"Great is the difference betwixt a man's being frightened at, and humbled for his sins"
- Thomas Fuller
About this Quote
This quote by Thomas Fuller talks to the significance of recognizing the distinction in between being scared of the effects of our sins and being humbled by them. Being afraid of the consequences of our sins is a natural response, however it is insufficient to truly repent and gain from our errors. Being humbled by our sins is a much deeper and more significant experience. It needs us to take obligation for our actions, to recognize our mistakes, and to make a genuine effort to alter our behavior. It is just through this process of humbling ourselves that we can really gain from our errors and grow as people. Ultimately, this quote functions as a suggestion that we need to aim to be humble in our repentance, instead of just scared of the repercussions of our actions.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"