--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can inspire others through witness so…" description: "\"We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. BUt the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/pope-francis-85_church_we-can-inspire-others-through-witness-so_1563108.jpg" --- # We can inspire others through witness so that one grows… ![“We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. BUt the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you.' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by…” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/pope-francis-85_church_we-can-inspire-others-through-witness-so_1563108.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/pope-francis-85_church_we-can-inspire-others-through-witness-so_1563108.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/pope-francis-85_church_we-can-inspire-others-through-witness-so_1563108.jpg) > “We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. BUt the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyses: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you.' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attracting, not proselytizing.” [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. True communication grows when people share authentic selves, not when they try to convert others. **In simple terms:** Authentic dialogue builds community, not proselytizing. Key Takeaway Speak as yourself, listen to others. Themes communication authenticity community Mood reflective thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - church gatherings - interfaith meetings - personal conversations Key Concepts dialogue identity religion Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster genuine exchange without agenda? - What barriers arise when trying to persuade? A Different Perspective Proselytizing can still be subtle and undermine trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Happy life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-life/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Inspire others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspire-others/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Worst things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-things/) ## Related quotes > [Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proselytism-is-solemn-nonsense-it-makes-no-sense-we-need-to-get-to-2/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proselytism is solemn nonsense; it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proselytism-is-solemn-nonsense-it-makes-no-sense-we-need-to-get-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Try to persuade a person by appealing to their consciousness, by saying outright what you want, by showing all your cards, and what hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/try-to-persuade-a-person-by-appealing-to-their-consciousness-by/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Roman authorities recommended that a very effective way to persuade and move a person or a council to adopt a particular policy is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/roman-authorities-recommended-that-a-very-effective-way-to-persuade/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/individual-moslems-may-show-splendid-qualities-but-the-influence-of-2/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die: but the influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/individual-moslems-may-show-splendid-qualities-thousands-become-the/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/how-dreadful-are-the-curses-which-mohammedanism-lays-on-its-votaries-2/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by "attraction": just as Christ "draws all to himself" by the power of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-church-does-not-engage-in-proselytism-instead-she-grows-by/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Proselytism is tolerated by Hinduism. Any man, whether he be a Shudra or Chandala, can expound philosophy even to a Brahmin. The truth can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/proselytism-is-tolerated-by-hinduism-any-man-whether-he-be-a-shudra/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Evangelization does not consist in proselytizing, for proselytizing is a caricature of evangelization, but rather evangelizing entails attracting by our witness those who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/evangelization-does-not-consist-in-proselytizing-for-proselytizing-is/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Instead of seeming to impose new obligations, they should appear as people who wish to share their joy, who point to a horizon of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/instead-of-seeming-to-impose-new-obligations-they-should-appear-as/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/how-much-do-you-have-to-hate-somebody-to-not-proselytize/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“If free enterprise becomes a proselytizing holy cause, it will be a sign that its workability and advantages have ceased to be self-evident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/if-free-enterprise-becomes-a-proselytizing-holy-cause-it-will-be-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [People think that, that conversion to Judaism is just a modern phenomenon. But there was an era in the late Roman Empire Judaism was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/people-think-that-that-conversion-to-judaism-is-just-a-modern/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [All religious vows, codes, and commitments are null & void herein. Please refrain from contaminating the ideosphere with harmful memes through prayer, reverence, holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-erwin/all-religious-vows-codes-and-commitments-are-null-void-herein-please/) Greg Erwin ## 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. 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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 Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. 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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/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. 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