--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot be sure if we are loving God…" description: "\"We cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may have good reasons for believing that we are, but we can know quite well if we are loving our ne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/teresa-of-vila-1246_believe_we-cannot-be-sure-if-we-are-loving-god-a_2953324.jpg" --- # We cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may… ![“We cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may have good reasons for believing that we are, but we can know quite well if we are loving our neighbor. And be certain that, the farther advanced you find you are in this, the greater the love you will have for God.” quote by Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/teresa-of-vila-1246_believe_we-cannot-be-sure-if-we-are-loving-god-a_2953324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/teresa-of-vila-1246_believe_we-cannot-be-sure-if-we-are-loving-god-a_2953324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/teresa-of-vila-1246_believe_we-cannot-be-sure-if-we-are-loving-god-a_2953324.jpg) > “We cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may have good reasons for believing that we are, but we can know quite well if we are loving our neighbor. And be certain that, the farther advanced you find you are in this, the greater the love you will have for God.” [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One can be more certain of loving one’s neighbor than loving God; deeper love for neighbor indicates deeper love for God. **In simple terms:** Neighborly love is clearer than divine love. Key Takeaway Cultivate love for others. Themes spirituality love self‑knowledge faith Mood reflective inspirational Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - community service - spiritual practice - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Mysticism ethical development Questions to Reflect On - How does caring for others reflect your relationship with the divine? - What practices deepen both neighborly and divine love? A Different Perspective Measuring love for God is inherently subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Loving god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-god/) [Neighbor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbor/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [Loving God and loving one's neighbor are really the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother-lawrence/loving-god-and-loving-one-s-neighbor-are-really-the-same-thing/) [Brother Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brother-lawrence/) > [It is impossible to love God without loving our neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-impossible-to-love-god-without-loving-our-neighbor/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The great biblical tradition says that loving God and loving one's neighbor are not two separate actions but two sides of the same action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/the-great-biblical-tradition-says-that-loving-god-and-loving-one-s/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“That's loving our neighbor better than ourselves, and I like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/that-s-loving-our-neighbor-better-than-ourselves-and-i-like-it/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [If you find a neighbor in need, you're responsible for serving that neighbor in need, you're responsible for loving a neighbor just like you'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-find-a-neighbor-in-need-you-re-responsible-for-serving-that/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The goal of embodying Christian ethics - if you want to call yourself a Christian - is being patient and loving with your neighbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/the-goal-of-embodying-christian-ethics-if-you-want-to-call-yourself-a/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [“They that love God live their daily lives to show their true love for God; in truth and in spirit!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/they-that-love-god-live-their-daily-lives-to-show-their-true-love-for/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [“People may love a God of their own imaginations, when they are far from loving such a God as reigns in heaven.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/people-may-love-a-god-of-their-own-imaginations-when-they-are-far/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [“You love God by showing love to His creations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-love-god-by-showing-love-to-his-creations/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Our worship offering as believers should be out of convenience and sheer love for God”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/our-worship-offering-as-believers-should-be-out-of-convenience-and/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“There is a God to love and there is a God to fear, and He is one and the same! Did He not judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/there-is-a-god-to-love-and-there-is-a-god-to-fear-and-he-is-one-and/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [I want to be a woman who lives totally abandoned to the first commandment: to love my Lord, my God, with all my heart.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-edwards/i-want-to-be-a-woman-who-lives-totally-abandoned-to-the-first/) [Misty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-edwards/) > [Heaven is not a place for those who are afraid of hell; it’s a place for those who love God. You can scare people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/heaven-is-not-a-place-for-those-who-are-afraid-of-hell-it-s-a-place/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [ “Paul in like manner declares, “Love is the fulfilling of the law:” and \[he declares\] that when all other things have been destroyed, there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/paul-in-like-manner-declares-love-is-the-fulfilling-of-the-law-and-he/) The Church Fathers > [“God is in your neighbor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/god-is-in-your-neighbor/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Teresa of Avila > [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-often-i-failed-in-my-duty-to-god-because-i-was-not-leaning-on-the/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Truth suffers, but never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/truth-suffers-but-never-dies/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“you will never lack so much of the water of comfort that your thirst will be intolerable;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/you-will-never-lack-so-much-of-the-water-of-comfort-that-your-thirst/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/whoever-has-god-lacks-nothing-god-alone-suffices/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/do-you-know-when-people-really-become-spiritual-it-is-when-they/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [How friendly we should all be with one another if nobody were interested in money and honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-friendly-we-should-all-be-with-one-another-if-nobody-were/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [“The Lord has no body now on earth but yours, no hands now but yours, no feet now but yours. Yours are the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/the-lord-has-no-body-now-on-earth-but-yours-no-hands-now-but-yours-no/) [Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/our-greatest-gain-is-to-lose-the-wealth-that-is-of-such-brief/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [God has no hands or feet or voice except ours and through these He works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/god-has-no-hands-or-feet-or-voice-except-ours-and-through-these-he/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/his-majesty-knows-best-what-is-suitable-for-us-there-s-no-need-for-us/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) > [There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/there-is-no-affliction-trial-or-labor-difficult-to-endure-when-we/) [Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) [Explore all 267 Teresa of Avila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [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/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We cannot be sure if we are loving God, although we may have good reasons for believing that we are, but we can know quite well if we are loving our neighbor. 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