him crucified.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/no-doctrine-is-more-excellent-or-necessary-to-be-preached-and-studied/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [One word of God can do more than ten thousand words of men to relieve a distressed soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/one-word-of-god-can-do-more-than-ten-thousand-words-of-men-to-relieve/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [It is better to be as low as hell with a promise, than in Paradise without one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/it-is-better-to-be-as-low-as-hell-with-a-promise-than-in-paradise/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Christ comes with kingly power, to rescue sinners, as a prey from the mouth of the terrible one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/christ-comes-with-kingly-power-to-rescue-sinners-as-a-prey-from-the/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Regeneration expresses those supernatural, divine, new qualities imparted by the Spirit to the soul, which are the principle of all holy action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/regeneration-expresses-those-supernatural-divine-new-qualities/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [All the tears of a penitent sinner, should he shed as many as there have been fallen drops of rain since the creation, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/all-the-tears-of-a-penitent-sinner-should-he-shed-as-many-as-there/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [The Lord's supper is memorative, and so it has the nature and use of a pledge or token of love, left by a dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/the-lord-s-supper-is-memorative-and-so-it-has-the-nature-and-use-of-a/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [You may look upon some providences once and again, and see little or nothing in them, but look "seven times," that is, meditate often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/you-may-look-upon-some-providences-once-and-again-and-see-little-or/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [There is no grace more excellent than faith; no sin more execrable and abominable then unbelief. Faith is the saving grace and unbelief the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/there-is-no-grace-more-excellent-than-faith-no-sin-more-execrable-and/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [ All the dark, intricate, puzzling providences at which we were sometimes so offended...we shall \[one day\] see to be to us, as the difficult… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/all-the-dark-intricate-puzzling-providences-at-which-we-were/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [To keep the heart then, is carefully to preserve it from sin which disorders it; and maintain that spiritual and gracious frame, which fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/to-keep-the-heart-then-is-carefully-to-preserve-it-from-sin-which/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Lord, here is my body; I am very grateful for it; I neglected nothing that belonged to its contents and welfare; but as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/lord-here-is-my-body-i-am-very-grateful-for-it-i-neglected-nothing/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Some providences, like Hebrew letters, must be read backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/some-providences-like-hebrew-letters-must-be-read-backwards/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Whatever be the ground of one's distress, it should drive him to, not from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/whatever-be-the-ground-of-one-s-distress-it-should-drive-him-to-not/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) > [Brethren, it is easier to declaim against a thousand sins of others, than to mortify one sin in ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/brethren-it-is-easier-to-declaim-against-a-thousand-sins-of-others/) [John Flavel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) [Explore all 113 John Flavel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/) ## 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": "It is a common thing for men to benumb their own arms, and make them as dead and useless by leaning too much upon them: so it is in a moral as well as a natural way: all the prudence and pains in the world avail nothing without God. So saith the Psalmist, in Psalm cxxvii. 2.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Flavel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-their-own-arms-and-make-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-their-own-arms-and-make-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/john-flavel-4295_arms_it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-t_1746588.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/john-flavel-4295_arms_it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-t_1746588.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b3d/john-flavel-4295_arms_it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-t_1746588.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is a common thing for men to benumb their own arms, and make them as dead and useless by leaning too much…” — John Flavel", "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 Flavel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flavel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is a common thing for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-their-own-arms-and-make-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flavel/it-is-a-common-thing-for-men-to-benumb-their-own-arms-and-make-them/#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 } } ] } ```