Affliction Quote by Joseph Hall
“There is no enemy can hurt us but by our own hands. Satan could not hurt us, if our own corruption betrayed us not. Afflictions cannot hurt us without our own impatience. Temptations cannot hurt us, without our own yieldance. Death could not hurt us, without the sting of our own sins. Sins could not hurt us, without our own impenitence.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Moral Reflections, 1650
Our own actions and inner flaws are the true sources of harm; external forces cannot hurt us without our participation.
In simple terms: Self‑inflicted harm dominates.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner virtue.
Themes
responsibility
self‑control
spirituality
Mood
thoughtful
serene
Type
moral
spiritual
When to use this quote
- personal health
- conflict resolution
- addiction recovery
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
Christian ethics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you guard against self‑sabotage?
- What habits reduce inner impatience?
A Different Perspective
External events can still cause pain despite inner strength.
![“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 my face make me more radiant: may my hidden weeping bloom… How we waste our afflictions!... [T]hey're really our wintering foliage, our dark greens of meaning…” quote by Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c7/rainer-maria-rilke-193_abode_may-i-strike-my-heart-s-keys-clearly-and_52479.jpg)
