--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most miserable prison in the world is…" description: "\"The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.\" — Warren W. Wiersbe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/warren-w-wiersbe-2017_compassion_the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-i_2344938.png" --- # The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we… ![“The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.” quote by Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/warren-w-wiersbe-2017_compassion_the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-i_2344938.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/warren-w-wiersbe-2017_compassion_the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-i_2344938.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/warren-w-wiersbe-2017_compassion_the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-i_2344938.png) > “The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.” [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑imposed prisons arise when we deny mercy, trapping us in suffering. **In simple terms:** Refusing mercy creates personal prisons. Key Takeaway Practice compassion toward yourself and others. Themes mercy self‑imprisonment freedom Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - conflict resolution - mental health Key Concepts psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What self‑prisons have you built? - How can mercy free you? A Different Perspective Mercy can be seen as weakness by some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy. Our thoughts become shackled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-is-the-prison-we-make-for/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“Will you treat people who make you miserable, as prison guards, or travel agents?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-miklosy/will-you-treat-people-who-make-you-miserable-as-prison-guards-or/) Leslie Miklosy > [Mercy is like the rainbow, which God hath set in the clouds; it never shines after it is night. If we refuse mercy here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/mercy-is-like-the-rainbow-which-god-hath-set-in-the-clouds-it-never/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [“It made me alert, like someone had scrubbed mint all over my skin. I'd walk into that stinking, miserable prison and for the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/it-made-me-alert-like-someone-had-scrubbed-mint-all-over-my-skin-i-d/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Those who refuse His mercy satisfy His justice in another way. Without His mercy, they cannot love Him. Without love for Him they cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/those-who-refuse-his-mercy-satisfy-his-justice-in-another-way-without/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I don't want to go to prison... but there is nothing they can do to me that will make me stop this referendum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puigdemont/i-don-t-want-to-go-to-prison-but-there-is-nothing-they-can-do-to-me/) [Carles Puigdemont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puigdemont/) > [“As it was all was lost. He was alive, yes, he was alive, he felt this for the first time. But he knew now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingeborg-bachmann/as-it-was-all-was-lost-he-was-alive-yes-he-was-alive-he-felt-this-for/) [Ingeborg Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingeborg-bachmann/) > [PRISON, n. A place of punishments and rewards. The poet assures us that - stone walls do not a prison make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/prison-n-a-place-of-punishments-and-rewards-the-poet-assures-us-that/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Prison make you a better judge of character. You pick up on people much faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/prison-make-you-a-better-judge-of-character-you-pick-up-on-people/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [We must do better by offenders who are sent to prison to make them less likely to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/we-must-do-better-by-offenders-who-are-sent-to-prison-to-make-them/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [“The world is a prison for the believer and paradise for a non-believer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prophet-muhammad-saw-2/the-world-is-a-prison-for-the-believer-and-paradise-for-a-non-believer/) Prophet Muhammad SAW > [“Over months of being with him, my prison had become my sanctuary, and now that I was free, the world was my prison. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-thomas/over-months-of-being-with-him-my-prison-had-become-my-sanctuary-and/) [Kitty Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-thomas/) > [The world is a prison in which solitary confinement is preferable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/the-world-is-a-prison-in-which-solitary-confinement-is-preferable/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [“I wanted a woman who could get me out of a Third World prison. Life's too short to hang out with people who aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/i-wanted-a-woman-who-could-get-me-out-of-a-third-world-prison-life-s/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [“Of all the bars in the world, prison is the worst, followed closely by the ones that serve alcohol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/of-all-the-bars-in-the-world-prison-is-the-worst-followed-closely-by/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) ## More by Warren W. Wiersbe > [The bumps are what you climb on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/those-times-when-you-feel-like-quitting-can-be-times-of-great/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“The Hebrew word translated “comfort” also means “to repent.” God brings comfort, not to rebellious people but to repentant people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-hebrew-word-translated-comfort-also-means-to-repent-god-brings/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“When we trust the Son of God, there is no need for intermediary beings between us and heaven!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/when-we-trust-the-son-of-god-there-is-no-need-for-intermediary-beings/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“The faith that conquers fear is faith in the Word, not faith in feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-faith-that-conquers-fear-is-faith-in-the-word-not-faith-in/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“Yesterday God helped me, Today He’ll do the same. How long will this continue? Forever—praise His name!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/yesterday-god-helped-me-today-he-ll-do-the-same-how-long-will-this/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16). True faith in God brings a calmness to the heart that keeps us from rushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/he-that-believeth-shall-not-make-haste-isa-28-16-true-faith-in-god/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“The I AM statements recorded in Scripture reveal the depths of the Christian life and how God’s children can go deeper by living with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-i-am-statements-recorded-in-scripture-reveal-the-depths-of-the/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“Note that God chose us even before He created the universe, so that our salvation is wholly of His grace and not on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/note-that-god-chose-us-even-before-he-created-the-universe-so-that/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“The world’s philosophy is that you are 'great' if others are working for you, but Christ’s message is that greatness comes from our serving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-world-s-philosophy-is-that-you-are-great-if-others-are-working/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“Luther called marriage “a school for character,” and he was right. He realized that his own life was enriched because of the love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/luther-called-marriage-a-school-for-character-and-he-was-right-he/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Four Lessons on Life 1. Never take down a fence until you know why it was put up. 2. If you get too far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/four-lessons-on-life-1-never-take-down-a-fence-until-you-know-why-it/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“The service we render for others is really the rent we pay for our room on this earth. ” Wilfred Grenfell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-service-we-render-for-others-is-really-the-rent-we-pay-for-our/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Life's trials are not easy. But in God's will, each has a purpose. Often He uses them to enlarge you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/life-s-trials-are-not-easy-but-in-god-s-will-each-has-a-purpose-often/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [“In times of despair, it’s best to ignore our feelings and simply do what God tells us to do, leaving the consequences with Him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/in-times-of-despair-it-s-best-to-ignore-our-feelings-and-simply-do/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) [Explore all 191 Warren W. Wiersbe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren W. Wiersbe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-is-the-prison-we-make-for-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-is-the-prison-we-make-for-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/warren-w-wiersbe-2017_compassion_the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-i_2344938.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/warren-w-wiersbe-2017_compassion_the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-i_2344938.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/warren-w-wiersbe-2017_compassion_the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-i_2344938.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy.” — Warren W. Wiersbe", "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": "Warren W. Wiersbe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most miserable prison in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-is-the-prison-we-make-for-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-most-miserable-prison-in-the-world-is-the-prison-we-make-for-2/#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 } } ] } ```