---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I murmur in the least at affliction…"
description: "\"If I murmur in the least at affliction, if I am in any way uncharitable, if I revenge my own case, if I do anything purely to please myself or omit any..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/jonathan-edwards-770_affliction_if-i-murmur-in-the-least-at-affliction-i_2283830.png"
---

#  If I murmur in the least at affliction, if I am in any way…

![“If I murmur in the least at affliction, if I am in any way uncharitable, if I revenge my own case, if I do anything purely to please myself or omit anything because it is a great denial, if I trust myself, if I take any praise for any good which Christ does by me, or if I am in any way proud, I…” quote by Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/jonathan-edwards-770_affliction_if-i-murmur-in-the-least-at-affliction-i_2283830.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/jonathan-edwards-770_affliction_if-i-murmur-in-the-least-at-affliction-i_2283830.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/jonathan-edwards-770_affliction_if-i-murmur-in-the-least-at-affliction-i_2283830.png)

> “If I murmur in the least at affliction, if I am in any way uncharitable, if I revenge my own case, if I do anything purely to please myself or omit anything because it is a great denial, if I trust myself, if I take any praise for any good which Christ does by me, or if I am in any way proud, I shall act as my own and not God’s.”

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Self‑centered actions and pride separate us from divine guidance, urging humility and reliance on God.

**In simple terms:** Pride and selfishness distance us from God.

Key Takeaway

Seek humility, serve others.

Themes

humility spirituality pride

Mood

reflective serious

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- community service
- ethical decisions

Key Concepts

theology self‑examination

Questions to Reflect On

- In what ways do you seek praise?
- How can you shift focus from self to service?

A Different Perspective

Self‑reflection can be uncomfortable and may reveal hidden ego.

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[Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/) [Cases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cases/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christ Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-does-301827/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Praise Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise-good-232144/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Proud Shall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud-shall-2334934/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Trust myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-myself/) [Uncharitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncharitable-285730/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

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> [How loved, how honored once, avails thee not, To whom related, or by whom begot A heap of dust alone remains of thee 'Tis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-loved-how-honored-once-avails-thee-not-to-whom-related-or-by-whom/)

[Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/)

> [I am suffering incessant temptations to uncharitable thoughts at present; one of those black moods in which nearly all one's friends seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-suffering-incessant-temptations-to-uncharitable-thoughts-at/)

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> [“To tell you the truth, though, I still haven't made up my mind whether I shall publish at all. Tastes differ so widely, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-more/to-tell-you-the-truth-though-i-still-haven-t-made-up-my-mind-whether/)

[Thomas More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-more/)

> [ Heap coals of fire on the head of your enemy Mthis most uncharitable advice is found in a book \[the Bible\], of which charity… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/heap-coals-of-fire-on-the-head-of-your-enemy-mthis-most-uncharitable/)

[Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/)

> [How shall we expect charity towards others, when we are uncharitable to ourselves?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/how-shall-we-expect-charity-towards-others-when-we-are-uncharitable/)

[Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/)

> [A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/a-man-must-be-both-stupid-and-uncharitable-who-believes-there-is-no/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“In fact, because the unself-aware—which includes basically everybody—are impervious to uncharitable perceptions of their underlying motives, all these insights you have into people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/in-fact-because-the-unself-aware-which-includes-basically-everybody/)

[Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/)

> [“I am giving up saying anything uncharitable to anyone and about anyone. And that's harder than giving up chocolate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-giving-up-saying-anything-uncharitable-to-anyone-and-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I do not think I have any uncharitable prejudice against the rattlesnake, still, I should not like to be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-do-not-think-i-have-any-uncharitable-prejudice-against-the/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [I like to think that I could praise the good book of someone I personally dislike. I try not to comment on the person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/i-like-to-think-that-i-could-praise-the-good-book-of-someone-i/)

[Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/)

> [None deserve praise for being good who have not the spirit to be bad: goodness, for the most part, is nothing but indolence or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/none-deserve-praise-for-being-good-who-have-not-the-spirit-to-be-bad/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Speak what you think and let the world praise you for your good deeds. -mehak quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehak-sethi/speak-what-you-think-and-let-the-world-praise-you-for-your-good-deeds/)

[Mehak Sethi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehak-sethi/)

> [Animals praise a good day, a good hunt. They praise rain if they're thirsty. That's prayer. They don't live an unconscious life, they simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/animals-praise-a-good-day-a-good-hunt-they-praise-rain-if-they-re/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-seldom-praise-anyone-in-good-earnest-except-such-as-admire-us/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## More by Jonathan Edwards

> [The foundation of the Christian's peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-foundation-of-the-christian-s-peace-is-everlasting-it-is-what-no/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [“Every saint in heaven is as a flower in that garden of God, and holy love is the fragrance and sweet odor that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/every-saint-in-heaven-is-as-a-flower-in-that-garden-of-god-and-holy/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [God is glorified not only by His glory being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/god-is-glorified-not-only-by-his-glory-being-seen-but-by-its-being/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [There is no way that Christians, in a private capacity, can do so much to promote the work of God and advance the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/there-is-no-way-that-christians-in-a-private-capacity-can-do-so-much/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [Godliness is more easily feigned in words than in actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/godliness-is-more-easily-feigned-in-words-than-in-actions/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [“Let the main thing that we prize in God’s house be, not the outward ornaments of it, or a high seat in it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/let-the-main-thing-that-we-prize-in-god-s-house-be-not-the-outward/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [“But that is the nature of true grace and spiritual light, that it opens to a person's view the infinite reason there is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/but-that-is-the-nature-of-true-grace-and-spiritual-light-that-it/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [“The most determining external influence on his style was unquestionably the old, so-called King James version of the English Bible. His language is saturated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-most-determining-external-influence-on-his-style-was/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [“Edwards sought to impose a new test of qualification. He required, namely, that the candidate for full communion should give evidence of being converted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/edwards-sought-to-impose-a-new-test-of-qualification-he-required/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [ “But it is doubtless true, and evident from \[the\] Scriptures, that the essence of all true religion lies in holy love; and that in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/but-it-is-doubtless-true-and-evident-from-the-scriptures-that-the/)

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> [“Evangelical faith has the gospel of Christ for its foundation;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/evangelical-faith-has-the-gospel-of-christ-for-its-foundation/)

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> [“Prop. II. There are many mansions in the house of God. By many mansions is meant many seats or places of abode.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/prop-ii-there-are-many-mansions-in-the-house-of-god-by-many-mansions/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [I resolve to live with all my might while I do live. I resolve never to lose one moment of time and to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/i-resolve-to-live-with-all-my-might-while-i-do-live-i-resolve-never/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [“And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has flung the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/and-now-you-have-an-extraordinary-opportunity-a-day-wherein-christ/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

> [Christ gives peace to the most sinful and miserable that come to Him. He heals the broken in heart and binds up their wounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/christ-gives-peace-to-the-most-sinful-and-miserable-that-come-to-him/)

[Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

[Explore all 375 Jonathan Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/)

## More Affliction quotes

> [I don't feel insecure about any of this work anymore. Maybe I don't have what I had when I was younger. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-norton/i-don-t-feel-insecure-about-any-of-this-work-anymore-maybe-i-don-t/)

[Edward Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-norton/)

> [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/)

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> [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [There is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/there-is-nothing-in-afflictions-which-ought-to-disturb-our-joy/)

[John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/)

> [Come, then, affliction, if my Father wills, and be my frowning friend. A friend that frowns is better than a smiling enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/come-then-affliction-if-my-father-wills-and-be-my-frowning-friend-a/)

[George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/)

> [Henceforth, I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself, 'Enough, enough, and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/henceforth-i-ll-bear-affliction-till-it-do-cry-out-itself-enough/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [New materials are one of the great afflictions of contemporary art. Some artists confuse new materials with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/new-materials-are-one-of-the-great-afflictions-of-contemporary-art/)

[Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/)

> [Aimee Parkison offers a distinct new voice to contemporary fiction. Her seductive stories explore childhood as a realm of sorrows, and reveal the afflictions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-anshaw/aimee-parkison-offers-a-distinct-new-voice-to-contemporary-fiction/)

[Carol Anshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-anshaw/)

> [May I strike my heart's keys clearly, and may none fail because of slack, uncertain, or fraying strings. May the tears that stream down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and-may-none-fail-because-of/)

[Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/)

> [We are infinitely more than our limitations and afflictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/we-are-infinitely-more-than-our-limitations-and-afflictions/)

[Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/)

> [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/)

[Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/)

> [Afflictions make the heart more deep, more experimental, more knowing and profound, and so, more able to hold, to contain, and beat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/afflictions-make-the-heart-more-deep-more-experimental-more-knowing/)

[John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/)

> [Religion prescribes to every miserable man the means of bettering his condition; nay, it shows him that the bearing of his afflictions as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/religion-prescribes-to-every-miserable-man-the-means-of-bettering-his/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Short-term amnesia is not the worst affliction if you have an Irish flair for the sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/short-term-amnesia-is-not-the-worst-affliction-if-you-have-an-irish/)

[Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/)

> [Revolution will free society of its afflictions, while science will free the individual of his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/revolution-will-free-society-of-its-afflictions-while-science-will/)

[Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/)

[Browse all 598 Affliction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction/)

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