--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: will not break a bruised reed, or quench…" description: "\"“will not break a bruised reed, or quench a smoldering wick” (Isa. 423; Matt. 12:20).”\" — Richard J. Foster" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/richard-j-foster-1460_wick_will-not-break-a-bruised-reed-or-quench_1904922.png" --- # will not break a bruised reed, or quench a smoldering… ![“will not break a bruised reed, or quench a smoldering wick” (Isa. 423; Matt. 12:20).” quote by Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/richard-j-foster-1460_wick_will-not-break-a-bruised-reed-or-quench_1904922.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/richard-j-foster-1460_wick_will-not-break-a-bruised-reed-or-quench_1904922.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/richard-j-foster-1460_wick_will-not-break-a-bruised-reed-or-quench_1904922.png) > ““will not break a bruised reed, or quench a smoldering wick” (Isa. 423; Matt. 12:20).”” [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage urges gentleness, urging us not to crush the weak or extinguish faint hope. **In simple terms:** Be gentle with the vulnerable. Key Takeaway Treat the fragile with care. Themes compassion gentleness vulnerability Mood hopeful inspirational Type scriptural philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts biblical wisdom ethical conduct empathy Questions to Reflect On - When have you shown gentle strength? - How do you protect hope in others? A Different Perspective Gentleness can be mistaken for weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Wick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wick/) ## Related quotes > [“Lord Jesus said we would have to give an account “for every careless word” (Matt. 12:36), not just the malicious ones. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-c-mitchell/lord-jesus-said-we-would-have-to-give-an-account-for-every-careless/) [Matthew C. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-c-mitchell/) > [“I think of the smoldering wick as the backsliding Christian, one who has been a burning and shining light in his day, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-haddon-spurgeon/i-think-of-the-smoldering-wick-as-the-backsliding-christian-one-who/) [Charles Haddon Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-haddon-spurgeon/) > [The smoking flax before it burst to flame Was quenched by death, and broken the bruised reed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-smoking-flax-before-it-burst-to-flame-was-quenched-by-death-and/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” —ISAIAH 42:3”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-young/a-bruised-reed-he-will-not-break-and-a-smoldering-wick-he-will-not/) [Sarah Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-young/) > [“The work of God’s Holy Spirit begins with bruising. In order to be saved, the hard ground must be plowed; the hard heart must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-haddon-spurgeon/the-work-of-god-s-holy-spirit-begins-with-bruising-in-order-to-be/) [Charles Haddon Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-haddon-spurgeon/) > [The best match in the world will not light a candle unless the wick be first suitably prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-blackwood/the-best-match-in-the-world-will-not-light-a-candle-unless-the-wick/) [Algernon Blackwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-blackwood/) > [“wick to be certain it was entirely extinguished. “Energy like your energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/wick-to-be-certain-it-was-entirely-extinguished-energy-like-your/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“We had two tins of Virol, which we were keeping for an emergency; but, finding ourselves in need of an oil-lamp to eke out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-shackleton/we-had-two-tins-of-virol-which-we-were-keeping-for-an-emergency-but/) [Ernest Shackleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-shackleton/) > [No matter how small the light of your candle has become, it can still burn someone's wick if shared in no time...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-r-aquino/no-matter-how-small-the-light-of-your-candle-has-become-it-can-still/) [Leonora R Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-r-aquino/) > [“When the candle is burning, who looks at the wick? When the candle is out, who needs it? But the world without light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/when-the-candle-is-burning-who-looks-at-the-wick-when-the-candle-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Like a pair of old slippers, I feel comfort and warmth as I slip into you. No, that is too crude. Like the match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/like-a-pair-of-old-slippers-i-feel-comfort-and-warmth-as-i-slip-into/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“Higher LOVE has a mirror image...have you looked into it lately? When the wick of your soul is lit by love, it can magnify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-bond/higher-love-has-a-mirror-image-have-you-looked-into-it-lately-when/) [Tracey Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-bond/) > [“Early on, I had thought Wick was reaching for a body across the bed. But, for a long time, he had been reaching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/early-on-i-had-thought-wick-was-reaching-for-a-body-across-the-bed/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“On this material plane, each living being is like a street lantern lamp with a dirty lampshade. The inside flame burns evenly and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/on-this-material-plane-each-living-being-is-like-a-street-lantern/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [“Please, Wick. Don’t shut me out. Don’t send me away. I want you for my own.” Tears in her eyes, she pressed her palm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coreene-callahan/please-wick-don-t-shut-me-out-don-t-send-me-away-i-want-you-for-my/) [Coreene Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coreene-callahan/) ## More by Richard J. Foster > [Prayer is - listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the "ear of our hearts."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-listening-for-the-still-small-voice-of-god-listening-with/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“To believe that God can reach us and bless us in the ordinary junctures of daily life is the stuff of prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/to-believe-that-god-can-reach-us-and-bless-us-in-the-ordinary/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Prayer is simply saying "thank you, bless you, praise you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-simply-saying-thank-you-bless-you-praise-you/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' The purpose of silence and solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/there-is-an-old-proverb-to-the-effect-that-all-those-who-open-their/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [It is an occupational hazard of devout folk to become stuffy bores. This should not be. Of all people, we should be the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-an-occupational-hazard-of-devout-folk-to-become-stuffy-bores/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Lord God, you deserve my best. Forgive me for the times I have offered you only the dregs, whether it be half-heartedly muttered prayers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/lord-god-you-deserve-my-best-forgive-me-for-the-times-i-have-offered/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/superficiality-is-the-curse-of-our-age-the-doctrine-of-instant/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [If worship does not change us it has not been worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/if-worship-does-not-change-us-it-has-not-been-worship/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/i-want-to-mention-one-other-reason-why-we-shy-away-from-commitment-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-one-thing-to-act-like-a-servant-it-is-quite-another-to-be-a/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“we hold on so tightly to the good that we do know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/we-hold-on-so-tightly-to-the-good-that-we-do-know-that-we-cannot/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Once we have made generous latitude for individual differences and schedules, we must firmly discipline ourselves to a regular pattern of prayer. We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/once-we-have-made-generous-latitude-for-individual-differences-and/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Freedom in the Gospel does not mean license. It means opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/freedom-in-the-gospel-does-not-mean-license-it-means-opportunity/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-tongue-is-our-most-powerful-weapon-of-manipulation-a-frantic/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) [Explore all 239 Richard J. Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## More Wick quotes > [“Please, Wick. Don’t shut me out. Don’t send me away. I want you for my own.” Tears in her eyes, she pressed her palm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coreene-callahan/please-wick-don-t-shut-me-out-don-t-send-me-away-i-want-you-for-my/) [Coreene Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coreene-callahan/) > [“On this material plane, each living being is like a street lantern lamp with a dirty lampshade. The inside flame burns evenly and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/on-this-material-plane-each-living-being-is-like-a-street-lantern/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [“Early on, I had thought Wick was reaching for a body across the bed. But, for a long time, he had been reaching for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/early-on-i-had-thought-wick-was-reaching-for-a-body-across-the-bed/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“Higher LOVE has a mirror image...have you looked into it lately? When the wick of your soul is lit by love, it can magnify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-bond/higher-love-has-a-mirror-image-have-you-looked-into-it-lately-when/) [Tracey Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-bond/) > [“Like a pair of old slippers, I feel comfort and warmth as I slip into you. No, that is too crude. Like the match…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/like-a-pair-of-old-slippers-i-feel-comfort-and-warmth-as-i-slip-into/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“When the candle is burning, who looks at the wick? When the candle is out, who needs it? But the world without light is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/when-the-candle-is-burning-who-looks-at-the-wick-when-the-candle-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [No matter how small the light of your candle has become, it can still burn someone's wick if shared in no time...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonora-r-aquino/no-matter-how-small-the-light-of-your-candle-has-become-it-can-still/) [Leonora R Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonora-r-aquino/) > [“We had two tins of Virol, which we were keeping for an emergency; but, finding ourselves in need of an oil-lamp to eke out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-shackleton/we-had-two-tins-of-virol-which-we-were-keeping-for-an-emergency-but/) [Ernest Shackleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-shackleton/) > [“wick to be certain it was entirely extinguished. “Energy like your energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/wick-to-be-certain-it-was-entirely-extinguished-energy-like-your/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [The best match in the world will not light a candle unless the wick be first suitably prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-blackwood/the-best-match-in-the-world-will-not-light-a-candle-unless-the-wick/) [Algernon Blackwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-blackwood/) > [It's called 'John Wick' - it's really about this guy's very simple journey. We just didn't want to clutter it. It's gratifying it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-leitch/it-s-called-john-wick-it-s-really-about-this-guy-s-very-simple/) [David Leitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-leitch/) > [“ومن الذي سكب النفط الأسود في مجرى النهر؟ جيني حسين علي، يوم الفتيل Who poured the black oil into the river stream? Jenny Hussien Ali, The wick day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/who-poured-the-black-oil-into-the-river-stream-jenny-hussien-ali-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A wild, wick slip she was”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/a-wild-wick-slip-she-was/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“A wick, nameless, snuffed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teju-cole/a-wick-nameless-snuffed/) [Teju Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teju-cole/) > [“A candle unused is nothing but wax and wick," I said. "I would rather light the flame, knowing it will go out, than sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-jae-jones/a-candle-unused-is-nothing-but-wax-and-wick-i-said-i-would-rather/) [S. Jae-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-jae-jones/) [Browse all 23 Wick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wick/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“will not break a bruised reed, or quench a smoldering wick” (Isa. 423; Matt. 12:20).”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard J. 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