---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O Deus Ego Amo Te Oh God, I love Thee…"
description: "\"“ O Deus Ego Amo Te Oh God, I love Thee mightily, Not only for Thy saving me, Nor yet because who love not Thee Must burn throughout eternity. Thou, Th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/robert-hugh-benson-28578_god_o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mig_1458379.png"
---

#  O Deus Ego Amo Te Oh God, I love Thee mightily, Not only…

![“O Deus Ego Amo Te Oh God, I love Thee mightily, Not only for Thy saving me, Nor yet because who love not Thee Must burn throughout eternity. Thou, Thou, my Jesu, once didst me Embrace upon the bitter Tree. For me the nails, the soldier's spear, With injury and insult, bear- In pain all pain…” quote by Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/robert-hugh-benson-28578_god_o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mig_1458379.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/robert-hugh-benson-28578_god_o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mig_1458379.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/robert-hugh-benson-28578_god_o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mig_1458379.png)

> ““ O Deus Ego Amo Te Oh God, I love Thee mightily, Not only for Thy saving me, Nor yet because who love not Thee Must burn throughout eternity. Thou, Thou, my Jesu, once didst me Embrace upon the bitter Tree. For me the nails, the soldier's spear, With injury and insult, bear- In pain all pain exceeding, In sweating and in bleeding, Yea, very death, and that for me A sinner all unheeding! O Jesu, should I not love Thee Who thus hast dealt so lovingly- Not hoping some reward to see, Nor lest I my damnation be; But as Thyself hast loved me, So love I now and always Thee, Because my King alone Thou art, Because, O God, mine own Thou art!””

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poet expresses profound, self‑sacrificial love for God, mirroring Christ’s suffering and urging reciprocal devotion.

**In simple terms:** He loves God deeply, reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice and urging love in return.

Key Takeaway

Love God as Christ loved us, without expecting reward.

Themes

faith sacrifice devotion

Mood

reverent hopeful

Type

spiritual poetic

When to use this quote

- prayer
- church services
- personal meditation
- writing devotional poetry

Key Concepts

theology redemptive love spiritual reciprocity

Questions to Reflect On

- What does loving unconditionally mean to you?
- How do you balance love for God with self‑care?

A Different Perspective

Such intense devotion may overlook personal well‑being or lead to guilt.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poems/)

## Related quotes

> [“ A Halt Lie still, my soul, the Sun of Grace Is warm within this garden space Beneath tall kindly trees. The quiet light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/a-halt-lie-still-my-soul-the-sun-of-grace-is-warm-within-this-garden/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [Eternity! thou pleasing, dreadful thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/eternity-thou-pleasing-dreadful-thought/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [Silence! coeval with eternity! thou wert ere Nature's self began to be; thine was the sway ere heaven was formed on earth, ere fruitful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/silence-coeval-with-eternity-thou-wert-ere-nature-s-self-began-to-be/)

[Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/)

> [Eternity! thou pleasing dreadful thought! Through what variety of untried being, Through what new scenes and changes must we pass!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/eternity-thou-pleasing-dreadful-thought-through-what-variety-of/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [It must be so,-Plato, thou reasonest well! Else whence this pleasing hope, this fond desire, This longing after immortality? Or whence this secret dread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/it-must-be-so-plato-thou-reasonest-well-else-whence-this-pleasing/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [If Paris that brief flight allow, My humble tomb explore! It bears: Eternity, be thou My refuge! and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/if-paris-that-brief-flight-allow-my-humble-tomb-explore-it-bears/)

[Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/)

> [The things of God are of great import; and time, and experience,and careful, and ponderous, and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-things-of-god-are-of-great-import-and-time-and-experience-and/)

[Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/)

> [“If thou must love me, let it be for naught Except for love's sake only. Do not say, 'I love her for her smile—her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/if-thou-must-love-me-let-it-be-for-naught-except-for-love-s-sake-only/)

[Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/)

> [“Oh, God, thou art the stagnant environment." All is quackery: these religions whose very existence depend on their failure, are so full of misery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare-2/oh-god-thou-art-the-stagnant-environment-all-is-quackery-these/)

[Austin Osman, Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare-2/)

> [“Oh God, thou art the stagnant environment’.12 All is quackery: these religions, whose very existence depends on their failure, are full of misery and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare/oh-god-thou-art-the-stagnant-environment-12-all-is-quackery-these/)

[Austin Osman Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare/)

> [“O, thou art fairer than the evening air Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars; Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter When he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/o-thou-art-fairer-than-the-evening-air-clad-in-the-beauty-of-a/)

[Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/)

> [“Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lord-i-believe-that-thou-art-the-christ-the-son-of-god-which-should/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, Thou art the present portion of Thy people, favour us this year with such a sense of Thy preciousness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-o-sweet-lord-jesus-thou-art-the-present-portion-of-thy-people/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Spade! Thou art a tool of honor in my hands. I press thee, through a yielding soil, with pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/spade-thou-art-a-tool-of-honor-in-my-hands-i-press-thee-through-a/)

[William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/)

## More by Robert Hugh Benson

> [I think that the insane desire one has sometimes to bang and kick grumblers and peevish persons is a Divine instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/i-think-that-the-insane-desire-one-has-sometimes-to-bang-and-kick/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [“And now, you till come,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/and-now-you-till-come/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [“An enormous amount of energy has been expended uselessly in the past, in assaulting positions that are no longer held. For example, the old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/an-enormous-amount-of-energy-has-been-expended-uselessly-in-the-past/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [Society is not merely a select body of spiritual or intellectual persons, but a great organism composed of all kinds of members, a net…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/society-is-not-merely-a-select-body-of-spiritual-or-intellectual/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [It is only the souls that do not love that go empty in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/it-is-only-the-souls-that-do-not-love-that-go-empty-in-this-world/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [“It is possible to find within the limits of a stone’s throw one Anglican divine who preaches practically the entire cycle of Catholic doctrine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/it-is-possible-to-find-within-the-limits-of-a-stone-s-throw-one/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [Ignorance may be bliss, but it certainly is not freedom, except in the minds of those who prefer darkness to light and chains to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/ignorance-may-be-bliss-but-it-certainly-is-not-freedom-except-in-the/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [Love seeks not to possess, but to be possessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/love-seeks-not-to-possess-but-to-be-possessed/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [The union of the family lies in love; and love is the only reconciliation of authority and liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/the-union-of-the-family-lies-in-love-and-love-is-the-only/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [“ Wedding Hymn Father, within Thy House today We wait Thy kindly love to see; Since thou hast said in truth that they Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/wedding-hymn-father-within-thy-house-today-we-wait-thy-kindly-love-to/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [While friendship itself has an air of eternity about it, seeming to transcend all natural limits, there is hardly any emotion so utterly at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/while-friendship-itself-has-an-air-of-eternity-about-it-seeming-to/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [The Church must be intelligible to the simple as well as to the shrewd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/the-church-must-be-intelligible-to-the-simple-as-well-as-to-the-shrewd/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [“ A Halt Lie still, my soul, the Sun of Grace Is warm within this garden space Beneath tall kindly trees. The quiet light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/a-halt-lie-still-my-soul-the-sun-of-grace-is-warm-within-this-garden/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [You can love a person deeply and sincerely whom you do not like. You can like a person passionately whom you do not love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/you-can-love-a-person-deeply-and-sincerely-whom-you-do-not-like-you/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

> [Competition, founded upon the conflicting interests of individuals, is in reality far less productive of wealth and enterprise than co-operation, involving though it does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/competition-founded-upon-the-conflicting-interests-of-individuals-is/)

[Robert Hugh Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

[Explore all 19 Robert Hugh Benson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/)

## More God quotes

> [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/)

[Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/)

> [“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/)

> [“am not suggesting that successes in academics, athletics, or vocation somehow stand outside God’s good plan. Learning and play are joys that God himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-paul-jones/am-not-suggesting-that-successes-in-academics-athletics-or-vocation/)

[Timothy Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-paul-jones/)

> [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/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/)

[Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/)

> [The faster you go, the shorter you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-faster-you-go-the-shorter-you-are/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [A lot of people have been saying 'The 100' reminds them of 'Lord Of The Flies,' 'Lost' and 'Battlestar Galactica,' and all of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/a-lot-of-people-have-been-saying-the-100-reminds-them-of-lord-of-the/)

[Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wonder: when a Jehovah's Witness dies and goes to Heaven, does God hide behind the door and pretend He's not home?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-celio/i-wonder-when-a-jehovah-s-witness-dies-and-goes-to-heaven-does-god/)

[Brian Celio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-celio/)

> [What would God have me do with my life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/what-would-god-have-me-do-with-my-life/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/)

[Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/)

> [“Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/do-all-the-good-you-can-by-all-the-means-you-can-in-all-the-ways-you/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [You are a God Act like one!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/you-are-a-god-act-like-one/)

[Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/)

[Browse all 37,707 God quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“ O Deus Ego Amo Te Oh God, I love Thee mightily, Not only for Thy saving me, Nor yet because who love not Thee Must burn throughout eternity. Thou, Thou, my Jesu, once didst me Embrace upon the bitter Tree. For me the nails, the soldier's spear, With injury and insult, bear- In pain all pain exceeding, In sweating and in bleeding, Yea, very death, and that for me A sinner all unheeding! O Jesu, should I not love Thee Who thus hast dealt so lovingly- Not hoping some reward to see, Nor lest I my damnation be; But as Thyself hast loved me, So love I now and always Thee, Because my King alone Thou art, Because, O God, mine own Thou art!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Robert Hugh Benson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mightily-not-only-for-thy-saving/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "God"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mightily-not-only-for-thy-saving/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/robert-hugh-benson-28578_god_o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mig_1458379.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/robert-hugh-benson-28578_god_o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mig_1458379.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/robert-hugh-benson-28578_god_o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mig_1458379.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“O Deus Ego Amo Te Oh God, I love Thee mightily, Not only for Thy saving me, Nor yet because who love not…” — Robert Hugh Benson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Robert Hugh Benson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hugh-benson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“ O Deus Ego Amo Te...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mightily-not-only-for-thy-saving/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hugh-benson/o-deus-ego-amo-te-oh-god-i-love-thee-mightily-not-only-for-thy-saving/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
