--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mother Teresa, when asked about her…" description: "\"“Mother Teresa, when asked about her holiness or saintliness, always answers in a matter-of-fact way that holiness is a necessity of life--and explains..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/lucinda-vardey-110983_holiness_mother-teresa-when-asked-about-her-holin_18023.jpg" --- # Mother Teresa, when asked about her holiness or… ![“Mother Teresa, when asked about her holiness or saintliness, always answers in a matter-of-fact way that holiness is a necessity of life--and explains that it is not the luxury of a few, such as those who take the course of religious life, but is "a simple duty of all. Holiness is for everyone.” quote by Lucinda Vardey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/lucinda-vardey-110983_holiness_mother-teresa-when-asked-about-her-holin_18023.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/lucinda-vardey-110983_holiness_mother-teresa-when-asked-about-her-holin_18023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/lucinda-vardey-110983_holiness_mother-teresa-when-asked-about-her-holin_18023.jpg) > ““Mother Teresa, when asked about her holiness or saintliness, always answers in a matter-of-fact way that holiness is a necessity of life--and explains that it is not the luxury of a few, such as those who take the course of religious life, but is "a simple duty of all. Holiness is for everyone.”” Lucinda Vardey ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States that holiness is a universal duty, not a privilege for a few, emphasizing everyday sanctity. **In simple terms:** Holiness is a simple duty for everyone. Key Takeaway Live with everyday reverence. Themes spirituality duty universality holiness faith Mood inspirational hopeful Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - daily rituals - volunteer work - personal reflection Key Concepts religious practice ethical living community service Questions to Reflect On - How can one practice holiness without feeling burdened? - What simple acts embody this duty? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on duty may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Religious life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-life/) [Saintliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saintliness/) ## Related quotes > [You will be at your best forever, Even now you have good moments. Occasional glimpses of your heavenly self. When you change your baby's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-will-be-at-your-best-forever-even-now-you-have-good-moments/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Mother Teresa was the very embodiment of saintliness: white-clad, sad-eyed, ascetic and often photographed with the wretched of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/mother-teresa-was-the-very-embodiment-of-saintliness-white-clad-sad/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [St. Thomas is really a great man quite apart from his saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/st-thomas-is-really-a-great-man-quite-apart-from-his-saintliness/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [What makes saintliness in my view, as distinguished from ordinary goodness, is a certain quality of magnanimity and greatness of soul that brings life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/what-makes-saintliness-in-my-view-as-distinguished-from-ordinary/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [In Jewish tradition, death-defying devotion to scholarship was the stuff of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israel-shenker/in-jewish-tradition-death-defying-devotion-to-scholarship-was-the/) [Israel Shenker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israel-shenker/) > [Wakefulness is the only saintliness there is, and sleepiness, unconsciousness, is the only sin there is; all other sins are born out of it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/wakefulness-is-the-only-saintliness-there-is-and-sleepiness/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Do not think that saintliness comes from occupation; it depends rather on what one is. The kind of work we do does not make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/do-not-think-that-saintliness-comes-from-occupation-it-depends-rather-2/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“Saintliness means turning pain to good account. It means forcing the devil to be God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-genet/saintliness-means-turning-pain-to-good-account-it-means-forcing-the/) [Jean Genet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-genet/) > [Artists put as much vitality and delight into their saintliness and escape out as most men do their escapes into similar places from respectable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyndham-lewis/artists-put-as-much-vitality-and-delight-into-their-saintliness-and/) [Wyndham Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyndham-lewis/) > [Do not think that saintliness comes from occupation; it depends rather on what one is. The kind of work we do does not make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/do-not-think-that-saintliness-comes-from-occupation-it-depends-rather/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [The essence of saintliness is total acceptance of the present moment, harmony with things as they happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/the-essence-of-saintliness-is-total-acceptance-of-the-present-moment/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [You don't have to be religious to have a soul; everybody has one. You don't have to be religious to perfect your soul; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-s-kushner/you-don-t-have-to-be-religious-to-have-a-soul-everybody-has-one-you/) [Harold S. Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-s-kushner/) > [If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/if-one-avoids-haughtiness-to-the-utmost-extent-and-is-exceedingly/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [Saintliness is also a temptation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anouilh/saintliness-is-also-a-temptation/) [Jean Anouilh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anouilh/) > [Today it is not nearly enough to be a saint, but we must have the saintliness demanded by the present moment, a new saintliness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/today-it-is-not-nearly-enough-to-be-a-saint-but-we-must-have-the/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) ## More by Lucinda Vardey > [“The majority of parents we come into contact with have lost their faith and therefore have lost any kind of dependence on God. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-vardey/the-majority-of-parents-we-come-into-contact-with-have-lost-their/) Lucinda Vardey Explore all 2 Lucinda Vardey quotes ## More Holiness quotes > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. A totally depraved man is not as bad as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/total-depravity-means-the-entire-absence-of-holiness-not-the-highest/) [William Greenough Thayer Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/) > [“The HOLY of Holiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-of-holiness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-put-no-stock-in-religion-by-the-word-religion-i-have-seen-the/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [Not simply the righteousness of our Saviour, not simply the beauty of His holiness or the graces of His character, are we to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adoniram-judson-gordon/not-simply-the-righteousness-of-our-saviour-not-simply-the-beauty-of/) [Adoniram Judson Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adoniram-judson-gordon/) > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Holy persons draw to themselves all that is earthly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/holy-persons-draw-to-themselves-all-that-is-earthly/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“I believe that people are holy because they’re made in the image of God, and a place can be holy when God is present—but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-brock/i-believe-that-people-are-holy-because-they-re-made-in-the-image-of/) [Jared Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-brock/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The holiness of the church means that life, as well as truth, marks Christ’s church; the behavior of Christians in the world must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clowney/the-holiness-of-the-church-means-that-life-as-well-as-truth-marks/) [Edmund Clowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clowney/) > [“We must be careful to let the Holy Spirit do this searching. If we try to search our own hearts, we are apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-must-be-careful-to-let-the-holy-spirit-do-this-searching-if-we-try/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) [Browse all 1,018 Holiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mother Teresa, when asked about her holiness or saintliness, always answers in a matter-of-fact way that holiness is a necessity of life--and explains that it is not the luxury of a few, such as those who take the course of religious life, but is \"a simple duty of all. 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