--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are to choose affliction rather than…" description: "\"“We are to choose affliction rather than sin, yea, the greatest affliction before the least sin. Moses”\" — William Gurnall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/william-gurnall-2262_moses_we-are-to-choose-affliction-rather-than_1545504.png" --- # We are to choose affliction rather than sin, yea, the… ![“We are to choose affliction rather than sin, yea, the greatest affliction before the least sin. Moses” quote by William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/william-gurnall-2262_moses_we-are-to-choose-affliction-rather-than_1545504.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/william-gurnall-2262_moses_we-are-to-choose-affliction-rather-than_1545504.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10b/william-gurnall-2262_moses_we-are-to-choose-affliction-rather-than_1545504.png) > ““We are to choose affliction rather than sin, yea, the greatest affliction before the least sin. Moses”” [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing suffering over sin is presented as a higher moral path, implying that enduring hardship can be more virtuous than committing minor transgressions. **In simple terms:** Choosing suffering can be more virtuous than minor sins. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship as moral growth. Themes morality sin suffering Mood serious inspirational Type theological quote When to use this quote - personal trials - moral choices - religious teaching Key Concepts theology ethics spiritual discipline Questions to Reflect On - What makes suffering morally valuable? - When is enduring hardship preferable to avoiding minor sins? A Different Perspective Suffering may not always be morally superior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affliction Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affliction-sin-5765726/) [Choose Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose-affliction-5765727/) [Greatest Affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-affliction-3739870/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moses/) [Sin Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-moses-3353221/) ## Related quotes > [The god which the vast majority of professing Christians love is looked upon very much like an indulgent old man, who himself has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-god-which-the-vast-majority-of-professing-christians-love-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My greatest affliction... is perhaps the major theme of my writings, the affliction of loneliness that follows me like a shadow, a very ponderous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/my-greatest-affliction-is-perhaps-the-major-theme-of-my-writings-the/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/there-is-more-evil-in-the-least-sin-than-in-the-greatest-affliction/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [No man is more unhappy than the one who is never in adversity; the greatest affliction of life is never to be afflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/no-man-is-more-unhappy-than-the-one-who-is-never-in-adversity-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Jo’s ambition was to do something very splendid; what it was she had no idea as yet, but left it for time to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/jo-s-ambition-was-to-do-something-very-splendid-what-it-was-she-had/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [I walk out into a nature such as the old prophets and poets Menu, Moses, Homer, Chaucer, walked in. You may name it America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-walk-out-into-a-nature-such-as-the-old-prophets-and-poets-menu/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'll start with the reality. If we're having problems nationally, we're having problems on the state level and then on the local level, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/i-ll-start-with-the-reality-if-we-re-having-problems-nationally-we-re/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [The great spiritual geniuses, whether it was Moses, Buddha, Plato, Socrates, Jesus, or Emerson… have taught man to look within himself to find God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-great-spiritual-geniuses-whether-it-was-moses-buddha-plato/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [“Love to Israel, such as Moses and Paul felt, is a ray from that ineffable ocean of light which is in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-lifsey/love-to-israel-such-as-moses-and-paul-felt-is-a-ray-from-that/) [Dalton Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-lifsey/) > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Moses became America's true founding father because he evangelized action; he justified risk. He gave ordinary people the courage to live with uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/moses-became-america-s-true-founding-father-because-he-evangelized/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [If I'm out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/if-i-m-out-of-my-mind-it-s-all-right-with-me-thought-moses-herzog/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## More by William Gurnall > [“The more the soul loves the word, the more craving it has after it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/the-more-the-soul-loves-the-word-the-more-craving-it-has-after-it/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Labour to get Christ, and through him hopes of heaven, and thou takest the right road to content; thou”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/labour-to-get-christ-and-through-him-hopes-of-heaven-and-thou-takest/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [The chains of love are stronger than the chains of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/the-chains-of-love-are-stronger-than-the-chains-of-fear/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Compare not thyself with those that have less than thyself, but look on those that have far exceeded thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/compare-not-thyself-with-those-that-have-less-than-thyself-but-look/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“All error dreads the light of the word, and fears more to be examined by that, than a thief does to be tried before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/all-error-dreads-the-light-of-the-word-and-fears-more-to-be-examined/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [It is the saint's duty, and should be their care, not only to believe that God is Almighty, but also to strongly believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/it-is-the-saint-s-duty-and-should-be-their-care-not-only-to-believe/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Oh, it is sad for a poor Christian to stand at the door of the promise, in the dark night of affliction, afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/oh-it-is-sad-for-a-poor-christian-to-stand-at-the-door-of-the-promise/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“That he who means to be a Christian indeed, must endeavour to maintain the power of holiness and righteousness in his life and conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/that-he-who-means-to-be-a-christian-indeed-must-endeavour-to-maintain/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Meditate of Christ’s coming to judgment. Surely thou wilt not easily sleep while this trumpet, that shall call all mankind to judgment, shall sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/meditate-of-christ-s-coming-to-judgment-surely-thou-wilt-not-easily/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“There is no more difference betwixt a hypocrite and an apostate, than betwixt a green apple and a ripe one; come a while hence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/there-is-no-more-difference-betwixt-a-hypocrite-and-an-apostate-than/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [“Never can we truly recover our courage, till we recover our holiness—‘If”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/never-can-we-truly-recover-our-courage-till-we-recover-our-holiness-if/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Justifying faith is not a naked assent to the truths of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/justifying-faith-is-not-a-naked-assent-to-the-truths-of-the-gospel/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [Let this encourage those of you who belong to Christ: the storm may be tempestuous, but it is only temporary. The clouds that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/let-this-encourage-those-of-you-who-belong-to-christ-the-storm-may-be/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [The Word of God is too sacred a thing, and preaching too solemn a work, to be toyed and played with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/the-word-of-god-is-too-sacred-a-thing-and-preaching-too-solemn-a-work/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) > [God would not rub so hard if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures. God loves purity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gurnall/god-would-not-rub-so-hard-if-it-were-not-to-fetch-out-the-dirt-that/) [William Gurnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) [Explore all 175 William Gurnall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gurnall/) ## More Moses quotes > [If I'm out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/if-i-m-out-of-my-mind-it-s-all-right-with-me-thought-moses-herzog/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Moses became America's true founding father because he evangelized action; he justified risk. He gave ordinary people the courage to live with uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/moses-became-america-s-true-founding-father-because-he-evangelized/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“Love to Israel, such as Moses and Paul felt, is a ray from that ineffable ocean of light which is in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalton-lifsey/love-to-israel-such-as-moses-and-paul-felt-is-a-ray-from-that/) [Dalton Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalton-lifsey/) > [The great spiritual geniuses, whether it was Moses, Buddha, Plato, Socrates, Jesus, or Emerson… have taught man to look within himself to find God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-great-spiritual-geniuses-whether-it-was-moses-buddha-plato/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [Moses was a great leader, right? But he wasn't a great communicator. And so God sent him Aaron so he could, let's say, communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-milei/moses-was-a-great-leader-right-but-he-wasn-t-a-great-communicator-and/) [Javier Milei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-milei/) > [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll start with the reality. If we're having problems nationally, we're having problems on the state level and then on the local level, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/i-ll-start-with-the-reality-if-we-re-having-problems-nationally-we-re/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [I walk out into a nature such as the old prophets and poets Menu, Moses, Homer, Chaucer, walked in. You may name it America,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-walk-out-into-a-nature-such-as-the-old-prophets-and-poets-menu/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Mungu hutumia watu 'wajinga' na 'wapumbavu' kufanya mambo makubwa katika maisha yao na ya watu wengine. Katika Biblia, Musa aliitwa mjinga alipokiuka amri ya…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-hutumia-watu-wajinga-na-wapumbavu-kufanya-mambo-makubwa-katika/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-morell/but-take-diligent-heed-to-do-the-commandment-and-the-law-which-moses/) [Thomas Morell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-morell/) > [Frazzled and delirious, as I've just finished a new book of stories. I feel like Moses staggering down the mountainside with the tablets of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-barry/frazzled-and-delirious-as-i-ve-just-finished-a-new-book-of-stories-i/) [Kevin Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-barry/) > [I'm not saying everything out there is bad and toxic, but there are some things that are not scriptural. For example, some people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/i-m-not-saying-everything-out-there-is-bad-and-toxic-but-there-are/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [I used to think like Moses. That knocked me down for a couple years and put me in prison. Then I start thinking like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-brown/i-used-to-think-like-moses-that-knocked-me-down-for-a-couple-years/) [James Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-brown/) > [Back in Khufu's day I knew a magician who parted the Nile just so he could climb to the bottom and retrieve a girl's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/back-in-khufu-s-day-i-knew-a-magician-who-parted-the-nile-just-so-he/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Browse all 475 Moses quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moses/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We are to choose affliction rather than sin, yea, the greatest affliction before the least sin. 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