--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, what's the old expression…" description: "\"For me, what's the old expression, 'Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,' that's really what religion is good at when it is done right. A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/mike-rowe-9504_comfort_for-me-what-s-the-old-expression-comfort_2068028.png" --- # For me, what's the old expression, 'Comfort the afflicted… ![“For me, what's the old expression, 'Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,' that's really what religion is good at when it is done right. And the truth is, so is television.” quote by Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/mike-rowe-9504_comfort_for-me-what-s-the-old-expression-comfort_2068028.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/mike-rowe-9504_comfort_for-me-what-s-the-old-expression-comfort_2068028.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/50e/mike-rowe-9504_comfort_for-me-what-s-the-old-expression-comfort_2068028.png) > “For me, what's the old expression, 'Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,' that's really what religion is good at when it is done right. And the truth is, so is television.” [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Religion can both help the suffering and challenge the complacent; TV does similarly when used responsibly. **In simple terms:** Religion and TV can aid the needy and provoke the comfortable. Key Takeaway Use media to support the vulnerable and question comfort. Themes compassion social critique media influence Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - charitable work - media production - public advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts ethics power dynamics social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure media and faith empower rather than divide? - What responsibilities do creators have toward comfort and discomfort? A Different Perspective May overlook nuance, assuming all media or religion act uniformly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afflict Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afflict-comfortable-602034/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Comfort Afflicted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-afflicted-602035/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Really Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-religion-651074/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religion Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion-good/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“The Gospel is meant to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-gospel-is-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finley-peter-dunne/comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the-comfortable/) [Finley Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finley-peter-dunne/) > [“I come to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-clifton/i-come-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-to-afflict-the-comfortable/) [Lucille Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-clifton/) > [A good ad should be like a good sermon: It must not only comfort the afflicted, it also must afflict the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-fitz-gibbon/a-good-ad-should-be-like-a-good-sermon-it-must-not-only-comfort-the/) [Bernice Fitz-Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-fitz-gibbon/) > [The most human thing we can do is comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/the-most-human-thing-we-can-do-is-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“The business of a newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable" was one of the aphorisms his boss liked to quote.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-gruen/the-business-of-a-newspaper-is-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict/) [Sara Gruen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-gruen/) > [In all life one should comfort the afflicted, but verily, also, one should afflict the comfortable, and especially when they are comfortably, contentedly, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/in-all-life-one-should-comfort-the-afflicted-but-verily-also-one/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I've always liked this idea that writing should comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable to create trouble. The value of a work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shields/i-ve-always-liked-this-idea-that-writing-should-comfort-the-afflicted/) [David Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shields/) > [Stories are meant to comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finley-peter-dunne/stories-are-meant-to-comfort-the-afflicted-and-afflict-the-comfortable/) [Finley Peter Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finley-peter-dunne/) > [You can't comfort the afflicted with afflicting the comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-diana/you-can-t-comfort-the-afflicted-with-afflicting-the-comfortable/) [Princess Diana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-diana/) > [The Bible says that in the last days, there will be people in our churches who are not true believers, among other things. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-laurie/the-bible-says-that-in-the-last-days-there-will-be-people-in-our/) [Greg Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-laurie/) > [“You can’t comfort the afflicted,” the note read, “without afflicting the comfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-andersen/you-can-t-comfort-the-afflicted-the-note-read-without-afflicting-the/) [Christopher Andersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-andersen/) > [Men of sense are really all of one religion. But men of sense never tell what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/men-of-sense-are-really-all-of-one-religion-but-men-of-sense-never/) [Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [Being a rock star is like being a cult leader - you really have to be in your own religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/being-a-rock-star-is-like-being-a-cult-leader-you-really-have-to-be/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [I'm not really into religion, OK. I saw a lot of things I did not like when I got into organized religion. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-roberts/i-m-not-really-into-religion-ok-i-saw-a-lot-of-things-i-did-not-like/) [Jake Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-roberts/) ## More by Mike Rowe > [“Work hard AND smart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/work-hard-and-smart/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you truly value, and behaving in a way that’s consistent with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/happiness-does-not-come-from-a-job-it-comes-from-knowing-what-you/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [I wouldn't wish any specific thing for any specific person - it's none of my business. But the idea that a four-year degree is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/i-wouldn-t-wish-any-specific-thing-for-any-specific-person-it-s-none/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [In a very general way, our society has fallen out of love with the skilled trades. Part of the problem is a myriad of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/in-a-very-general-way-our-society-has-fallen-out-of-love-with-the/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [The skills gap is a reflection of what we value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/the-skills-gap-is-a-reflection-of-what-we-value/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [The skills gap is a reflection of what we value. To close the gap, we need to change the way the country feels about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/the-skills-gap-is-a-reflection-of-what-we-value-to-close-the-gap-we/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [Anything worth doing hurts a little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/anything-worth-doing-hurts-a-little/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [Happiness comes from knowing what you truly value, and behaving in a way that's consistent with those beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/happiness-comes-from-knowing-what-you-truly-value-and-behaving-in-a/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [My mothers dad dropped out of the eighth grade to work. He had to. By the time he was 30, he was a master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/my-mothers-dad-dropped-out-of-the-eighth-grade-to-work-he-had-to-by/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [Every bad joke, every endorsement deal, all of the things that a typical host would normally get creamed for, people don't mind, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/every-bad-joke-every-endorsement-deal-all-of-the-things-that-a/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [Some jobs pay better, some jobs smell better, and some jobs have no business being treated like careers. But work is never the enemy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/some-jobs-pay-better-some-jobs-smell-better-and-some-jobs-have-no/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [I rarely do anything on the show by myself. I dont want it to be about me. Squatting in the sewer in San Francisco,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/i-rarely-do-anything-on-the-show-by-myself-i-dont-want-it-to-be-about/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [At the risk of being glib, I would say if you really want to make America great again, you have to make work cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/at-the-risk-of-being-glib-i-would-say-if-you-really-want-to-make/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [The one thing that TV is bad at doing is preaching. There are two extremes, you either turn the people into a punchline or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/the-one-thing-that-tv-is-bad-at-doing-is-preaching-there-are-two/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [What you do, who you’re with, and how you feel about the world around you, is completely up to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/what-you-do-who-you-re-with-and-how-you-feel-about-the-world-around/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) [Explore all 72 Mike Rowe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) ## More Comfort quotes > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“When you get lost in a really strange place, nothing is more comforting than found your friend whom you trust and can show the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-get-lost-in-a-really-strange-place-nothing-is-more/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [Throughout human history, as our species has faced the frightening, terrorizing fact that we do not know who we are, or where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/throughout-human-history-as-our-species-has-faced-the-frightening/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I think that comfort is underrated in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/i-think-that-comfort-is-underrated-in-a-lot-of-ways/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) [Browse all 4,542 Comfort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For me, what's the old expression, 'Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,' that's really what religion is good at when it is done right. 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