--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human beings do not readily admit…" description: "\"Human beings do not readily admit desperation. When they do, the kingdom of heaven draws near\" — Philip Yancey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/philip-yancey-840_desperation_human-beings-do-not-readily-admit-desper_698521.png" --- # Human beings do not readily admit desperation. When they… ![“Human beings do not readily admit desperation. When they do, the kingdom of heaven draws near” quote by Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/philip-yancey-840_desperation_human-beings-do-not-readily-admit-desper_698521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/philip-yancey-840_desperation_human-beings-do-not-readily-admit-desper_698521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea0/philip-yancey-840_desperation_human-beings-do-not-readily-admit-desper_698521.png) > “Human beings do not readily admit desperation. When they do, the kingdom of heaven draws near” [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Notes that people rarely admit desperation, yet such honesty brings them closer to spiritual fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Admitting desperation opens the path to spiritual closeness. Key Takeaway Honesty about need leads to spiritual growth. Themes spirituality honesty vulnerability Mood contemplative hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - Counseling - personal reflection - spiritual practice Key Concepts Theology human psychology faith journey Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability affect one's faith? - What prevents people from admitting desperation? A Different Perspective May simplify complex theological concepts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admit Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admit-desperation-5535253/) [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Desperation Kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation-kingdom-5535252/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Kingdom Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-heaven/) [Kingdom of heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdom-of-heaven/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) ## Related quotes > [The blessed in the kingdom of heaven will see the punishments of the damned, in order that their bliss be more delightful for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/the-blessed-in-the-kingdom-of-heaven-will-see-the-punishments-of-the/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [The kingdom of heaven is like electricity. You don't see it. It is within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-like-electricity-you-don-t-see-it-it-is/) [Maharishi Mahesh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maharishi-mahesh-yogi/) > [The kingdom of heaven is comprised of the broken, the fatherless, the poor, the starving. Nothing that could create good ratings for NBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-comprised-of-the-broken-the-fatherless-the/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I believe the only way we can reach the Kingdom of Heaven is to have the Kingdom of Heaven in our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/i-believe-the-only-way-we-can-reach-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-to-have/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The Kingdom of Heaven is a military autocracy and there is no public opinion in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-a-military-autocracy-and-there-is-no-public/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [The kingdom of heaven is closer than the brow above the eye but mankind does not see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-closer-than-the-brow-above-the-eye-but/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For what is Mysticism? It is not the attempt to draw near to God, not by rites or ceremonies, but by inward disposition? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/for-what-is-mysticism-it-is-not-the-attempt-to-draw-near-to-god-not/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [When you really dive into the scriptures it says the kingdom of heaven is inside you. You can feel that because of the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killah-priest/when-you-really-dive-into-the-scriptures-it-says-the-kingdom-of/) [Killah Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killah-priest/) > [He who does not see the kingdom of heaven in this life will never see it in the coming life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/he-who-does-not-see-the-kingdom-of-heaven-in-this-life-will-never-see/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a family,' thought Julia, as she watched Rachel and Scott hug their father. 'Where love and forgiveness replace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-like-a-family-thought-julia-as-she-watched/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [This country and the Commonwealth last Tuesday were not far from the Kingdom of Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-fisher/this-country-and-the-commonwealth-last-tuesday-were-not-far-from-the/) [Geoffrey Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-fisher/) > [“Communion with God is the only thing to live for. You will have to come to that understanding eventually, often after much suffering. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/communion-with-god-is-the-only-thing-to-live-for-you-will-have-to/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“Blessings on the poor in spirit! The kingdom of heaven is yours” (Matt. 5:3) doesn’t mean, “You will go to heaven when you die.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/blessings-on-the-poor-in-spirit-the-kingdom-of-heaven-is-yours-matt-5/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“I would I were in the kingdom of heaven if it be as you and Mr. Graham take it for!" said Clementina. "You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/i-would-i-were-in-the-kingdom-of-heaven-if-it-be-as-you-and-mr-graham/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“Jesus says, “Do not look here, do not look there, for the Kingdom of Heaven is within you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-conner/jesus-says-do-not-look-here-do-not-look-there-for-the-kingdom-of/) [Miguel Conner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-conner/) ## More by Philip Yancey > [“God reproduces and lives out His image in millions of ordinary people like us. It is a supreme mystery. We are called to bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/god-reproduces-and-lives-out-his-image-in-millions-of-ordinary-people/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Curiously, the righteous Pharisees had little historical impact, save for a brief time in a remote corner of the Roman Empire. But Jesus' disciples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/curiously-the-righteous-pharisees-had-little-historical-impact-save/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Love deems this world worth rescuing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/love-deems-this-world-worth-rescuing/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [People instinctively know the difference between something done with a profit motive and something done with a love motive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/people-instinctively-know-the-difference-between-something-done-with/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [In a nutshell, the Bible from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 tells the story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/in-a-nutshell-the-bible-from-genesis-3-to-revelation-22-tells-the/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [You can know the law by heart without knowing the heart of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/you-can-know-the-law-by-heart-without-knowing-the-heart-of-it/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“I have marveled at, and sometimes openly questioned, the self-restraint God has shown throughout history, allowing the Genghis Khans and the Hitlers and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-have-marveled-at-and-sometimes-openly-questioned-the-self-restraint/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [C. S. Lewis observed that almost all crimes of Christian history have come about when religion is confused with politics. Politics, which always runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/c-s-lewis-observed-that-almost-all-crimes-of-christian-history-have/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Having spent time around "sinners" and also around purported saints, I have a hunch why Jesus spent so much time with the former group:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/having-spent-time-around-sinners-and-also-around-purported-saints-i/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [We preach sermons, write books on apologetics, conduct city-wide evangelistic campaigns. For those alienated from the church, that approach no longer has the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/we-preach-sermons-write-books-on-apologetics-conduct-city-wide/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [I begin with confession not in order to feel miserable, rather to call to mind a reality I often ignore. When I acknowledge where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/i-begin-with-confession-not-in-order-to-feel-miserable-rather-to-call/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Jesus reserved his hardest words for the hidden sins of hypocrisy, pride, greed and legalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-reserved-his-hardest-words-for-the-hidden-sins-of-hypocrisy/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“What greater gift could Christians give to the world than the forming of a culture that upholds grace and forgiveness?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/what-greater-gift-could-christians-give-to-the-world-than-the-forming/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“For us who are Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof positive that love is stronger than hate, that life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/for-us-who-are-christians-the-death-and-resurrection-of-jesus-christ/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) [Explore all 351 Philip Yancey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) ## More Desperation quotes > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [The thing about living alone is that it gives you a lot of time to think. You don't necessarily reach any conclusions, because wisdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-tropper/the-thing-about-living-alone-is-that-it-gives-you-a-lot-of-time-to/) [Jonathan Tropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-tropper/) > [Lol, the thirst on SQ is serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maher/lol-the-thirst-on-sq-is-serious/) [Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maher/) > [“Who among us does not move through life with the hidden sense, maybe even quiet desperation, that we are destined for more?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bregman/who-among-us-does-not-move-through-life-with-the-hidden-sense-maybe/) [Peter Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bregman/) > [In exams, we look up for inspiration, down for desperation, left and right for information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/in-exams-we-look-up-for-inspiration-down-for-desperation-left-and/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [The desperation was coming off you in waves. You were all but begging to dance with me. I am doing you a favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/the-desperation-was-coming-off-you-in-waves-you-were-all-but-begging/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/desperation-is-sometimes-as-powerful-an-inspirer-as-genius/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [“Soon, I found myself locked in my own cage of fear and desperation, where my experience of life was getting smaller and smaller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/soon-i-found-myself-locked-in-my-own-cage-of-fear-and-desperation/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [“Desperation breeds people who are willing to do anything to get what they need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/desperation-breeds-people-who-are-willing-to-do-anything-to-get-what/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“If you were mine, I'd never leave you, Prudence. I couldn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-gracie/if-you-were-mine-i-d-never-leave-you-prudence-i-couldn-t/) [Anne Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-gracie/) > [I took Second City out of desperation, and that's what ended up working out. It shows that you should be doing a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/i-took-second-city-out-of-desperation-and-that-s-what-ended-up/) [Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/) > [“silent desperation of everything they never said - gaps and absences in every conversation, the past circumscribing the present, the future hemming in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/silent-desperation-of-everything-they-never-said-gaps-and-absences-in/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [“The car was on the FDR drive now and, turning her head, she glanced out at the bleak brown buildings of the projects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-car-was-on-the-fdr-drive-now-and-turning-her-head-she-glanced-out/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) [Browse all 697 Desperation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Human beings do not readily admit desperation. 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