--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A bending staff I would not break, A…" description: "\"A bending staff I would not break, A feeble faith I would not shake, Nor even rashly pluck away The error which some truth may stay, Whose loss might l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_bending_a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeb_868369.png" --- # A bending staff I would not break, A feeble faith I would… ![“A bending staff I would not break, A feeble faith I would not shake, Nor even rashly pluck away The error which some truth may stay, Whose loss might leave the soul without A shield against the shafts of doubt.” quote by John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_bending_a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeb_868369.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_bending_a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeb_868369.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_bending_a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeb_868369.png) > “A bending staff I would not break, A feeble faith I would not shake, Nor even rashly pluck away The error which some truth may stay, Whose loss might leave the soul without A shield against the shafts of doubt.” [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A steadfast staff and faith protect the soul from doubt, even when truth is uncertain. **In simple terms:** Steadfastness shields against doubt. Key Takeaway Maintain firm belief and moral support. Themes faith resilience truth Mood hopeful reflective Type poetic inspirational When to use this quote - personal crises - ethical dilemmas - spiritual practice Key Concepts Moral philosophy psychology of belief Questions to Reflect On - What anchors your belief? - When should doubt be welcomed? A Different Perspective Blind faith can ignore harmful errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bending/) [Bending Staff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bending-staff-926473/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Break Feeble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break-feeble-926474/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Error Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/error-truth-276081/) [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Feeble Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeble-faith-926472/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Pluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pluck/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Shakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakes/) [Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shields/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Staff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staff/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The devotion of thought to an honest achievement makes the achievement possible. 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Truth heals any pain it may inflict on us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-prefer-an-injurious-truth-to-a-useful-error-truth-heals-any-pain-it/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [We do not progress from error to truth, but from truth to truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-do-not-progress-from-error-to-truth-but-from-truth-to-truth/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The greatest kindness one can render to any man consists in leading him from error to truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-greatest-kindness-one-can-render-to-any-man-consists-in-leading/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Quite often, as life goes on, when we feel completely secure as we go on our way, we suddenly notice that we are trapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/quite-often-as-life-goes-on-when-we-feel-completely-secure-as-we-go/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [It is not to everyone's taste that truth should be pronounced pleasant. But at least let no one believe that error becomes truth when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-not-to-everyone-s-taste-that-truth-should-be-pronounced/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by John Greenleaf Whittier > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-joy-that-you-give-to-others-is-the-joy-that-comes-back-to-you/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [No lance have I, in joust or fight, To splinter in my lady's sight; But, at her feet, how blest were I For any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/no-lance-have-i-in-joust-or-fight-to-splinter-in-my-lady-s-sight-but/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-little-smile-a-word-of-cheer-a-bit-of-love-from-someone-near-a/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [On leaf of palm, on sedge-wrought roll; on plastic clay and leather scroll, man wrote his thoughts; the ages passed, and lo! the Press…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/on-leaf-of-palm-on-sedge-wrought-roll-on-plastic-clay-and-leather/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [What does the good ship bear so well? The cocoa-nut with its stony shell, And the milky sap of its inner cell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/what-does-the-good-ship-bear-so-well-the-cocoa-nut-with-its-stony/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Love hath never known a law beyond its own sweet will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/love-hath-never-known-a-law-beyond-its-own-sweet-will/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Leaning on Him, make with reverent meekness His own thy will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/leaning-on-him-make-with-reverent-meekness-his-own-thy-will/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Sweeter than any sungMy songs that found no tongue;Nobler than any factMy wish that failed of act.Others shall sing the song,Others shall right the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/sweeter-than-any-sungmy-songs-that-found-no-tongue-nobler-than-any/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [The Present, the Present is all thou hast For thy sure possessing; Like the patriarch's angel hold it fast Till it gives its blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/the-present-the-present-is-all-thou-hast-for-thy-sure-possessing-like/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [They who wander widest lift No more of beauties' jealous veils, Than they who from their doorways see The miracle of flowers and trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/they-who-wander-widest-lift-no-more-of-beauties-jealous-veils-than/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Once more the liberal year laughs out O'er richer stores than gems or gold: Once more with harvest song and shout Is nature's boldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/once-more-the-liberal-year-laughs-out-o-er-richer-stores-than-gems-or/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [Quite the ugliest face I ever saw was that of a woman whom the world called beautiful. Through its silver veil the evil and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/quite-the-ugliest-face-i-ever-saw-was-that-of-a-woman-whom-the-world/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [With smoking axle hot with speed, with steeds of fire and steam, Wide-waked To-day leaves Yesterday behind him like a dream. Still, from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/with-smoking-axle-hot-with-speed-with-steeds-of-fire-and-steam-wide/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [If woman lost us Eden, such As she alone restore it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/if-woman-lost-us-eden-such-as-she-alone-restore-it/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) [Explore all 188 John Greenleaf Whittier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) ## More Bending quotes > [Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/prayer-is-not-a-convenient-device-for-imposing-our-will-upon-god-or/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [Much bending breaks the bow; much unbending the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/much-bending-breaks-the-bow-much-unbending-the-mind/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [In effect we are, bending and breaking the rules of the language. And if someone were to ask why we do it, the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/in-effect-we-are-bending-and-breaking-the-rules-of-the-language-and/) [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) > [Losing is the bane and bugbear of every professional athlete's existence, but in baseball the monster seems to hang closer than in other sports,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-angell/losing-is-the-bane-and-bugbear-of-every-professional-athlete-s/) [Roger Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-angell/) > [Here on the edge of the river, the motifs are very plentiful, the same subject seen from a different angle gives a subject for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/here-on-the-edge-of-the-river-the-motifs-are-very-plentiful-the-same/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [Drawing is one of those things which sit on the uneasy bending line between instinct and instruction, where seeming perversity eventually trumps pleasure as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gopnik/drawing-is-one-of-those-things-which-sit-on-the-uneasy-bending-line/) [Adam Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gopnik/) > [In Prison Wearily, drearily, Half the day long, Flap the great banners High over the stone; Strangely and eerily Sounds the wind's song, Bending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris/in-prison-wearily-drearily-half-the-day-long-flap-the-great-banners/) [William Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris/) > [I have an idea that conscience impedes quite as many merits as faults, is a sort of alloy, a nickel which may prevent silver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/i-have-an-idea-that-conscience-impedes-quite-as-many-merits-as-faults/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/notice-that-the-stiffest-tree-is-most-easily-cracked-while-the-bamboo/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I had a constant fascination with the darkside. 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And yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/before-what-is-sacred-people-lose-all-sense-of-power-and-all/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [Jesus' whole life and mission involve accepting powerlessness and revealing in this powerlessness the limitlessness of God's love. Here we see what compassion means.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/jesus-whole-life-and-mission-involve-accepting-powerlessness-and/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) [Browse all 198 Bending quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bending/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A bending staff I would not break, A feeble faith I would not shake, Nor even rashly pluck away The error which some truth may stay, Whose loss might leave the soul without A shield against the shafts of doubt.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Greenleaf Whittier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeble-faith-i-would-not-shake/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bending" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeble-faith-i-would-not-shake/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_bending_a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeb_868369.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_bending_a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeb_868369.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/john-greenleaf-whittier-2061_bending_a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeb_868369.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A bending staff I would not break, A feeble faith I would not shake, Nor even rashly pluck away The error…” — John Greenleaf Whittier", "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 Greenleaf Whittier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A bending staff I would not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeble-faith-i-would-not-shake/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-bending-staff-i-would-not-break-a-feeble-faith-i-would-not-shake/#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 } } ] } ```