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Jean Vanier

Jean Vanier Quotes

Philosopher

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Famous Jean Vanier Quotes

“I do not believe we can truly enter into our own inner pain and wounds and open our hearts to others unless we have had an experience of God, unless we have been touched by God. We must be touched by the Father in order to experience, as the prodigal son did, that no matter how wounded we may be, we are loved. And not only are we loved, but we too are called to heal and to liberate. This healing power in us will not come from our capacities and our riches, but in and through our poverty. We are called to discover that God can bring peace, compassion and love through our wounds.”

BelieveHeartMayHas BeensMatterPainOrderFatherHealingCompassionPovertySonCapacityAnd LoveRichesWoundsHealTouchedWoundedProdigalsProdigal Son
Author:Jean Vanier
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“There is a struggle inside you between these two parts. It's as if at times your heart becomes a battlefield! The secret part, full of light, seems so small and weak in the face of the discouraging and morbid part, which seems enormous and overwhelming. However, if you light a small candle in a dark room, everything is lit up. It is a matter of trusting in this little light in the deepest part of your being which can gradually chase away the darkness.”

IfsHeartLittlesTwoMatterLightSeemsFacesDarkRoomsSecretDarknessStruggleWeakEnormousOverwhelmingCandleLitDiscouragingBattlefieldsMorbidDark Room
Author:Jean Vanier
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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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“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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