Every man Quote by St. Francis de Sales
““To every man, however holy he may be, there always remains some imperfection, because he has been drawn from nothingness: so that we do no injury to the saints when, in recounting their virtues, we relate their sins and defects; but, on the contrary, those who write their lives seem, for this reason, to do a great injury to making by concealing the sins and imperfections of the saints, under pretence of honouring them, not referring to the commencement of their lives, for fear of diminishing the esteem of their sanctity. Oh, no, indeed, this is not to act properly; but it is to wrong the saints and all posterity.””
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Introduction to the Devout Life, 1609
Sanctifying saints by exposing their flaws prevents false idealization and preserves true reverence.
In simple terms: Show saints’ flaws to keep reverence real.
Key Takeaway
Balance admiration with honesty.
Themes
humility
truth
integrity
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
theological
ethical
When to use this quote
- religious education
- biographical writing
- leadership training
Key Concepts
hagiography
ethical representation
Questions to Reflect On
- Should we always reveal imperfections?
- How does honesty affect faith?
A Different Perspective
Risk of scandal if details are too graphic.
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