--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Would that men might come at last to see…" description: "\"Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-of-the-cross-9695_consolation_would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see_2072077.jpg" --- # Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite… ![“Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first…” quote by John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-of-the-cross-9695_consolation_would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see_2072077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-of-the-cross-9695_consolation_would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see_2072077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-of-the-cross-9695_consolation_would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see_2072077.jpg) > “Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.” [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth requires enduring suffering, as true wisdom and divine union are found through the hardships symbolized by the cross. **In simple terms:** Suffering is necessary to reach divine wisdom. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as a path to spiritual depth. Themes spirituality uffering wisdom faith Mood contemplative hopeful Type religious philosophical When to use this quote - prayer - pilgrimage - personal trials - religious study Key Concepts theology mysticism redemption Questions to Reflect On - What suffering have you faced that deepened your faith? - How can you find meaning in hardship? A Different Perspective Suffering alone does not guarantee insight; balance with hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consolation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Divine wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine-wisdom/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riches/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Thickets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thickets/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisdom Of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom-of-god/) ## Related quotes > [When an apprentice gets hurt, or complains of being tired, the workmen and peasants have this fine expression: "It is the trade entering his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/when-an-apprentice-gets-hurt-or-complains-of-being-tired-the-workmen/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [If I want only pure water, what does it matter to me whether it be brought in a vase of gold or of glass?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/if-i-want-only-pure-water-what-does-it-matter-to-me-whether-it-be/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [The time has come for us to think of Christianity in a different way. Instead of thinking of God entering human life from outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-time-has-come-for-us-to-think-of-christianity-in-a-different-way/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Jesus has many lovers of His kingdom of heaven, but he has few bearers of His Cross. Many desire His consolation, but few desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/jesus-has-many-lovers-of-his-kingdom-of-heaven-but-he-has-few-bearers/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [God passes through the thicket of the world, and wherever His glance falls He turns all things to beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/god-passes-through-the-thicket-of-the-world-and-wherever-his-glance/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Wisdom chooses the unknown to be its reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akiane-kramarik/wisdom-chooses-the-unknown-to-be-its-reason/) [Akiane Kramarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akiane-kramarik/) > [“I recognize that there are times in God's divine will and infinite wisdom that He chooses not to heal or to protect from harm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-t-blackaby/i-recognize-that-there-are-times-in-god-s-divine-will-and-infinite/) [Henry T. Blackaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-t-blackaby/) > [Those that expose themselves as knowing the truth, lose the battle of innocence and humility and eventually pull a trigger at the universe. Wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akiane-kramarik/those-that-expose-themselves-as-knowing-the-truth-lose-the-battle-of/) [Akiane Kramarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akiane-kramarik/) > [“Wisdom always chooses these black eyes and these bruises over the heartache that they say never completely goes away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/relient-k/wisdom-always-chooses-these-black-eyes-and-these-bruises-over-the/) Relient K > [We are closest to Christ when sharing the world’s misery. Think you Jesus came to remove our pains? Wherever did you get that notion?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/we-are-closest-to-christ-when-sharing-the-world-s-misery-think-you/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [We should try our best to relieve the suffering of others in whatever way we can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/we-should-try-our-best-to-relieve-the-suffering-of-others-in-whatever/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“Jane felt that he would write from the depths of a wretchedness that would not necessarily be insincere because its outward signs were so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/jane-felt-that-he-would-write-from-the-depths-of-a-wretchedness-that/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [“all were suffering; that whatever way one took in this world, one must try to remember that all were suffering (none content; all wronged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/all-were-suffering-that-whatever-way-one-took-in-this-world-one-must/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“The Buddha was not full of shit when he said the cause of suffering could be uprooted and that you can put an end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/the-buddha-was-not-full-of-shit-when-he-said-the-cause-of-suffering/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [I would rather die than ever see you suffering this way. I don't want you or any child I ever have or any woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-would-rather-die-than-ever-see-you-suffering-this-way-i-don-t-want/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) ## More by John of the Cross > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/a-christian-should-always-remember-that-the-value-of-his-good-works/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/the-soul-that-walks-in-love-neither-tires-others-nor-grows-tired/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [See that you are not suddenly saddened by the adversities of this world, for you do not know the good they bring, being ordained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/see-that-you-are-not-suddenly-saddened-by-the-adversities-of-this/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [My sole occupation is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/my-sole-occupation-is-love/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Never relax, for you will not attain to the possession of true spiritual delights if first you do not learn to deny your every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/never-relax-for-you-will-not-attain-to-the-possession-of-true/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Let my soul live as if separated from my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/let-my-soul-live-as-if-separated-from-my-body/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/seek-in-reading-and-you-will-find-in-meditation-knock-in-prayer-and/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [For true devotion must issue from the heart, and consist in the truth and substances alone of what is represented by spiritual things; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/for-true-devotion-must-issue-from-the-heart-and-consist-in-the-truth/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/in-the-twilight-of-life-god-will-not-judge-us-on-our-earthly/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [To reach satisfaction in all desire its possession in nothing, To come to the knowledge of all desire the knowledge of nothing. To come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/to-reach-satisfaction-in-all-desire-its-possession-in-nothing-to-come/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Who teaches the soul if not God?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/who-teaches-the-soul-if-not-god/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [I have said this to explain the stanza that follows, in which the soul replies to those who call in question its holy tranquillity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/i-have-said-this-to-explain-the-stanza-that-follows-in-which-the-soul/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [Silence is God's first language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/silence-is-god-s-first-language/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [However softly we speak, God is so close to us that he can hear us; nor do we need wings to go in search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/however-softly-we-speak-god-is-so-close-to-us-that-he-can-hear-us-nor/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) [Explore all 71 John of the Cross quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) ## More Consolation quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I had thought that growing up's consolation was that you could escape from the arbitrariness of things, that somehow one acquired more control. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-galloway/i-had-thought-that-growing-up-s-consolation-was-that-you-could-escape/) [Janice Galloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-galloway/) > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [even those who call themselves 'intimate' know very little about each other - hardly ever know just how a sorrow is felt, and hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/even-those-who-call-themselves-intimate-know-very-little-about-each/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [But there are times when men have serious thoughts, and it is at such times, when they begin to think, that they begin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/but-there-are-times-when-men-have-serious-thoughts-and-it-is-at-such/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [The slave and those whose present life is miserable and who can find no consolation in the heavens are assured that at least the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-slave-and-those-whose-present-life-is-miserable-and-who-can-find/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Perhaps the greatest consolation of the oppressed is to consider themselves superior to their tyrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-green/perhaps-the-greatest-consolation-of-the-oppressed-is-to-consider/) [Julien Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-green/) > [Books, which we mistake for consolation, only add depth to our sorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/books-which-we-mistake-for-consolation-only-add-depth-to-our-sorrow/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [The day has the color and the sound of winter. Thoughts turn to chowder...chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clementine-paddleford/the-day-has-the-color-and-the-sound-of-winter-thoughts-turn-to/) [Clementine Paddleford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clementine-paddleford/) > [Seek and possess holiness, and consolation will follow, as assuredly as warmth follows the dispensation of the rays of the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cogswell-upham/seek-and-possess-holiness-and-consolation-will-follow-as-assuredly-as/) [Thomas Cogswell Upham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cogswell-upham/) > [Solitude was my only consolation - deep, dark, deathlike solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/solitude-was-my-only-consolation-deep-dark-deathlike-solitude/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have the consolation of leaving your kingdom in the highest degree of glory and of reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardinal-richelieu/i-have-the-consolation-of-leaving-your-kingdom-in-the-highest-degree/) [Cardinal Richelieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardinal-richelieu/) > [All consolation that does not come from God is but desolation; when the soul has learned to receive no comfort but in God only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/all-consolation-that-does-not-come-from-god-is-but-desolation-when/) [Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-marie-bouvier-de-la-motte-guyon/) > [Let is walk ... joyously, dear souls, among the difficulties of this passing life ... These pains will have an end when our life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-is-walk-joyously-dear-souls-among-the-difficulties-of-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thinking about suicide is a potent consolation: it helps us to get through many a bad night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/thinking-about-suicide-is-a-potent-consolation-it-helps-us-to-get/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) [Browse all 587 Consolation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consolation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John of the Cross" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see-that-it-is-quite-impossible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consolation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see-that-it-is-quite-impossible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-of-the-cross-9695_consolation_would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see_2072077.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-of-the-cross-9695_consolation_would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see_2072077.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7f/john-of-the-cross-9695_consolation_would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see_2072077.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and…” — John of the Cross", "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 of the Cross", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Would that men might come at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see-that-it-is-quite-impossible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/would-that-men-might-come-at-last-to-see-that-it-is-quite-impossible/#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 } } ] } ```