--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Big-heartednes s is the most essential…" description: "\"Big-heartednes s is the most essential virtue on the spiritual journey.\" — Matthew Fox" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/matthew-fox-4448_bigs_big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-v_1436221.png" --- # Big-heartednes s is the most essential virtue on the… ![“Big-heartednes s is the most essential virtue on the spiritual journey.” quote by Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/matthew-fox-4448_bigs_big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-v_1436221.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/matthew-fox-4448_bigs_big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-v_1436221.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/matthew-fox-4448_bigs_big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-v_1436221.png) > “Big-heartednes s is the most essential virtue on the spiritual journey.” [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion is the core virtue guiding spiritual growth. **In simple terms:** Compassion is essential on the spiritual path. Key Takeaway Practice compassion daily. Themes spirituality virtue compassion Mood uplifting serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - meditation - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical development inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How can compassion transform personal relationships? - What limits does compassion face in society? A Different Perspective Compassion alone may not solve systemic problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-journey/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Self-sacrifice which denies common sense is not a virtue. It's a spiritual dissipation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-deland/self-sacrifice-which-denies-common-sense-is-not-a-virtue-it-s-a/) [Margaret Deland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-deland/) > [“An essential virtue is humility. … The principle of humility and prayer leads one to feel a need of divine guidance. Self-reliance is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/an-essential-virtue-is-humility-the-principle-of-humility-and-prayer/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [ \[Liberty\] is freedom of choice, a divine gift, an essential virtue in a peaceful society. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/liberty-is-freedom-of-choice-a-divine-gift-an-essential-virtue-in-a/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“Gratitude becomes spiritual, a spiritual virtue and a spiritual emotion, when we are moved in our response by a God-centered view of the three:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-a/gratitude-becomes-spiritual-a-spiritual-virtue-and-a-spiritual/) [Ray A](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-a/) > [In some respects, if I had to choose just one (virtue on the spiritual path), I'd feel safest with a sense of humor. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-lozoff/in-some-respects-if-i-had-to-choose-just-one-virtue-on-the-spiritual/) [Bo Lozoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-lozoff/) > [Facing the darkness, admitting the pain, allowing the pain to be pain, is never easy. This is why courage - big-heartedness - is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/facing-the-darkness-admitting-the-pain-allowing-the-pain-to-be-pain/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I stood at a crossroads and fate came to meet me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-greene/i-stood-at-a-crossroads-and-fate-came-to-meet-me/) Liz Greene > [“Doing things for others can make the 'giver' happy, but trying to change or control another will drive you crazy, because it cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-hodge/doing-things-for-others-can-make-the-giver-happy-but-trying-to-change/) [T.F. 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The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [When we don't get what we want, there's a legitimate grieving, and then the spiritual journey truly begins, because not getting what we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/when-we-don-t-get-what-we-want-there-s-a-legitimate-grieving-and-then/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [People wander about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/people-wander-about-what-you-are-pursuing-you-have-to-explain-about/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) ## More by Matthew Fox > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [We honor life when we work. The type of work is not important: the fact of work is. All work feeds the soul if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/we-honor-life-when-we-work-the-type-of-work-is-not-important-the-fact/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Evil is the shadow of angel. 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Creativity comes from the Universe itself. “There is music and poetry in the Universe itself — surely we hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/where-does-creativity-come-from-creativity-comes-from-the-universe/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I didn't learn to swim until I was 21 or something because I grew up in the mountains in Wyoming and all the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-didn-t-learn-to-swim-until-i-was-21-or-something-because-i-grew-up/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I think you've got to take your time and make sure you're making choices that are smart for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-think-you-ve-got-to-take-your-time-and-make-sure-you-re-making/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Animals teach us about the animals in ourselves. We need their spirits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/animals-teach-us-about-the-animals-in-ourselves-we-need-their-spirits/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [The universe is in the habit of making beauty. There are flowers and songs, snowflakes and smiles, acts of great courage, laughter between friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/the-universe-is-in-the-habit-of-making-beauty-there-are-flowers-and/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [“If you don't work on yourself, then much of your politics is merely projections. We have to walk our talk and do the inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/if-you-don-t-work-on-yourself-then-much-of-your-politics-is-merely/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Any time I need to be really physical, and a role requires that, you're kind of viscerally activated by being that physical in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/any-time-i-need-to-be-really-physical-and-a-role-requires-that-you-re/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I directed an episode of 'Party of Five' toward the very end of that show. It was a great experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-directed-an-episode-of-party-of-five-toward-the-very-end-of-that/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [“Who is this woman who took on the Emporer Barbarosa, comparing him to an infant and a madman, and threatened that God’s sword would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/who-is-this-woman-who-took-on-the-emporer-barbarosa-comparing-him-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) [Explore all 111 Matthew Fox quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Big-heartednes s is the most essential virtue on the spiritual journey.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Fox" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-virtue-on-the-spiritual-journey/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigs" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-virtue-on-the-spiritual-journey/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/matthew-fox-4448_bigs_big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-v_1436221.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/matthew-fox-4448_bigs_big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-v_1436221.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b07/matthew-fox-4448_bigs_big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-v_1436221.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Big-heartednes s is the most essential virtue on the spiritual journey.” — Matthew Fox", "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": "Matthew Fox", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Big-heartednes s is the most essential...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-virtue-on-the-spiritual-journey/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/big-heartednes-s-is-the-most-essential-virtue-on-the-spiritual-journey/#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 } } ] } ```