--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only saints can save the world. And only…" description: "\"Only saints can save the world. And only our own sins can stop us from being saints.\" — Peter Kreeft" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/peter-kreeft-820_saint_only-saints-can-save-the-world-and-only_3153012.png" --- # Only saints can save the world. And only our own sins can… ![“Only saints can save the world. And only our own sins can stop us from being saints.” quote by Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/peter-kreeft-820_saint_only-saints-can-save-the-world-and-only_3153012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/peter-kreeft-820_saint_only-saints-can-save-the-world-and-only_3153012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a53/peter-kreeft-820_saint_only-saints-can-save-the-world-and-only_3153012.png) > “Only saints can save the world. And only our own sins can stop us from being saints.” [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only saints can save the world, but personal sin prevents us from becoming saints, highlighting moral responsibility and self‑examination **In simple terms:** Saints can help, but our own sins block us from being saints Key Takeaway Recognize and address personal flaws to contribute positively Themes morality spirituality self‑improvement Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal counseling - community service - spiritual retreats - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts sin redemption virtue ethics Questions to Reflect On - How do personal flaws affect your ability to help others? - What steps can you take to overcome them? A Different Perspective Overemphasizes religious framework, may not apply universally ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Saints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saints/) [Save the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/save-the-world/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Of course, Third World leaders love you. By ascribing third world ills to First World sins, you absolve them of blame for their countries'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccarthy/of-course-third-world-leaders-love-you-by-ascribing-third-world-ills/) [John McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccarthy/) > [There's nothing like a mission to save the world to liven up a vacation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donita-k-paul/there-s-nothing-like-a-mission-to-save-the-world-to-liven-up-a/) [Donita K. Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donita-k-paul/) > [Before we venture out and proclaim to save the world and those who are in need of help, we must start by saving ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-vcover/before-we-venture-out-and-proclaim-to-save-the-world-and-those-who/) Kareem VCover > [The idea of fame is repulsive, I want to save the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-antin/the-idea-of-fame-is-repulsive-i-want-to-save-the-world/) [Eleanor Antin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-antin/) > [“I'm not trying to save the world, much of it is not worth saving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shors/i-m-not-trying-to-save-the-world-much-of-it-is-not-worth-saving/) [John Shors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shors/) > [“Always pick the thing that is not a chain, is one way to try to save the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/always-pick-the-thing-that-is-not-a-chain-is-one-way-to-try-to-save/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Graphic design will save the world right after rock and roll does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carson/graphic-design-will-save-the-world-right-after-rock-and-roll-does/) [David Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carson/) > [How can we help save the world? we can come together not only in our groups of people but the whole world as one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levita-brahz/how-can-we-help-save-the-world-we-can-come-together-not-only-in-our/) [Levita Brahz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levita-brahz/) > [Beauty would save the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/beauty-would-save-the-world/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [If money had been the way to save the world, Christ himself would have been rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-bottome/if-money-had-been-the-way-to-save-the-world-christ-himself-would-have/) [Phyllis Bottome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-bottome/) > [You can't save the world...save YOUR heart. Be a catalyst & create a life where you are powerful. Rebel. Be happy & allow others happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-save-the-world-save-your-heart-be-a-catalyst-create-a-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We can no longer save the world by playing by the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/we-can-no-longer-save-the-world-by-playing-by-the-rules/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [I'm not going to save the world or anything, but I think it's time I did my bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-casey/i-m-not-going-to-save-the-world-or-anything-but-i-think-it-s-time-i/) [Paul Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-casey/) > [What did you do to save the world today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie/what-did-you-do-to-save-the-world-today/) [Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) ## More by Peter Kreeft > [“I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers to God make, and all the people those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/i-strongly-suspect-that-if-we-saw-all-the-difference-even-the-tiniest/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [The most total opposite of pleasure is not pain but boredom, for we are willing to risk pain to make a boring life interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-most-total-opposite-of-pleasure-is-not-pain-but-boredom-for-we/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [God's love is as objective as light. Because the sun in a sense is light, or the source of light rather than being lit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/god-s-love-is-as-objective-as-light-because-the-sun-in-a-sense-is/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [The self is like a baseball. Throw it back to the divine pitcher who pitched it to you in the first place, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-self-is-like-a-baseball-throw-it-back-to-the-divine-pitcher-who/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [How will the Tower of Babel be undone? How will we understand each other in Heaven? Will we all speak English or Dutch or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/how-will-the-tower-of-babel-be-undone-how-will-we-understand-each/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Humility is the marriage bond of Heaven. Pride is the frigidity of Hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/humility-is-the-marriage-bond-of-heaven-pride-is-the-frigidity-of-hell/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“Socrates says we must be either fools because we think we are wise, or wise because we know we are fools. Christ says we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/socrates-says-we-must-be-either-fools-because-we-think-we-are-wise-or/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [No sane person wants hell to exist. No sane person wants evil to exist. But hell is just evil eternalized. If there is evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/no-sane-person-wants-hell-to-exist-no-sane-person-wants-evil-to-exist/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Science only answers the question, How does it work? Or at most, What's there? Science asks what and how, philosophy asks why, myth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/science-only-answers-the-question-how-does-it-work-or-at-most-what-s/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [The most compelling evidence for God's existence is Christ. If God does not exist, then Christ was the biggest fool who ever lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/the-most-compelling-evidence-for-god-s-existence-is-christ-if-god/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“One moment of prayer, of weak worship, confused contrition, tepid thanksgiving, or pitiful petition will bring us closer to God than all the books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/one-moment-of-prayer-of-weak-worship-confused-contrition-tepid/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [God's interventions are miracles: events that cannot happen by merely natural agents but only by a supernatural agent. They no more interfere with our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/god-s-interventions-are-miracles-events-that-cannot-happen-by-merely/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“And what is consensus? It means a majority of the individuals in a society coming together and agreeing to make their values into laws,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/and-what-is-consensus-it-means-a-majority-of-the-individuals-in-a/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [Love is the binding force on every level of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/love-is-the-binding-force-on-every-level-of-existence/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [We can't believe what we believe to be untrue, and we can't love what we believe to be unreal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/we-can-t-believe-what-we-believe-to-be-untrue-and-we-can-t-love-what/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) [Explore all 361 Peter Kreeft quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) ## More Saint quotes > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [I knew a girl so ugly, she had a face like a saint-a Saint Bernard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-knew-a-girl-so-ugly-she-had-a-face-like-a-saint-a-saint-bernard/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [Pray to Saint Philomena, What ever you ask from her, She will obtain for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-xvi/pray-to-saint-philomena-what-ever-you-ask-from-her-she-will-obtain/) [Pope Gregory XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-xvi/) > [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/every-latter-day-saint-should-make-the-study-of-this-book-a-lifetime/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [I think being raised within a Mexican Catholic family made magical realism a very natural part of who I am as a person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/i-think-being-raised-within-a-mexican-catholic-family-made-magical/) [Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/) > [“Everything about me sounds wonderful and kind. (I'm pretty much a fuckin' saint).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-edwards/everything-about-me-sounds-wonderful-and-kind-i-m-pretty-much-a/) [Helen Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-edwards/) > [It takes all sorts to make a world - saints as well as soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/it-takes-all-sorts-to-make-a-world-saints-as-well-as-soldiers/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [“There is salvation for every soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-salvation-for-every-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I was in the South of France, in Saint-Tropez and I met her when it was totally unexpected. I was very lucky because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-stern/i-was-in-the-south-of-france-in-saint-tropez-and-i-met-her-when-it/) [Bert Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-stern/) > [Some of God's noblest sons, I think, will be selected from those that know how to take wealth, with all its temptations, and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/some-of-god-s-noblest-sons-i-think-will-be-selected-from-those-that/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Admired as a saint, defined by my rank. 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