--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we wish to follow Christ closely, we…" description: "\"If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an easy, quiet life. It will be a demanding life, but full of joy.\" — Pope Francis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/pope-francis-85_christ_if-we-wish-to-follow-christ-closely-we-c_63012.png" --- # If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an… ![“If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an easy, quiet life. It will be a demanding life, but full of joy.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/pope-francis-85_christ_if-we-wish-to-follow-christ-closely-we-c_63012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/pope-francis-85_christ_if-we-wish-to-follow-christ-closely-we-c_63012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/pope-francis-85_christ_if-we-wish-to-follow-christ-closely-we-c_63012.png) > “If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an easy, quiet life. It will be a demanding life, but full of joy.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Following Christ demands sacrifice and effort, yet it yields deep spiritual fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Discipleship is demanding but rewarding. Key Takeaway Joy arises from committed faith. Themes faith sacrifice joy spiritual growth discipleship Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational theological When to use this quote - missionary work - personal trials - community service - ethical decision-making Key Concepts commitment suffering purpose Practical Applications - spiritual counseling - motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - How does hardship deepen faith? - What joys emerge from self‑denial? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Quiet life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet-life/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Let us cleave to Christ more closely, love Him more heartily, live to Him more thoroughly, copy Him more exactly, confess Him more boldly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/let-us-cleave-to-christ-more-closely-love-him-more-heartily-live-to/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Life is NOT Supposed to be Fair. Know that there is no single way that life is supposed to be. Demanding that life meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lockwood-huie/life-is-not-supposed-to-be-fair-know-that-there-is-no-single-way-that/) [Jonathan Lockwood Huie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lockwood-huie/) > [If we are always demanding something out of life, then we will never be content. But if we accept life as it is, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thich-thien-an/if-we-are-always-demanding-something-out-of-life-then-we-will-never/) [Thich Thien-An](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thich-thien-an/) > [“The moment I felt my life return was when I took a breath and said to him, "No thank you. Were I as perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/the-moment-i-felt-my-life-return-was-when-i-took-a-breath-and-said-to/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [Community life is not easy for somebody like me, who is used to living by himself and doing what he wants. It's a demanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/community-life-is-not-easy-for-somebody-like-me-who-is-used-to-living/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [You have a specific and important mission, that of keeping alive the relationship between the faith and the cultures of the peoples to whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-have-a-specific-and-important-mission-that-of-keeping-alive-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Socrates could enjoy a banquet now and again, and must have derived considerable satisfaction from his conversations while the hemlock was taking effect, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/socrates-could-enjoy-a-banquet-now-and-again-and-must-have-derived/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [She lived, we'll say, A harmless life, she called a virtuous life, A quiet life, which was not life at all (But that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/she-lived-we-ll-say-a-harmless-life-she-called-a-virtuous-life-a/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [I've never been called quiet about anything in my life. However, I'm also not one of those people who thinks that because I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-covert/i-ve-never-been-called-quiet-about-anything-in-my-life-however-i-m/) [Allen Covert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-covert/) > [I like a quiet life, you know me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-a-quiet-life-you-know-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want a quiet life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-want-a-quiet-life/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Anybody looking for a quiet life has picked the wrong century to born in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anybody-looking-for-a-quiet-life-has-picked-the-wrong-century-to-born/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The circumstances of everyday life were too demanding-and in American's great cities, appalling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-rosenberg/the-circumstances-of-everyday-life-were-too-demanding-and-in-american/) Charles E. Rosenberg > [“If you want something, you must go out and get it yourself because you do not get what you want in life by demanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/if-you-want-something-you-must-go-out-and-get-it-yourself-because-you/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [Life is demanding without understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-of-base/life-is-demanding-without-understanding/) Ace Of Base ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. Love is seen as an experience associated with the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/most-people-nowadays-would-not-consider-love-as-related-in-any-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Listen to Jesus and follow him. That's the message of the Transfiguration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/listen-to-jesus-and-follow-him-that-s-the-message-of-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proceed calmly in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proceed-calmly-in-life/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You cannot insult the faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-cannot-insult-the-faith-of-others/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-people-of-good-will-who-are-working-for-social-justice-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More Christ quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“I would even go so far as to say that the mythical character of a life is just what expresses its universal human validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/i-would-even-go-so-far-as-to-say-that-the-mythical-character-of-a/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [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/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 9,006 Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an easy, quiet life. 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