Arrogance Quote by Owen Feltham
“Of all trees, I observe God hath chosen the vine, a low plant that creeps upon the helpful wall; of all beasts, the soft and patient lamb; of all fowls, the mild and guileless dove. Christ is the rose of the field, and the lily of the valley. When God appeared to Moses, it was not in the lofty cedar nor the sturdy oak nor the spreading palm; but in a bush, a humble, slender, abject shrub; as if He would, by these elections, check the conceited arrogance of man.”
About This Quote
The passage uses humble flora and fauna as divine symbols, contrasting them with grander creations to emphasize modesty over pride.
In simple terms: God favors modest, gentle beings over lofty ones.
Key Takeaway
Humility reflects divine preference.
Themes
spirituality
humility
symbolism
nature
Mood
reverent
inspirational
Type
theological metaphor
When to use this quote
- preaching humility
- writing devotional literature
Key Concepts
theological metaphor
Practical Applications
- use simple symbols to convey profound truths
Questions to Reflect On
- Why choose lowly creatures as divine analogues?
- How does this perspective shape ethical behavior?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may overlook the value of strength and grandeur in other contexts.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
