--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is certainly a greater and more…" description: "\"It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of soul, than to kill them.\" — Saint John Chr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_change_it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonde_182393.jpg" --- # It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to… ![“It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of soul, than to kill them.” quote by Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_change_it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonde_182393.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_change_it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonde_182393.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_change_it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonde_182393.jpg) > “It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of soul, than to kill them.” [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing an opponent’s heart is far more valuable than ending their life, because it transforms relationships and societies. **In simple terms:** Changing minds beats killing. Key Takeaway Seek to persuade, not destroy. Themes peace conflict resolution morality Mood hopeful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political negotiations - community mediation - family disputes - workplace conflicts - religious dialogues Key Concepts empathy psychology ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you influence an adversary’s perspective? - What risks arise when trying to change hearts? A Different Perspective Persuasion can be slow and may fail against entrenched hatred. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) ## Related quotes > [“Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover, all rules must lead to charity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent-de-paul/charity-is-certainly-greater-than-any-rule-moreover-all-rules-must/) St. Vincent de Paul > [“Hey, you know I might not be perfect! But I'm a wonderful work in progress!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-c-akers/hey-you-know-i-might-not-be-perfect-but-i-m-a-wonderful-work-in/) [D.C. Akers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-c-akers/) > [“Okay, so there’s just you. Your goals, your career, your crew, your prospects, and your God. All together, chillin’. Before the house, the apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-franklin/okay-so-there-s-just-you-your-goals-your-career-your-crew-your/) [Kirk Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-franklin/) > [“I was never one to care about how I looked on the outside. That wasn't the real me anyway. Not that I didn't appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/i-was-never-one-to-care-about-how-i-looked-on-the-outside-that-wasn-t/) [Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/) > [Nobody wants to do it - not real change, not soul change, not the painful molecular change required to truly become who you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/nobody-wants-to-do-it-not-real-change-not-soul-change-not-the-painful/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Because how you look doesn't change what's in your soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-zolendz/because-how-you-look-doesn-t-change-what-s-in-your-soul/) [Christine Zolendz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-zolendz/) > [No worldly pursuit compares to the joy of experiencing the change of one soul from death to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/no-worldly-pursuit-compares-to-the-joy-of-experiencing-the-change-of/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [Tattoos to me are the outward symbol of the inward change within my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/tattoos-to-me-are-the-outward-symbol-of-the-inward-change-within-my/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [You're afraid, you will just keep making the fear. If you want to change it, you change from your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/you-re-afraid-you-will-just-keep-making-the-fear-if-you-want-to/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [“Are you surprised, as if it were a novelty, that after such long travel and so many changes of scene you have not been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/are-you-surprised-as-if-it-were-a-novelty-that-after-such-long-travel/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [You cannot change your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishal-jethwa/you-cannot-change-your-soul/) [Vishal Jethwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishal-jethwa/) > [You need a change of soul rather than a change of climate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/you-need-a-change-of-soul-rather-than-a-change-of-climate/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Economics are the method; the object is to change the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/economics-are-the-method-the-object-is-to-change-the-soul/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [“Only Jesus Christ can change a soul to be a spiritual being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/only-jesus-christ-can-change-a-soul-to-be-a-spiritual-being/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall Lend me your eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mumford-and-sons/lend-me-your-hand-and-we-ll-conquer-them-all-but-lend-me-your-heart/) [Mumford And Sons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mumford-and-sons/) ## More by Saint John Chrysostom > [God measures out affliction to our need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/god-measures-out-affliction-to-our-need/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [If we approach with faith, we too will see Jesus... for the Eucharistic table takes the place of the crib. Here the Body of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/if-we-approach-with-faith-we-too-will-see-jesus-for-the-eucharistic/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [The slave should be resigned to his lot, in obeying his master he is obeying God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/the-slave-should-be-resigned-to-his-lot-in-obeying-his-master-he-is/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Every trace of the old philosophy and literatureof the ancient world has vanished from the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/every-trace-of-the-old-philosophy-and-literatureof-the-ancient-world/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [What the soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-the-soul-is-in-the-body-let-christians-be-in-the-world/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [...there is nothing that has been created without some reason, even if human nature is incapable of knowing precisely the reason for them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/there-is-nothing-that-has-been-created-without-some-reason-even-if/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy consume a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/as-a-moth-gnaws-a-garment-so-doth-envy-consume-a-man/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [What is it to be a fool for Christ? It is to control one's thoughts when they stray out of line. It is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-is-it-to-be-a-fool-for-christ-it-is-to-control-one-s-thoughts/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Let us always guard our tongue; not that it should always be silent, but that it should speak at the proper time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/let-us-always-guard-our-tongue-not-that-it-should-always-be-silent/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [It brings comfort to have companions in whatever happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-brings-comfort-to-have-companions-in-whatever-happens/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [I do not think there are many among Bishops that will be saved, but many more that perish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/i-do-not-think-there-are-many-among-bishops-that-will-be-saved-but/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [When an archer desires to shoot his arrows successfully, he first takes great pains over his posture and aligns himself accurately with his mark.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/when-an-archer-desires-to-shoot-his-arrows-successfully-he-first/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Whether, therefore, we receive what we ask for, or do not receive it, let us still continue steadfast in prayer. For to fail in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/whether-therefore-we-receive-what-we-ask-for-or-do-not-receive-it-let/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [Not to share our own wealth with the poor is theft from the poor and deprivation of their means of life; we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/not-to-share-our-own-wealth-with-the-poor-is-theft-from-the-poor-and/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-shall-i-say-and-how-shall-i-describe-this-birth-to-you-for-this/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) [Explore all 169 Saint John Chrysostom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of soul, than to kill them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint John Chrysostom" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonderful-work-to-change-the-minds/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonderful-work-to-change-the-minds/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_change_it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonde_182393.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_change_it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonde_182393.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d30/saint-john-chrysostom-2375_change_it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonde_182393.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is certainly a greater and more wonderful work to change the minds of enemies, bringing about a change of…” — Saint John Chrysostom", "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": "Saint John Chrysostom", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is certainly a greater and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonderful-work-to-change-the-minds/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/it-is-certainly-a-greater-and-more-wonderful-work-to-change-the-minds/#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 } } ] } ```