--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We show hospitality to strangers not…" description: "\"“We show hospitality to strangers not merely because they need it, but because we need it, too. The stranger at the door is the living symbol and memor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/thomas-g-long-70555_hospitality_we-show-hospitality-to-strangers-not-mer_84337.png" --- # We show hospitality to strangers not merely because they… ![“We show hospitality to strangers not merely because they need it, but because we need it, too. The stranger at the door is the living symbol and memory that we are all strangers here. This is not our house, our table, our food, our lodging; this is God's house and table and food and lodging. We…” quote by Thomas G. Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/thomas-g-long-70555_hospitality_we-show-hospitality-to-strangers-not-mer_84337.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/thomas-g-long-70555_hospitality_we-show-hospitality-to-strangers-not-mer_84337.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d1/thomas-g-long-70555_hospitality_we-show-hospitality-to-strangers-not-mer_84337.png) > ““We show hospitality to strangers not merely because they need it, but because we need it, too. The stranger at the door is the living symbol and memory that we are all strangers here. This is not our house, our table, our food, our lodging; this is God's house and table and food and lodging. We were pilgrims and wanderers, aliens and strangers, even enemies of God, but we, too, were welcomed into this place. To show hospitality to the stranger is, as Gordon Lathrop has observed, to say, "We are beggars here together. Grace will surprise us both.”” Thomas G. Long ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hospitality is a mutual need; welcoming strangers reminds us of our shared vulnerability and the sacredness of shared space. **In simple terms:** Welcoming strangers reflects shared humanity. Key Takeaway Hospitality reveals our common dependence. Themes Community Humility Spirituality Interdependence Compassion Pilgrimage Mood Reflective Hopeful Reverent Type Spiritual Philosophical When to use this quote - Hosting a guest in a home - Providing aid to refugees - Welcoming new coworkers - Offering a seat to a stranger on public transport - Inviting a newcomer to a community event Key Concepts Shared vulnerability Sacred space Reciprocity Grace Practical Applications - Designing inclusive hospitality policies - Creating interfaith outreach programs Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to see every encounter as a shared pilgrimage? - How might recognizing our mutual need for hospitality transform social structures? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hospitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitality/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-neglect-to-show-hospitality-to-strangers-for-by-doing-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-robertson/keep-on-loving-each-other-as-brothers-and-sisters-do-not-forget-to/) [Alan Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-robertson/) > [Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hebrews-13-2/don-t-forget-to-show-hospitality-to-strangers-for-some-who-have-done/) Hebrews 13:2 > [So I had to be the doctor to these wounded men until we could remove them to the hospital. There were fifty-four women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-smedley/so-i-had-to-be-the-doctor-to-these-wounded-men-until-we-could-remove/) [Agnes Smedley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-smedley/) > [“When I am a good host, I can order the world precisely as I believe it ought to be. It is a world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-browner/when-i-am-a-good-host-i-can-order-the-world-precisely-as-i-believe-it/) [Jesse Browner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-browner/) > [I don't do much else but stay in my hotel room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/i-don-t-do-much-else-but-stay-in-my-hotel-room/) [Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/) > [ If you look into the mirror, you see that \[every part of you\] belongs there and you belong there, as you are. You begin… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/if-you-look-into-the-mirror-you-see-that-every-part-of-you-belongs/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I look forward to hosting Prime Minister Lee \[Hsien Loong\], whose friendship and partnership I appreciate very much and with whom I've worked throughout… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-look-forward-to-hosting-prime-minister-lee-hsien-loong-whose/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Learning professionals need to be thinking about creating learning experiences rather than learning content](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-jennings/learning-professionals-need-to-be-thinking-about-creating-learning/) Charles Jennings > [The leader builds dispersed and diverse leadership - distributing leadership to the outermost edges of the circle to unleash the power of shared responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-leader-builds-dispersed-and-diverse-leadership-distributing/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [It is a great mistake to say that the Chinese are not hospitable. A more graceful, hearty hospitality than that of the Chinese I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lottie-moon/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-say-that-the-chinese-are-not-hospitable-a/) [Lottie Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lottie-moon/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [In my extensive experience, I can honestly say that Sculpture Hospitality's inventory solutions are world class and, by far, the most comprehensive in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-taffer/in-my-extensive-experience-i-can-honestly-say-that-sculpture/) [Jon Taffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-taffer/) > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) ## More by Thomas G. Long > [A couple you do not recognize - visitors, strangers - come to the door. How are you to view these people and what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-long/a-couple-you-do-not-recognize-visitors-strangers-come-to-the-door-how/) Thomas G. Long > [Belief is the capacity to see not only life's surfaces but also its holy depths, to be able to look at events unfolding around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-long/belief-is-the-capacity-to-see-not-only-life-s-surfaces-but-also-its/) Thomas G. Long > [“The critical question is whether preachers are supposed to help people “find their stories in the Bible” or are supposed to call the hearers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-g-long/the-critical-question-is-whether-preachers-are-supposed-to-help/) Thomas G. Long Explore all 4 Thomas G. Long quotes ## More Hospitality quotes > [It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryll-houselander/it-is-part-of-god-s-plan-for-us-that-christ-shall-come-to-us-in/) [Caryll Houselander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryll-houselander/) > [In my extensive experience, I can honestly say that Sculpture Hospitality's inventory solutions are world class and, by far, the most comprehensive in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-taffer/in-my-extensive-experience-i-can-honestly-say-that-sculpture/) [Jon Taffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-taffer/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [It is a great mistake to say that the Chinese are not hospitable. A more graceful, hearty hospitality than that of the Chinese I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lottie-moon/it-is-a-great-mistake-to-say-that-the-chinese-are-not-hospitable-a/) [Lottie Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lottie-moon/) > [The leader builds dispersed and diverse leadership - distributing leadership to the outermost edges of the circle to unleash the power of shared responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-leader-builds-dispersed-and-diverse-leadership-distributing/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Learning professionals need to be thinking about creating learning experiences rather than learning content](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-jennings/learning-professionals-need-to-be-thinking-about-creating-learning/) Charles Jennings > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [ I look forward to hosting Prime Minister Lee \[Hsien Loong\], whose friendship and partnership I appreciate very much and with whom I've worked throughout… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-look-forward-to-hosting-prime-minister-lee-hsien-loong-whose/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ If you look into the mirror, you see that \[every part of you\] belongs there and you belong there, as you are. You begin… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/if-you-look-into-the-mirror-you-see-that-every-part-of-you-belongs/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I don't do much else but stay in my hotel room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layne-staley/i-don-t-do-much-else-but-stay-in-my-hotel-room/) [Layne Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layne-staley/) > [“When I am a good host, I can order the world precisely as I believe it ought to be. It is a world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-browner/when-i-am-a-good-host-i-can-order-the-world-precisely-as-i-believe-it/) [Jesse Browner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-browner/) > [So I had to be the doctor to these wounded men until we could remove them to the hospital. There were fifty-four women and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-smedley/so-i-had-to-be-the-doctor-to-these-wounded-men-until-we-could-remove/) [Agnes Smedley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-smedley/) > [The mother must set the example in holding out the shrine as the heart of the house hold! She must enforce discipline over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/the-mother-must-set-the-example-in-holding-out-the-shrine-as-the/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hospitality-means-primarily-the-creation-of-free-space-where-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We shall always keep a spare corner in our heads to give passing hospitality to our friends' opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/we-shall-always-keep-a-spare-corner-in-our-heads-to-give-passing/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) [Browse all 419 Hospitality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hospitality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We show hospitality to strangers not merely because they need it, but because we need it, too. The stranger at the door is the living symbol and memory that we are all strangers here. This is not our house, our table, our food, our lodging; this is God's house and table and food and lodging. 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