--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know thy works, that thou are neither…" description: "\"“I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/rosa-luxemburg-8744_political-science_i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-c_1462039.jpg" --- # I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I… ![“I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” quote by Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/rosa-luxemburg-8744_political-science_i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-c_1462039.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/rosa-luxemburg-8744_political-science_i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-c_1462039.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/rosa-luxemburg-8744_political-science_i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-c_1462039.jpg) > ““I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”” [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cold or hot extremes are unacceptable; lukewarm indecision is intolerable. **In simple terms:** Extremes are bad; indecision is worse. Key Takeaway Avoid half‑measures. Themes politics ideology commitment Mood critical determined Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activism - policy debates - personal decisions Key Concepts radicalism personal conviction social change Questions to Reflect On - What issues demand decisive action? - When is compromise appropriate? A Different Perspective Moderation can be valuable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Political science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-science/) ## Related quotes > [“REV3.15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. REV3.16 So then because thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rev3-15-i-know-thy-works-that-thou-art-neither-cold-nor-hot-i-would/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O majesty unspeakable and dread!Wert thou less mighty than Thou art,Thou wert, O Lord, too great for our belief,Too little for our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-faber/o-majesty-unspeakable-and-dread-wert-thou-less-mighty-than-thou-art/) [Frederick William Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-faber/) > [Though thou wert scattered to the wind, Yet is there plenty of the kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/though-thou-wert-scattered-to-the-wind-yet-is-there-plenty-of-the-kind/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Antiquity! thou wondrous charm, what art thou? that being nothing art everything? When thou wert, thou wert not antiquity - then thou wert nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/antiquity-thou-wondrous-charm-what-art-thou-that-being-nothing-art/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I love thee like puddings; if thou wert pie I'd eat thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ray/i-love-thee-like-puddings-if-thou-wert-pie-i-d-eat-thee/) [John Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ray/) > [Strength of my heart, I need not fail, Not mind to fear but to obey, With such a Leader, who could quail? Thou art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/strength-of-my-heart-i-need-not-fail-not-mind-to-fear-but-to-obey/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [“If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I’ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time. LEAR. How’s that? FOOL. Thou shouldst not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-thou-wert-my-fool-nuncle-i-ld-have-thee-beaten-for-being-old/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee t' attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou wert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-beastly-ambition-which-the-gods-grant-thee-t-attain-to-if-thou-wert/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Thou wert my guide, philosopher, and friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/thou-wert-my-guide-philosopher-and-friend/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Most glorious night! Thou wert not sent for slumber!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/most-glorious-night-thou-wert-not-sent-for-slumber/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [“Ah, Iokanaan, Iokanaan, thou wert the man that I loved alone among men! All other men were hateful to me. But thou wert beautiful!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/ah-iokanaan-iokanaan-thou-wert-the-man-that-i-loved-alone-among-men/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“He who helped thee when thou wert in trouble ought not afterwards to be despised by thee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/he-who-helped-thee-when-thou-wert-in-trouble-ought-not-afterwards-to/) [Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/) > [“The railway trains full with reservists are no longer accompanied by the loud acclamations of the young ladies; the soldiers no longer smile at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/the-railway-trains-full-with-reservists-are-no-longer-accompanied-by/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [“My dear, it is very nice here, every day two or three persons are stabbed by soldiers in the city; there are daily arrests,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/my-dear-it-is-very-nice-here-every-day-two-or-three-persons-are/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [“I suppose that having lost true love once, I never wanted to replace it with a lukewarm approximation that would only serve to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paola-kaufmann/i-suppose-that-having-lost-true-love-once-i-never-wanted-to-replace/) Paola Kaufmann ## More by Rosa Luxemburg > [“Europe, it is true, is a geographical and, within certain limits, an historical cultural conception. But the idea of Europe as an economic unit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/europe-it-is-true-is-a-geographical-and-within-certain-limits-an/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [There is no democracy without socialism, and no socialism without democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/there-is-no-democracy-without-socialism-and-no-socialism-without/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [Tomorrow the revolution will 'rise up again, clashing its weapons,' and to your horror it will proclaim with trumpets blazing: I was, I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/tomorrow-the-revolution-will-rise-up-again-clashing-its-weapons-and/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [Social democracy seeks and finds the ways, and particular slogans, of the workers' struggle only in the course of the development of this struggle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/social-democracy-seeks-and-finds-the-ways-and-particular-slogans-of/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [The most revolutionary thing one can do is always to proclaim loudly what is happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/the-most-revolutionary-thing-one-can-do-is-always-to-proclaim-loudly/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [“Have private property, capitalist exploitation and class rule ceased to exist? Or, have the propertied classes in a spell of patriotic fervour declared: in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/have-private-property-capitalist-exploitation-and-class-rule-ceased/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [“Freiheit ist immer die Freiheit des Andersdenkenden Freedom is always, and exclusively, freedom for the one who thinks differently.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/freiheit-ist-immer-die-freiheit-des-andersdenkenden-freedom-is-always/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [Work for legal reform takes place only within the framework of the social form created by the last revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/work-for-legal-reform-takes-place-only-within-the-framework-of-the/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [Tomorrow the revolution will already 'raise itself with a rattle' and announce with fanfare, to your terror: I was, I am, I will be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/tomorrow-the-revolution-will-already-raise-itself-with-a-rattle-and/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [“The railway trains full with reservists are no longer accompanied by the loud acclamations of the young ladies; the soldiers no longer smile at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/the-railway-trains-full-with-reservists-are-no-longer-accompanied-by/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [On the one hand, we have the mass; on the other, its historic goal, located outside of existing society. On one hand, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/on-the-one-hand-we-have-the-mass-on-the-other-its-historic-goal/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [Capitalism, as a result of its own inner contradictions, moves toward a point when it will be unbalanced, when it will simply become impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/capitalism-as-a-result-of-its-own-inner-contradictions-moves-toward-a/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [“I want to burden the conscience of the affluent with all the suffering and all the hidden, bitter tears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/i-want-to-burden-the-conscience-of-the-affluent-with-all-the/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [“Don't forget, as busy as you may be, to quickly raise your head and cast a glance at those great silver clouds and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/don-t-forget-as-busy-as-you-may-be-to-quickly-raise-your-head-and/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) > [Social democracy.. is only the advance guard of the proletariat, a small piece of the total working masses; blood from their blood, and flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/social-democracy-is-only-the-advance-guard-of-the-proletariat-a-small/) [Rosa Luxemburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) [Explore all 78 Rosa Luxemburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/) ## More Lukewarm quotes > [“I suppose that having lost true love once, I never wanted to replace it with a lukewarm approximation that would only serve to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paola-kaufmann/i-suppose-that-having-lost-true-love-once-i-never-wanted-to-replace/) Paola Kaufmann > [“The rich eat life, the poor eat death; so what is the problem they ask?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/the-rich-eat-life-the-poor-eat-death-so-what-is-the-problem-they-ask/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Lukewarm people love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-love-others-but-do-not-seek-to-love-others-as-much-as/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [There should be balance in all our actions; to be either extreme or lukewarm is equally bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/there-should-be-balance-in-all-our-actions-to-be-either-extreme-or/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Socialised humanity represses nature and degrades human nature; it takes life and waters it down - probably to control it - diluting existence with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/socialised-humanity-represses-nature-and-degrades-human-nature-it/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [God hates the LUKEWARM GOSPEL OF HALF-TRUTHS that is now spreading over the Globe. This gospel says, 'Just believe in Jesus and you'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/god-hates-the-lukewarm-gospel-of-half-truths-that-is-now-spreading/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) > [The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-reformer-has-enemies-in-all-who-profit-by-the-old-order-and-only/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [We're a lukewarm people for all our feast days and hard work. Not much touches us, but we long to be touched. We lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/we-re-a-lukewarm-people-for-all-our-feast-days-and-hard-work-not-much/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Mediocre people often have a tinge of religion about them, but it is only a tinge. They take their religion as it comes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dubay/mediocre-people-often-have-a-tinge-of-religion-about-them-but-it-is/) [Thomas Dubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dubay/) > [Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character; it becomes lack of power to act with courage proportionate to danger. All this must lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/weakness-of-attitude-becomes-weakness-of-character-it-becomes-lack-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I would rather a romantic relationship turn into contempt than turn into apathy. The passion in the extremities make it appear as though it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/i-would-rather-a-romantic-relationship-turn-into-contempt-than-turn/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Your enthusiasm becomes their enthusiasm; your lukewarm presentation becomes their lukewarm interest in what you're offering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/your-enthusiasm-becomes-their-enthusiasm-your-lukewarm-presentation/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [Lukewarm people call 'radical' what Jesus expected of all His followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-call-radical-what-jesus-expected-of-all-his-followers/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/lukewarm-people-think-about-life-on-earth-much-more-often-than/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [“He is saying that lukewarm, halfhearted following is useless, that it sickens our souls. He is saying that this kind of salt is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/he-is-saying-that-lukewarm-halfhearted-following-is-useless-that-it/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) Browse all 104 Lukewarm quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rosa Luxemburg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-cold-nor-hot-i-would-that-thou/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lukewarm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-cold-nor-hot-i-would-that-thou/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/rosa-luxemburg-8744_political-science_i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-c_1462039.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/rosa-luxemburg-8744_political-science_i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-c_1462039.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/582/rosa-luxemburg-8744_political-science_i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-c_1462039.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot; I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because…” — Rosa Luxemburg", "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": "Rosa Luxemburg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-luxemburg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I know thy works, that thou...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-cold-nor-hot-i-would-that-thou/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-luxemburg/i-know-thy-works-that-thou-are-neither-cold-nor-hot-i-would-that-thou/#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 } } ] } ```