--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who is a beginner on the way must not…" description: "\"He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to practise the commandments by kindness alone, but must more often be induced to continue the stru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/maximus-the-confessor-7435_beginners_he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not_3084468.jpg" --- # He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to… ![“He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to practise the commandments by kindness alone, but must more often be induced to continue the struggle by being rigorously reminded of God's judgment. In this way he will not only be moved by love to desire what is divine, but will be moved by…” quote by Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/maximus-the-confessor-7435_beginners_he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not_3084468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/maximus-the-confessor-7435_beginners_he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not_3084468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/maximus-the-confessor-7435_beginners_he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not_3084468.jpg) > “He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to practise the commandments by kindness alone, but must more often be induced to continue the struggle by being rigorously reminded of God's judgment. In this way he will not only be moved by love to desire what is divine, but will be moved by fear to avoid what is evil. For 'I will sing to Thee, O Lord, of mercy and judgment' (Ps. 101:1 LXX). He will sing to God charmed by love, and steeled by fear he will have strength for the song.” [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual discipline requires both love and fear of divine judgment to motivate moral action. **In simple terms:** Both love and fear guide virtue. Key Takeaway Balance compassion with reverence. Themes faith discipline morality Mood contemplative serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - ethical decision making - spiritual formation Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does fear influence your ethical choices? - Can love alone sustain moral behavior? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on fear may lead to anxiety rather than devotion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginners/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Commandments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commandments/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divine/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Orthodox christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox-christian/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [We sing about God because we believe in Him. We are not trying to offend anybody, but the evidence that we have seen of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/we-sing-about-god-because-we-believe-in-him-we-are-not-trying-to/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [I sing God's music because it makes me feel free. It gives me hope. With the blues, when you finish, you still have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/i-sing-god-s-music-because-it-makes-me-feel-free-it-gives-me-hope/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [The only person who could make me stop singing is the one who made me sing: God, the beauty up there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-bittencourt-de-oliveira/the-only-person-who-could-make-me-stop-singing-is-the-one-who-made-me/) Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira > [An' I sing to my God, these songs of love an' healing. I want Mashiach now, so it's time we start revealing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/an-i-sing-to-my-god-these-songs-of-love-an-healing-i-want-mashiach/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [All I ever wanted was to sing to God. He gave me that longing and then made me mute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-shaffer/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-sing-to-god-he-gave-me-that-longing-and-then/) [Peter Shaffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-shaffer/) > [I would as soon pray to God with machinery as to sing to God with machinery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/i-would-as-soon-pray-to-god-with-machinery-as-to-sing-to-god-with/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [I do like to sing to God!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lind/i-do-like-to-sing-to-god/) Jenny Lind > [When I sing for God, I feel myself in accord with God, and the house of God, Mecca, is right in front of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan/when-i-sing-for-god-i-feel-myself-in-accord-with-god-and-the-house-of/) [Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nusrat-fateh-ali-khan/) > [I just continue to do my work with dedication. Really, it's my listeners who have given me 40 years of bhushana. However, my ultimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-j-yesudas/i-just-continue-to-do-my-work-with-dedication-really-it-s-my/) [K. J. Yesudas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-j-yesudas/) > [For me, it's more powerful to hear people sing about God than love in most circumstances because I've been hearing people sing about love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/for-me-it-s-more-powerful-to-hear-people-sing-about-god-than-love-in/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [ I'm not the first person to sing about God, Jesus, faith \[or\] any of that, and I won't be the last. And it won't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/i-m-not-the-first-person-to-sing-about-god-jesus-faith-or-any-of-that/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [Live well. Sing out, sing loud, and sing often. And God bless the child that's got a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nanci-griffith/live-well-sing-out-sing-loud-and-sing-often-and-god-bless-the-child/) [Nanci Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nanci-griffith/) > [“What did it mean to a prophet to sing in a God´s own voice? Would that make him a shaman, as in the days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/what-did-it-mean-to-a-prophet-to-sing-in-a-god-s-own-voice-would-that/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [ I've worked with a hundred of the biggest artists in the world, from Madonna to Mariah Carey, and he \[Michael Jackson\] is just beyond.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/i-ve-worked-with-a-hundred-of-the-biggest-artists-in-the-world-from/) [Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/) > [“In church, instead of singing (without really believing) the words of the hymn “Trust and Obey,” perhaps we should collectively sing to God the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-presson/in-church-instead-of-singing-without-really-believing-the-words-of/) [Ramon Presson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-presson/) ## More by Maximus the Confessor > [When what has been created in time according to the temporal order has reached maturity, it ceases from natural growth. But when what has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/when-what-has-been-created-in-time-according-to-the-temporal-order/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [There are lots of those who speak but few who do. However, no one should distort the word of God by his own negligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/there-are-lots-of-those-who-speak-but-few-who-do-however-no-one/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If you make provision for the desires of the flesh and bear a grudge against your neighbor on account of something transitory, you worship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-you-make-provision-for-the-desires-of-the-flesh-and-bear-a-grudge/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The Logos came down out of love for us. Let us not keep Him down permanently, but let us go up with Him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-logos-came-down-out-of-love-for-us-let-us-not-keep-him-down/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Whatever a man loves he inevitably clings to, and in order not to lose it he rejects everything that keeps him from it. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whatever-a-man-loves-he-inevitably-clings-to-and-in-order-not-to-lose/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [A passion is a contranatural movement of the soul or an irrational love, or an blindfold hatred toward any material thing, or because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-passion-is-a-contranatural-movement-of-the-soul-or-an-irrational/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Unclean spirits increase the passions in us, making use of our negligence, and inciting them. But the angels decrease our passions, inciting us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/unclean-spirits-increase-the-passions-in-us-making-use-of-our/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [For him who is perfect in love and has reached the summit of dispassion there is no difference between his own or another's, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/for-him-who-is-perfect-in-love-and-has-reached-the-summit-of/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Peace is truly the complete and undisturbed possession of what is desired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/peace-is-truly-the-complete-and-undisturbed-possession-of-what-is/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [A Christian receives divine wisdom in three ways: by the commandments, teachings, and faith. The commandments free the mind from passions. Teachings lead it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/a-christian-receives-divine-wisdom-in-three-ways-by-the-commandments/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [Whoever sees in himself the traces of hatred toward any man on account of any kind of sin is completely foreign to the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/whoever-sees-in-himself-the-traces-of-hatred-toward-any-man-on/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [As we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/as-we-have-borne-the-image-of-the-earthy-let-us-also-bear-the-image/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > ['The long-suffering man abounds in understanding' (Prov. 14:29), because he endures everything to the end and, while awaiting that end, patiently bears his distress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-long-suffering-man-abounds-in-understanding-prov-14-29-because-he/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [If everything that exists was made by God and for God, and God is superior to the things made by Him, he who abandons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-everything-that-exists-was-made-by-god-and-for-god-and-god-is/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [The person who truly wishes to be healed is he who does not refuse treatment. This treatment consists of the pain and distress brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/the-person-who-truly-wishes-to-be-healed-is-he-who-does-not-refuse/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) [Explore all 91 Maximus the Confessor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) ## More Beginners quotes > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [“Personally, I believe in tools that close the gap between professionals and beginners, understanding that — push comes to shove — this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-busche/personally-i-believe-in-tools-that-close-the-gap-between/) [Laura Busche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-busche/) > [Readers take in dialogue one thought at a time. A frequent mistake of beginners is to combine thoughts, which may be suitable for other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-stein/readers-take-in-dialogue-one-thought-at-a-time-a-frequent-mistake-of/) [Sol Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-stein/) > [Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. His specialty is rhythm songs which he renders in an undistinguished whine; his phrasing, if it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gould/mr-presley-has-no-discernible-singing-ability-his-specialty-is-rhythm/) [Jack Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gould/) > [There never was a winner, who wasn't a beginner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/there-never-was-a-winner-who-wasn-t-a-beginner/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If the angel deigns to come it will be because you have convinced her, not by tears but by your humble resolve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/if-the-angel-deigns-to-come-it-will-be-because-you-have-convinced-her/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [I know now that everybody in the arts is forever a beginner. Experience counts for a great deal and very little. Every night onstage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-know-now-that-everybody-in-the-arts-is-forever-a-beginner/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Starting out in a beginner class and really understanding the fundamentals of yoga is really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/starting-out-in-a-beginner-class-and-really-understanding-the/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [I thought yoga was easy - I went out and I bought a yoga video tape. I bought the beginners' yoga tape. I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-thought-yoga-was-easy-i-went-out-and-i-bought-a-yoga-video-tape-i/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [Amateurs look for challenges; professionals look for easy trades. Losers get high from the action; the pros look for the best odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-elder/amateurs-look-for-challenges-professionals-look-for-easy-trades/) [Alexander Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-elder/) > [A fiery, good beginner always stands higher than a master in mediocrity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/a-fiery-good-beginner-always-stands-higher-than-a-master-in-mediocrity/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Indeed, being a beginner is very difficult right now. Book publishers are in a crisis, sales are dwindling, and publishing houses are losing money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/indeed-being-a-beginner-is-very-difficult-right-now-book-publishers/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gichin-funakoshi/beginners-must-master-low-stance-and-posture-natural-body-positions/) [Gichin Funakoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gichin-funakoshi/) > [If he ever had a bright idea it would be beginner's luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/if-he-ever-had-a-bright-idea-it-would-be-beginner-s-luck/) [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) > [I would not be happy if I could not become a monk. They call it the beginner's mind - the deep intention, the deepest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-could-not-become-a-monk-they-call-it-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Browse all 220 Beginners quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginners/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to practise the commandments by kindness alone, but must more often be induced to continue the struggle by being rigorously reminded of God's judgment. In this way he will not only be moved by love to desire what is divine, but will be moved by fear to avoid what is evil. For 'I will sing to Thee, O Lord, of mercy and judgment' (Ps. 101:1 LXX). He will sing to God charmed by love, and steeled by fear he will have strength for the song.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maximus the Confessor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not-be-brought-to-practise-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beginners" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not-be-brought-to-practise-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/maximus-the-confessor-7435_beginners_he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not_3084468.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/maximus-the-confessor-7435_beginners_he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not_3084468.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/maximus-the-confessor-7435_beginners_he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not_3084468.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who is a beginner on the way must not be brought to practise the commandments by kindness alone, but must…” — Maximus the Confessor", "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": "Maximus the Confessor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He who is a beginner on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not-be-brought-to-practise-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/he-who-is-a-beginner-on-the-way-must-not-be-brought-to-practise-the/#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 } } ] } ```