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Jean Vanier

Jean Vanier Quotes

Philosopher

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Famous Jean Vanier Quotes

“We can be seduced...by powerful political groups that promise more wealth and lower taxes. Those with power can use clever, psychological tricks and play upon our weaknesses and brokenness in order to attract us to their way of thinking. We can be manipulated into illusion.”

ThinkingWayPlayUsePoliticalOrderWealthPowerfulGroupsPromiseTaxesIllusionWeaknessCleverTricksPsychologicalWay Of ThinkingBrokennessPolitical Groups
Book:Finding Peace
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“A society which discards those who are weak and non-productive risks exaggerating the development of reason, organisation, aggression and the desire to dominate. It becomes a society without a heart, without kindness - a rational and sad society, lacking celebration, divided within itself and given to competition, rivalry and, finally, violence.”

HeartReasonDesireGivenKindnessViolenceRiskDevelopmentWeakCompetitionRationalProductiveDividedCelebrationAggressionLackingOrganisationRivalryExaggerating
Book:Man and Woman, God Made Them
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“I remember that throughout history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it always...whenever you are in doubt that that is God's way - the way the world is meant to be. Think of that and then try to do His way.”

ThinkingWorldWayTryingHas BeensEndsSeemsTruthRememberFallDoubtAnd LoveMeant To BeTyrantsMurdererInvincibleTruth And Love
Author:Jean Vanier
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“It is my belief that in our mad world where there is so much pain, rivalry, hatred, violence, inequality, and oppression, it is people who are weak, rejected, marginalized, counted as useless, who can become a source of life and of salvation for us as individuals as well as for our world. And it is my hope that each one of you may experience the incredible gift of the friendship of people who are poor and weak, that you too, may receive life from them. For they call us to love, to communion, to compassion and to community.”

PeopleWorldWellsMayPainIndividualBeliefCommunityPoorCompassionViolenceSourceWeakHatredMadSalvationIncrediblesOppressionInequalityUselessOur WorldRejectedCommunionRivalryMarginalizedSource Of LifeMad World
Author:Jean Vanier
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“The person in misery does not need a look that judges and criticizes but a comforting presence that brings peace and hope and life and says: 'you are a human person: important, mysterious, infinitely precious, what you have to say is important because it flows from a humn person; in you there are those seeds of the infinite, those germs of love... of beauty which must rise from the earth of your misery so humanity be fulfilled. If you do not rise then something will be missing... Rise again because we all need you... be loved beloved.'”

IfsNeedsHumansLooksPersonsDoeImportantEarthHumanityMissingJudgingFlowInfiniteMiserySeedsMysteriousBelovedCriticizeFulfilledComfortingNeed YouGerms
Author:Jean Vanier
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“Each human being, however small or weak, has something to bring to humanity. As we start to really get to know others, as we begin to listen to each other's stories, things begin to change. We begin the movement from exclusion to inclusion, from fear to trust, from closedness to openness, from judgment and prejudice to forgiveness and understanding. It is a movement of the heart.”

KnowsHumansHeartStoriesHumanityUnderstandingHuman BeingsMovementJudgmentWeakPrejudiceOpennessInclusionExclusion
Author:Jean Vanier
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“Each person with his or her history of being accepted or rejected, with his or her past history of inner pain and difficulties in relationships, is different. But in each one there is a yearning for communion and belonging, but at the same time a fear of it. Love is what we most want, yet it is what we fear the most.”

WantPersonsDifferentPainPastLove IsDifficultyAcceptedBelongingYearningRejectedCommunionBeing Accepted
Book:Community and Growth
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