Best despair & firsts Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings

“Just believing, just having a molecule of faith--that simple step, when focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever been and always will be not only the first principle of His Eternal Gospel but also the first step out of despair.”

Firsts Believe Jesus Christ Simple Lord Steps Principles Despair Eternal Jesus Christ Focused First Steps Molecules Lord Jesus Christ

Author:Jeffrey R. Holland

“Despair of ever being saved, "except thou be born again," or of seeing God "without holiness," or of having part in Christ except thou "love him above father, mother, or thy own life." This kind of despair is one of the first steps to heaven.”

Firsts Kind Mother Father Heaven Christ Born Steps Seeing Despair Saved Holiness First Steps Born Again Father Mother

Book:The saints everlasting rest: or, a treatise of the blessed state of the saints, in their enjoyment of God in glory

Source: The saints everlasting rest: or, a treatise of the blessed state of the saints, in their enjoyment of God in glory

“The auspices for philosophy are bad if, when proceeding ostensibly on the investigation of truth, we start saying farewell to all uprightness, honesty and sincerity, and are intent only on passing ourselves off for what we are not. We then assume, like those three sophists [Fichte, Schelling and Hegel], first a false pathos, then an affected and lofty earnestness, then an air of infinite superiority, in order to impose where we despair of ever being able to convince.”

“Hope, and fear. Twin forces that tugged at us first in one direction and then in another, and which was the stronger no one could say. Of the latter we never spoke, but it was always with us. Fear, constant companion of the peasant. Hunger, ever at hand to jog his elbow should he relax. Despair, ready to engulf him should he falter. Fear; fear of the dark future; fear of the sharpness of hunger; fear of the blackness of death.”

Source: Nectar in a sieve and related readings

“I believe that that foolish man of Galilee, Jesus Christ, had something to tell us, to tell me. Not considering his existence here, I would immediately go into despair. Immediately. And forgetting him, I would first despair of the institutional church and its hierarchy, and only later, of the Jews.”

Men Firsts Believe Jesus I Believe Christ Church Forget Existence Despair Jesus Christ Jew Foolish Considering Hierarchy Foolish Man

Author:Elias Chacour

“Until the day when, your endurance gone, in this world for you without arms, you catch up in yours the first mangy cur you meet, carry it for the time needed for it to love it and you it, then throw it away.”

World Love Firsts Gone Loneliness This World Arms Needed Despair Endurance

Book:Three Novels: Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable

Source: Three Novels: Molloy, Malone Dies, The Unnamable

“There are few of us, if any, who don't walk the refiner's fire of adversity and despair, sometimes known to others but for many quietly hidden and privately endured. Most of the heartache, pain, and suffering we would not choose today. But we did choose. We chose when we could see the complete plan. We chose when we had a clear vision of the Savior's rescue of us. And if our faith and understanding were as clear today as it was when we first made that choice, I believe we would choose again.”

“This is the first time in history that a war has involved the whole world, and also it may last many years more; this thought is soul-shattering for all of us as human beings. It is horrible to think that the crimes committed by this one man Hitler have these many years been destroying the lives of hundreds of thousands and millions, and one would despair entirely were it not certain that the majority, the innumerable majority which opposes him openly or secretly, will succeed in wiping out once and for all him and his.”

Source: Stefan and Friderike Zweig: their correspondence, 1912-1942

“Discussing the attempts of Augustus' generals to add to the extent of the Roman Empire early in his reign: The northern countries of Europe scarcely deserved the expense and labour of conquest. The forests and morasses of Germany were filled with a hardy race of barbarians, who despised life when it was separated from freedom; and though, on the first attack, they seemed to yield to the weight of the Roman power, they soon, by a signal act of despair, regained their independence, and reminded Augustus of the vicissitude of fortune.”

“After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us toward is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven.”

“An extensive empire must be supported by a refined system of policy and oppression; in the centre, an absolute power, prompt in action and rich in resources; a swift and easy communication with the extreme parts; fortifications to check the first effort of rebellion; a regular administration to protect and punish; and a well-disciplined army to inspire fear, without provoking discontent and despair.”

Source: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

“Fight against yourself, recover yourself to decency, to modesty, to freedom. And, in the first place, condemn your actions; but when you have condemned them, do not despair of yourself. For both ruin and recovery are from within.”

Firsts Action Fighting Despair Recovery Ruins Over You Modesty Decency

Book:The Works of Epictetus: Consisting of His Discourses, in Four Books, the Enchiridion, and Fragments

Source: The Works of Epictetus: Consisting of His Discourses, in Four Books, the Enchiridion, and Fragments

“Just as the sinner's despair of any hope from himself is the first prerequisite of a sound conversion, so the loss of all confidence in himself is the first essential in the believer's growth in grace.”

Firsts Sound Growth Loss Grace Essentials Despair Believer Conversion Sinner Prerequisites

Book:Sovereignty of God

Source: Sovereignty of God

“Space is still filled with the noise of destruction and annihilation, the shouts of self-assurance and arrogance, the weeping of despair and helplessness. But round about the horizon the eternal realities stand silent in their age-old longing. There shines on them already the first mild light of the radiant fulfillment to come. From afar sound the first notes as of pipes and voices, not yet discernable as a song or melody. It is all far off still, and only just announced and foretold. But it is happening, today.”

“In an all-out nuclear war, more destructive power than in all of World War II would be unleashed every second during the long afternoon it would take for all the missiles and bombs to fall. A World War II every second-more people killed in the first few hours than all the wars of history put together. The survivors, if any, would live in despair amid the poisoned ruins of a civilization that had committed suicide.”

Source: Jimmy Carter

“The individualism of American life, to our glory and despair, creates anger and encourages its release; for when everything is possible, limitations are irksome. When the desires of the self come first, the needs of others are annoying. When we think we deserve it all, reaping only a portion can enrage.”

Thinking Needs Firsts Self Desire Despair Glory Deserve Release Limitation Annoying Individualism Portions American Life Needs Of Others

Book:Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion

Source: Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion

“When I'm sitting at the desk not being able to write line one, it's silence and despair! It's not so easy to put the pen to the legal pad or type the first sentence on the computer screen.”

Writing Firsts Able Easy Lines Silence Type Despair Computer Sitting Sentences Screens Pens Desks Pads Computer Screen

Author:Erica Jong

“Our inhuman enemy inspires the thought that God loves mankind, and that He quickly forgives this sin. But when we observe the guile of demons, then we see that after the commission of the sin, they suggest to us that God is a righteous and implacable Judge. The first they say in order to lead us to sin, the second, in order to weigh us down in despair.”

Inspirational Firsts Christian Order Religious Sin Enemy Mankind Inspire Judging Despair Forgiving God Love Demon Orthodox Righteous Inhuman Guile

Author:John Climacus

“Would not the child's heart break in despair when the first cold storm of the world sweeps over it, if the warm sunlight of love from the eyes of mother and father did not shine upon him like the soft reflection of divine light and love?”

Source: Memories

“Oh, Cathy! Oh, my life! how can I bear it?" was the first sentence he uttered, in a tone that did not seek to disguise his despair. And now he stared at her so earnestly that I thought the very intensity of his gaze would bring tears into his eyes; but they burned with anguish: they did not melt.”

Firsts Eye Tears Bears Despair Sentences Tone His Eyes Intensity Burned Disguise Anguish Cathy

Book:The Bronte Sisters: Three Novels: Jane Eyre; Wuthering Heights; and Agnes Grey (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Source: The Bronte Sisters: Three Novels: Jane Eyre; Wuthering Heights; and Agnes Grey (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

“A shade of sorrow passed over Taliesin's face. 'There are those,' he said gently, 'who must first learn loss, despair, and grief. Of all paths to wisdom, this is the cruelest and longest. Are you one who must follow such a way? This even I cannot know. If you are, take heart nonetheless. Those who reach the end do more than gain wisdom. As rough wool becomes cloth, and crude clay a vessel, so do they change and fashion wisdom for others, and what they give back is greater than what they won.”

Ifs Knows Way Giving Firsts Heart Said Ends Faces Loss Grief Path Greater Fashion Sorrow Despair Gains Rough Shade Clay Giving Back Vessel Crude Wool

Book:The High King: The Chronicles of Prydain

Source: The High King: The Chronicles of Prydain

“Mortal lovers must not try to remain at the first step; for lasting passion is the dream of a harlot and from it we wake in despair.”

Trying Firsts Wisdom Dream Passion Steps Love You Lovers Despair Mortals Lasting First Steps Harlots

Author:C. S. Lewis

“I have learned two lessons in my life: first, there are no sufficient literary, psychological, or historical answers to human tragedy, only moral ones. Second, just as despair can come to one another only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.”

Firsts Humans Two Given Human Beings Answers Moral Lessons Despair Encouragement Tragedy Historical Psychological Sufficient I Have Learned

Author:Elie Wiesel

“Why are there beings at all instead of nothing? That is the question. Presumably it is not arbitrary question, "Why are there beings at all instead of nothing"- this is obviously the first of all questions. Of course it is not the first question in the chronological sense [...] And yet, we are each touched once, maybe even every now and then, by the concealed power of this question, without properly grasping what is happening to us. In great despair, for example, when all weight tends to dwindle away from things and the sense of things grows dark, the question looms.”

Firsts Courses Grows Dark Example Despair Happenings Weight Touched Now And Then Arbitrary Concealed Grasping

Author:Martin Heidegger

“Like that's the only reason anyone would ever buy a first-aid kit? Don't take this the wrong way, Professor McGonagall, but what sort of crazy children are you used to dealing with?" "Gryffindors," spat Professor McGonagall, the word carrying a freight of bitterness and despair that fell like an eternal curse on all youthful heroism and high spirits.”

Way Firsts Children Reason Used Spirit Crazy Despair Eternal Aids Curse Bitterness Professors Heroism Wrong Way Spats Gryffindor Mcgonagall Professor Mcgonagall

Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky

“Hardship may dishearten at first, but every hardship passes away. All despair is followed by hope; all darkness is followed by sunshine.”

Firsts May Wisdom Darkness Despair Islamic Sunshine Hardship Passing Away

Author:Rumi

“Whereas modern cynicism brought despair about the ability of the human species to realize laudable ideals, postmodern cynicism doesn't — not because it's optimistic, but because it can't take ideals seriously in the first place. The prevailing attitude is Absurdism. A postmodern magazine may be irreverent, but not bitterly irreverent, for it's not purposefully irreverent; its aim is indiscriminate, because everyone is equally ridiculous. And anyway, there's no moral basis for passing judgment. Just sit back and enjoy the show.”

“This is the duty of our generation as we enter the twenty-first century - solidarity with the weak, the persecuted, the lonely, the sick, and those in despair. It is expressed by the desire to give a noble and humanizing meaning to a community in which all members will define themselves not by their own identity but by that of others.”

Giving Firsts Desire Community Responsibility Generations Century Loneliness Identity Duty Members Despair Ethics Lonely Weak Sick Twenties Noble Solidarity Our Generation Persecuted

Author:Elie Wiesel

“I grew up in a working class family where there was no health insurance. I saw first hand the fracturing of the American dream and the bitterness that comes when there is no hope and a lot of despair. So I wanted to build the company, in a sense, that my father never got a chance to work for.”

Inspirational Firsts Dream Hands Wanted Father Chance Company Class Poverty Saws Grew Despair Grew Up Bitterness American Dream Working Class No Hope

Author:Howard Schultz

“Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it's because it is hard. It's one of the hardest things that people do”

People Ifs Writing Firsts Hard Moments Remember Clear Hard Work Despair First Time Thirds Sentences Accidents Hardest Hardest Thing Third Time Writing Well

Book:On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

Source: On Writing Well, 30th Anniversary Edition: An Informal Guide to Writing Nonfiction

“He first selected the smallest one...and then bowed his head as though he were saying grace. Opening his mouth very wide, he struggled for a moment, after which all was over. I shall never forget the comic look of despair he cast upon the other five over-occupied shells. I asked him how he felt. 'Profoundly grateful,' he said, 'as if I had swallowed a small baby.'”

Ifs Firsts Looks Said Moments Felt Forget Five Grace Baby Despair Mouths Grateful Casts Wide Opening Comic Never Forget Smallest Shells Selected

Author:William Makepeace Thackeray

“He who gives back at the first repulse and without striking the second blow, despairs of success has never been, is not, and never will be a hero in war, love, or business.”

Giving Firsts War Hero Despair Blow Giving Back War Love

Author:Frederic Tudor

“Not doing is not about immobility or giving up in despair. It is first and foremost about being able to be with, to accept fully, what is in this moment.”

Giving Firsts Moments Able Accepting Despair Giving Up Present Moment

Author:Oriah Dreamer

“She (the First Lady, entering the room with her gravely wounded husband) would admit fear but not despair.”

Firsts Rooms Husband Despair Wounded Entering First Lady

Author:Candice Millard

“To parents who despair because their children are unable to master the first problems in arithmetic I can dedicate my examples. For, in arithmetic, until the seventh grade I was last or nearly last.”

Firsts Children I Can Problem Lasts Parent Example Masters Despair Mathematics Grades Arithmetic Seventh Grade

Author:Jacques Hadamard

“Despite what I had acchieved, I don't for a moment think I am any braver or better than anyone else. This is how I attempt to explain what gives me the stregnth to do what I do; when that thunderbolt of an idea first hit me and inspired me to row across oceans, it filled me with a sense of purpose so strong that it overcame my fears. Even when boredom, frustration, fatigue or despair threatened to overwhelm me, it was that powerful sense of purpose that kept me going.”

Thinking Giving Firsts Ideas Moments Purpose Strong Powerful Despair Ocean Give Me Filled Inspired Despite Boredom Frustration Threatened Fatigue Thunderbolts

Author:Roz Savage

“It is only necessary to know that love is a direction and not a state of the soul. If one is unaware of this, one falls to despair at the first onslaught of affliction.”

Ifs Knows Love Firsts Soul States Fall Love Is Despair Affliction

Book:Waiting on God (Routledge Revivals)

Source: Waiting on God (Routledge Revivals)

“Don’t despair if your heart has been through a lot of trauma. Sometimes that’s how beautiful hearts are remade: they are shattered first.”

Ifs Firsts Heart Has Beens Sometimes Beautiful Despair Trauma Shattered Beautiful Heart

Author:Yasmin Mogahed

“Here is a fearful enemy of God and man — the liquor traffic; it makes ruthless war upon the people; it blasts and destroys their homes as with pestilence and fire; it kills savagely, cruelly, more than a hundred thousand of them every year; robbing them first and driving wives and children to rain and despair.”

People Men Years Firsts Children War Home Enemy Fire Wife Thousand Despair Hundred Rain Driving Fearful Traffic Ruthless Liquor Blast Robbing Pestilence

Author:Neal S. Dow

“I believe that all great art holds the power to dissolve things: time, distance, difference, injustice, alienation, despair. I believe that all great art holds the power to mend things: join, comfort, inspire hope in fellowship, reconcile us to our selves. Art is good for my soul precisely because it reminds me that we have souls in the first place.”

Firsts Believe Art Soul Self I Believe Differences Inspire Comfort Despair Art Is Distance Injustice My Soul Great Art Alienation Fellowship Reconcile

Author:Tilda Swinton

“There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and have recovered hope.”

Firsts Moments Suffering Hope Known Learning Doubt Sadness Sorrow Despair Absolutes Aging Healed Hope And Despair One Tree Hill Voiceover One Tree Hill Opening Short One Tree Hill One Tree Hill Love

Book:George Eliot Collection: Middlemarch, Adam Bede, Silas Marner, The Lifted Veil, and The Mill on the Floss

Source: George Eliot Collection: Middlemarch, Adam Bede, Silas Marner, The Lifted Veil, and The Mill on the Floss

“Habits begin to form at the very first repetition. After that there is a tropism toward repetition, for the patterns involved are defenses , bulwarks against time and despair.”

Firsts Form Habit Involved Despair Patterns Defense Repetition

Author:Kim Stanley

“I divested myself of despair and fear when I came here. Now there is no more catching one's own eye in the mirror, there are no bad books, no plastic, no insurance premiums, and of cours eno illness. Contrition does not exist, nor gnashing of teeth. No one howls as the first clod of earth hits the casket. The poor we no longer have with us. Our calm hearts strike only the hour, and God, as promised, proves to be mercy clothed in light.”

Firsts Heart Doe Book Light Eye Earth Hours Poor Prove Despair Mercy Mirrors Calm Illness Strikes Teeth Plastic Catching Howl Caskets Contrition

Author:Jane Kenyon

“You will make mistakes, disappoint God and others, and have days when you wonder why God ever called you in the first place. Don’t despair! Your usefulness to God is based on His consistency, not yours. Your call is sustained by God’s faithfulness, not yours.”

Firsts Mistake Wonder Despair Making Mistakes Consistency Faithfulness Disappoint Usefulness God's Faithfulness

Author:Jeff Iorg

“Estate agents. You can't live with them, you can't live with them. The first sign of these nasty purulent sores appeared round about 1894. With their jangling keys, nasty suits, revolting beards, moustaches and tinted spectacles, estate agents roam the land causing perturbation and despair. If you try and kill them, you're put in prison: if you try and talk to them, you vomit. There's only one thing worse than an estate agent but at least that can be safely lanced, drained and surgically dressed. Estate agents. Love them or loathe them, you'd be mad not to loathe them.”

Ifs Trying Firsts Home One Thing Land Keys Despair Mad Prison Rounds Suits Agents Nasty Estates Beard Loathe Drained Spectacles Moustache Estate Agents

Author:Stephen Fry

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Despair Quotes