--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: George MacDonald made the following…" description: "\"“George MacDonald made the following observation: Instead of crushing the power of evil by divine force; instead of compelling justice and destroying t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ravi-zacharias-1158_christianity_george-macdonald-made-the-following-obse_799577.jpg" --- # George MacDonald made the following observation: Instead… ![“George MacDonald made the following observation: Instead of crushing the power of evil by divine force; instead of compelling justice and destroying the wicked; instead of making peace on earth by the rule of a perfect prince; instead of gathering the children of Jerusalem under his wings whether…” quote by Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ravi-zacharias-1158_christianity_george-macdonald-made-the-following-obse_799577.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ravi-zacharias-1158_christianity_george-macdonald-made-the-following-obse_799577.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7b/ravi-zacharias-1158_christianity_george-macdonald-made-the-following-obse_799577.jpg) > ““George MacDonald made the following observation: Instead of crushing the power of evil by divine force; instead of compelling justice and destroying the wicked; instead of making peace on earth by the rule of a perfect prince; instead of gathering the children of Jerusalem under his wings whether they would or not, and saving them from the horrors that anguished his prophetic soul—\[Jesus\] let evil work its will while it lived; he contented himself with the slow, unencouraging ways of help essential; making men good; casting out, not merely controlling Satan… To love righteousness is to make it grow, not to avenge it… Throughout his life on earth, \[Jesus\] resisted every impulse to work more rapidly for a lower good—strong, perhaps, when he saw old age and innocence and righteousness trodden underfoot \[italics added\].5”” [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jesus chose patient, transformative love over forceful domination, allowing goodness to develop gradually. **In simple terms:** Love grows through gentle guidance, not harsh punishment. Key Takeaway Practice patience and compassionate mentorship. Themes spirituality ethics leadership growth Mood inspirational thoughtful Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church teaching - counseling - mentoring programs - conflict mediation Key Concepts theology moral philosophy incremental change Questions to Reflect On - How does slow transformation compare to swift justice? - What role does suffering play in moral development? A Different Perspective Patience may be perceived as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Old age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-age/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Peace on earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace-on-earth/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) ## Related quotes > [To love righteousness is to make it grow, not to avenge it. Throughout his life on earth, Jesus resisted every impulse to work more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/to-love-righteousness-is-to-make-it-grow-not-to-avenge-it-throughout/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“the paradox is that God must destroy in us, all illusions of righteousness before he can make us righteous”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in-us-all-illusions-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [I submit my tongue as an instrument of righteousness when I make it bless them that curse me and pray for them who persecute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/i-submit-my-tongue-as-an-instrument-of-righteousness-when-i-make-it/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [These humans are only of flesh, of mud, and I suggest there is one force stronger than their zeal for God: their own self-righteousness!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-peretti/these-humans-are-only-of-flesh-of-mud-and-i-suggest-there-is-one/) [Frank Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-peretti/) > [“I say it reverently, if I understand the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, this is the vision He has given me of it:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-say-it-reverently-if-i-understand-the-gospel-of-the-lord-jesus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The abundant life begins from within and then moves outward to other individuals. If there is richness and righteousness in us, then we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/the-abundant-life-begins-from-within-and-then-moves-outward-to-other/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [If men would as fervently seek after love and righteousness as they do after opinions, there would be no strife on earth, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/if-men-would-as-fervently-seek-after-love-and-righteousness-as-they/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [“6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;     A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyndale/6-your-throne-o-god-is-forever-and-ever-a-scepter-of-righteousness-is/) [Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyndale/) > [“Hate sin. Love righteousness of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/hate-sin-love-righteousness-of-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The challenges of life are before us and we cannot shy away from them, all that is required of a person is to face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-joseph/the-challenges-of-life-are-before-us-and-we-cannot-shy-away-from-them/) [Jesse Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-joseph/) > [Men love everything but righteousness and fear everything but God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/men-love-everything-but-righteousness-and-fear-everything-but-god/) [Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/) > [“throne, O God, endures forever and ever.                  Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;                  You love righteousness and hate wickedness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-d-ehrman/throne-o-god-endures-forever-and-ever-your-royal-scepter-is-a-scepter/) [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) > [Love of peace is common among weak, short-sighted, timid, and lazy persons; and on the other hand courage is found among many men of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/love-of-peace-is-common-among-weak-short-sighted-timid-and-lazy/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“Many a wrong, and it's curing song, many a road, and many an inn, Room to roam, but only one home, for all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/many-a-wrong-and-it-s-curing-song-many-a-road-and-many-an-inn-room-to/) [george macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“I've been very influenced by folklore, fairy tales, and folk ballads, so I love all the classic works based on these things -- like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/i-ve-been-very-influenced-by-folklore-fairy-tales-and-folk-ballads-so/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) ## More by Ravi Zacharias > [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/) > [“How do we build root systems capable of weathering every storm that seeks to draw us into the temporary and the profane?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/how-do-we-build-root-systems-capable-of-weathering-every-storm-that/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [You see misery, you see misfortune, you see pain, you see suffering. It's all part of the fatalistic way of looking at life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/you-see-misery-you-see-misfortune-you-see-pain-you-see-suffering-it-s/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Truth is not only a matter of offense, in that it makes certain assertions. It is also a matter of defense in that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/truth-is-not-only-a-matter-of-offense-in-that-it-makes-certain/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“We are his temple. We do not turn in a certain directlon to pray. We are not bound by having to go into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/we-are-his-temple-we-do-not-turn-in-a-certain-directlon-to-pray-we/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Sometimes in the shadows of one’s self lie the problems, and in the shadows of one’s shaping lie the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/sometimes-in-the-shadows-of-one-s-self-lie-the-problems-and-in-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Years ago I was asked this question: Do terrorists fear anything? I said, 'I suspect they would fear a morally strong America.' They would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/years-ago-i-was-asked-this-question-do-terrorists-fear-anything-i/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [When you come to religion, you come to a place. When you come to Jesus Christ, you come to a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/when-you-come-to-religion-you-come-to-a-place-when-you-come-to-jesus/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Philosophically, you can believe anything, so long as you do not claim it to be true. Morally, you can practice anything, so long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/philosophically-you-can-believe-anything-so-long-as-you-do-not-claim/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [None of us like the concept of law because none of us like the restraints it puts on us. But when we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/none-of-us-like-the-concept-of-law-because-none-of-us-like-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“That truth, by the way, is why even the horror of hell is more the outcome of a heart that seeks to disown God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/that-truth-by-the-way-is-why-even-the-horror-of-hell-is-more-the/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [But life's joys are only joys if they can be shared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/but-life-s-joys-are-only-joys-if-they-can-be-shared/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Having the answers is not essential to living. What is essential is the sense of God's presence during dark seasons of questioning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/having-the-answers-is-not-essential-to-living-what-is-essential-is/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Only through repentance and faith in Christ can anyone be saved. No religious activity will be sufficient, only true faith in Jesus Christ alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/only-through-repentance-and-faith-in-christ-can-anyone-be-saved-no/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [In naturalism, man is actually very insignificant, but arrogates to himself stupendous power. In Christianity, man is actually the apex of created significance, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-naturalism-man-is-actually-very-insignificant-but-arrogates-to/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) [Explore all 279 Ravi Zacharias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [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/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“some of my good Baptist brethren in Georgia had done a little preaching from the pulpit against the KKK, I would have a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-moss/some-of-my-good-baptist-brethren-in-georgia-had-done-a-little/) [Norman Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-moss/) > [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. 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