Argument Quote by John Gibson Paton
“Among many who sought to deter me, was one dear old Christian gentleman, whose crowning argument always was, "The cannibals! you will be eaten by cannibals!" At last I replied, "Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms."”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Personal letters, 19th century missionary writings
The speaker asserts that death by any means, even cannibalism, is irrelevant if one lives faithfully for Christ.
In simple terms: Faithful service makes death indifferent.
Key Takeaway
Live faithfully, regardless of death's form.
Themes
faith
mortality
purpose
Mood
determined
serene
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- missionary work
- personal adversity
- ethical debates
- life purpose
Key Concepts
Christian theology
existential acceptance
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to serve without fear of death?
- How does faith shape one's view of mortality?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the value of confronting evil directly.
![“[I]t seems that the Cannibals of Europe are going to eat one another again. A war between Russia and Turkey is like the battle of the kite and snake; whichever destroys the other, leaves a destroyer the less for the world.” quote by Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1d/thomas-jefferson-43_battle_i-t-seems-that-the-cannibals-of-europe-a_505685.jpg)
