--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Which direction do we take? The one…" description: "\"Which direction do we take? The one prompted by the passions or the one indicated by the star which shines in your conscience? The Magi heard the answe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/pope-benedict-xvi-414_answers_which-direction-do-we-take-the-one-promp_841993.jpg" --- # Which direction do we take? The one prompted by the… ![“Which direction do we take? The one prompted by the passions or the one indicated by the star which shines in your conscience? The Magi heard the answer: "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet"... enlightened by these words, they chose to press forward to the very end.” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/pope-benedict-xvi-414_answers_which-direction-do-we-take-the-one-promp_841993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/pope-benedict-xvi-414_answers_which-direction-do-we-take-the-one-promp_841993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74d/pope-benedict-xvi-414_answers_which-direction-do-we-take-the-one-promp_841993.jpg) > “Which direction do we take? The one prompted by the passions or the one indicated by the star which shines in your conscience? The Magi heard the answer: "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet"... enlightened by these words, they chose to press forward to the very end.” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Guidance can come from inner conscience or external passion; both can lead to purpose. **In simple terms:** Follow heart or conscience. Key Takeaway Balance inner and outer guides. Themes faith decision-making purpose Mood reflective spiritual Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - spiritual decisions - creative projects - political actions Key Concepts theology philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does your conscience tell you? - How do your passions align with your values? A Different Perspective Overreliance on one source may blind you to alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-inspirational/) [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [Does God understand you? Find the answer in Bethlehem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/does-god-understand-you-find-the-answer-in-bethlehem/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [You wonder if God has a place for a person like you. Find your answer in the Bethlehem stable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-wonder-if-god-has-a-place-for-a-person-like-you-find-your-answer/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is 'The Greatest' and made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-light-that-comes-from-bethlehem/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God’s humility, which in turn calls us to humility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/today-christmas-has-become-a-commercial-celebration-whose-bright/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-truett/christ-was-born-in-the-first-century-yet-he-belongs-to-all-centuries/) [George W Truett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-truett/) > [It is difficult to look at any newborn baby and accept that he or she will necessarily encounter pain, challenges, disappointments, and hardships in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-d-huntsman/it-is-difficult-to-look-at-any-newborn-baby-and-accept-that-he-or-she/) [Eric D. Huntsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-d-huntsman/) > [Bethlehem and Golgotha, the Manger and the Cross, the birth and the death, must always be seen together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/bethlehem-and-golgotha-the-manger-and-the-cross-the-birth-and-the/) [J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/) > [During the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, no one thought of setting up a creche to celebrate Christmas. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/during-the-first-13-centuries-after-the-birth-of-jesus-in-bethlehem/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Maybe your life resembles a Bethlehem stable. Crude in some spots, smelly in others. Not much glamour. Not always neat. People in your circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/maybe-your-life-resembles-a-bethlehem-stable-crude-in-some-spots/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Shall we go to Bethlehem, men? 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Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“Rachel’s tomb is located a short distance north of Bethlehem, on the road between Jerusalem and Hebron. It consists of a small building with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/rachel-s-tomb-is-located-a-short-distance-north-of-bethlehem-on-the/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) ## More by Pope Benedict XVI > [The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-fact-that-the-lord-can-work-and-act-even-with-insufficient-means/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. 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As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. 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I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. 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It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [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/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Which direction do we take? 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