--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Comparatively, we are so much quicker to…" description: "\"Comparatively, we are so much quicker to return favors and to pay our debts to mortals - and we should be responsive and grateful. But what of Him who ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/neal-a-maxwell-925_bookkeepers_comparatively-we-are-so-much-quicker-to_1980675.jpg" --- # Comparatively, we are so much quicker to return favors and… ![“Comparatively, we are so much quicker to return favors and to pay our debts to mortals - and we should be responsive and grateful. But what of Him who gave us mortal life itself, who will ere long give us all immortality, and who proffers to the faithful the greatest gift of all, eternal life? We…” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/neal-a-maxwell-925_bookkeepers_comparatively-we-are-so-much-quicker-to_1980675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/neal-a-maxwell-925_bookkeepers_comparatively-we-are-so-much-quicker-to_1980675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/neal-a-maxwell-925_bookkeepers_comparatively-we-are-so-much-quicker-to_1980675.jpg) > “Comparatively, we are so much quicker to return favors and to pay our debts to mortals - and we should be responsive and grateful. But what of Him who gave us mortal life itself, who will ere long give us all immortality, and who proffers to the faithful the greatest gift of all, eternal life? We are poor bookkeepers, indeed!” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human gratitude should extend beyond earthly debts to divine generosity of eternal life. **In simple terms:** Be grateful to God for eternal life, not just material favors. Key Takeaway Cultivate gratitude for spiritual gifts above material returns. Themes faith gratitude eternity humility Mood hopeful reverent Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - prayer - daily reflection - community service - teaching gratitude Key Concepts theology spiritual economics mortality Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance gratitude for daily help with gratitude for eternal promises? - What practices deepen awareness of divine generosity? A Different Perspective Human focus on mortal debts can distract from divine gifts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bookkeepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookkeepers/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eternal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-life/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faithful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithful/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Gave Mortal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave-mortal-3380487/) [Gift Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift-eternal-2107447/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Greatest gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gift/) [Greatest gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gifts/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Immortality Proffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality-proffers-3380488/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Mortal Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortal-life-439548/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/heavenly-father-offers-to-you-the-greatest-gift-of-all-eternal-life/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Having faith in the plan of salvation includes steadfastly refusing to be diverted from our true identities and responsibilities. In the brief season of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/having-faith-in-the-plan-of-salvation-includes-steadfastly-refusing/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Give it up to him. Your gift is Eternal Life, Give it up to Jesus. He paid the ultimate price. No sin is too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zion-y-lennox/give-it-up-to-him-your-gift-is-eternal-life-give-it-up-to-jesus-he/) [Zion Y Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zion-y-lennox/) > [Are you still thirsting? Christ gives the invitation not only to others but to you. He is the fountainhead. He has died and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/are-you-still-thirsting-christ-gives-the-invitation-not-only-to/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/at-this-time-of-christmas-this-season-when-gifts-are-given-let-us-not/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Work hard today. Work as if you'll get the gift of eternal life if you continue and tomorrow you'll see the result](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-sebastiao/work-hard-today-work-as-if-you-ll-get-the-gift-of-eternal-life-if-you/) [Emanuel Sebastiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-sebastiao/) > [When, about fifteen years ago, I walked into Arshile's studio for the first time, the atmosphere was so beautiful that I got a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/when-about-fifteen-years-ago-i-walked-into-arshile-s-studio-for-the/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [The earnings of a poet could be reckoned by a metaphysician rather than a bookkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-earnings-of-a-poet-could-be-reckoned-by-a-metaphysician-rather/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [My father, a bookkeeper who never earned more than $11,000 a year in his life, sat there, writing out a $25 check to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/my-father-a-bookkeeper-who-never-earned-more-than-11-000-a-year-in/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [Yet we can be sure that whatever fictions exist in Wall Street bookkeeping, the earth is a faithful scribe, a faultless calculator, a superb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/yet-we-can-be-sure-that-whatever-fictions-exist-in-wall-street/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [A library is a temple unabridged with priceless treasure. Librarians are the majesties who loan the jewels of measure. They welcome to the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-mu-oz-ryan/a-library-is-a-temple-unabridged-with-priceless-treasure-librarians/) [Pam Muñoz Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-mu-oz-ryan/) > [“The demand for good bookkeepers is at an all time high as more people make the leap into self-employment each year and need competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-jaumann/the-demand-for-good-bookkeepers-is-at-an-all-time-high-as-more-people/) [Sylvia Jaumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-jaumann/) > [At Verve, my bookkeeper would invariably say, 'Well, why do you want to put out Roy Eldridge?' Or 'Why do you want to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/at-verve-my-bookkeeper-would-invariably-say-well-why-do-you-want-to/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [Women occupy, in great masses, the 'household tasks' of industry. They are nurses but not doctors, secretaries but not executives, researchers but not writers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/women-occupy-in-great-masses-the-household-tasks-of-industry-they-are/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [ Any small business owner wears many hats. We \[New View Window Cleaning\] are the salesman, bookkeeper, scheduler, cleaner, customer complaint department, etc. If you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/any-small-business-owner-wears-many-hats-we-new-view-window-cleaning/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Bookkeepers quotes > [ Any small business owner wears many hats. We \[New View Window Cleaning\] are the salesman, bookkeeper, scheduler, cleaner, customer complaint department, etc. If you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/any-small-business-owner-wears-many-hats-we-new-view-window-cleaning/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [Having faith in the plan of salvation includes steadfastly refusing to be diverted from our true identities and responsibilities. In the brief season of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/having-faith-in-the-plan-of-salvation-includes-steadfastly-refusing/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Women occupy, in great masses, the 'household tasks' of industry. They are nurses but not doctors, secretaries but not executives, researchers but not writers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/women-occupy-in-great-masses-the-household-tasks-of-industry-they-are/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [At Verve, my bookkeeper would invariably say, 'Well, why do you want to put out Roy Eldridge?' Or 'Why do you want to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-granz/at-verve-my-bookkeeper-would-invariably-say-well-why-do-you-want-to/) [Norman Granz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-granz/) > [“The demand for good bookkeepers is at an all time high as more people make the leap into self-employment each year and need competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-jaumann/the-demand-for-good-bookkeepers-is-at-an-all-time-high-as-more-people/) [Sylvia Jaumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-jaumann/) > [A library is a temple unabridged with priceless treasure. Librarians are the majesties who loan the jewels of measure. They welcome to the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-mu-oz-ryan/a-library-is-a-temple-unabridged-with-priceless-treasure-librarians/) [Pam Muñoz Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-mu-oz-ryan/) > [Yet we can be sure that whatever fictions exist in Wall Street bookkeeping, the earth is a faithful scribe, a faultless calculator, a superb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-berry/yet-we-can-be-sure-that-whatever-fictions-exist-in-wall-street/) [Thomas Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-berry/) > [My father, a bookkeeper who never earned more than $11,000 a year in his life, sat there, writing out a $25 check to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bloomberg/my-father-a-bookkeeper-who-never-earned-more-than-11-000-a-year-in/) [Michael Bloomberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bloomberg/) > [The earnings of a poet could be reckoned by a metaphysician rather than a bookkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dahlberg/the-earnings-of-a-poet-could-be-reckoned-by-a-metaphysician-rather/) [Edward Dahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dahlberg/) > [When, about fifteen years ago, I walked into Arshile's studio for the first time, the atmosphere was so beautiful that I got a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/when-about-fifteen-years-ago-i-walked-into-arshile-s-studio-for-the/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [“And please return it. You may think this a strange request, but I find that although my friends are poor arithmeticians, they are nearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-walter-scott/and-please-return-it-you-may-think-this-a-strange-request-but-i-find/) [Sir Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-walter-scott/) > [Dad, once an aspiring architect, drove his own catering truck to feed factory workers in downtown Los Angeles, and mom, with a Mensa IQ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/dad-once-an-aspiring-architect-drove-his-own-catering-truck-to-feed/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [You know, the only way I've found to make these pictures is with animators. You can't seem to do it with accountants and bookkeepers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/you-know-the-only-way-i-ve-found-to-make-these-pictures-is-with/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [If the unusual never happened there would be no difference in people and then there wouldn't be any fun in life. The game would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lauriston-livermore/if-the-unusual-never-happened-there-would-be-no-difference-in-people/) [Jesse Lauriston Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lauriston-livermore/) > [The CEO era gave rise to the CFO (not certified flying object, as you might imagine, but chief financial officer) and, most recently, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-ceo-era-gave-rise-to-the-cfo-not-certified-flying-object-as-you/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) [Browse all 19 Bookkeepers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookkeepers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Comparatively, we are so much quicker to return favors and to pay our debts to mortals - and we should be responsive and grateful. 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