Self-denial Quotes

• Integrity is the first step to true greatness. Men love to praise, but are slow to practice it. To maintain it in high places costs self-denial; in all places it is liable to opposition, but its end is glorious, and the universe will yet do it homage.

  Charles Simmons

  Love, Honesty, Integrity

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• I have now concentrated all my prayers into one, and that one prayer is this, that I may die to self, and live wholly to Him.

  Charles Spurgeon

  God, Christian, Religious

  Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1857). “Sermons: 1st series [-6th series].”, p.141

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• Whoever reads the gospel with a single eye, and sincere intentions, will find, that our blessed Lord took all opportunities of reminding his disciples that His Kingdom was not of this world; that His doctrine was a doctrine of the Cross; and that their professing themselves to be His followers, would call them to a constant state of voluntary suffering and self-denial.

  George Whitefield

  Spiritual, Blessed, Eye

  George Whitefield (1904). “Selected Sermons of George Whitefield: With an Introduction and Notes by the Rev. A.R. Buckland ...”, p.455, CCEL

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• The true gospel is a call to self-denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment.

  John F. MacArthur

  Self, Denial, Fulfillment

  John F. MacArthur (2006). “Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus”, p.2, Thomas Nelson Inc

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• The art of motherhood involves much silent, unobtrusive self-denial, an hourly devotion which finds no detail too minute.

  Honore de Balzac

  Art, Motherhood, Self

  "Letters of Two Brides". Book by Honoré de Balzac, 1841-1842.

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• To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only Him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. Once more, all that self-denial can say is, 'He leads the way, keep close to Him.'

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

  Self, Denial, Asceticism

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2015). “The Cost of Discipleship”, p.43, SCM Press

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• We love the old saints, missionaries, martyrs, and reformers. Our Luthers, Bunyans, Wesleys and Asburys, etc... We will write their biographies, reverence their memories, frame their epitaphs, and build their monuments. We will do anything except imitate them. We cherish the last drop of their blood, but watch carefully over the first drop of our own.

  Aiden Wilson Tozer

  Memories, Writing, Blood

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• People who are crucified with Christ have three distinct marks: 1. they are facing only one direction, 2. they can never turn back, and 3. they no longer have plans of their own.

  Aiden Wilson Tozer

  One Direction, People, Three

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• A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.

  Martin Luther

  Giving, Suffering, Religion

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• Freedom has always been an expensive thing. History is fit testimony to the fact that freedom is rarely gained without sacrifice and self-denial.

  Martin Luther King, Jr.

  Sacrifice, Self, Denial

  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (2013). “The Essential Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I Have a Dream" and Other Great Writings”, p.33, Beacon Press

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• Self-denial is taught much better by inspiring the love of our neighbor, than by the prohibition of innocent comforts and pleasures. Spirituality is much better taught by making spiritual things the objects of supreme desire, than by commanding an ostentatious avoidance of the enjoyments of life.

  Harriet Martineau

  Spiritual, Self, Desire

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• Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind-you could call it character in action.

  Vince Lombardi

  Leadership, Character, Sacrifice

  Vince Lombardi (2003). “What It Takes to Be #1 : Vince Lombardi on Leaders: Vince Lombardi on Leadership”, p.120, McGraw Hill Professional

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• Singleness, simplicity, is required of me. One treasure, a single eye, and a sole Master!

  Jim Elliot

  Eye, Simplicity, Denial

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• If our life is not a course of humility, self-denial, renunciation of the world, poverty of spirit, and heavenly affection, we do not live the lives of Christians.

  William Law

  Christian, Religious, Humility

  William Law, P. G. Stanwood (1978). “A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life ; The Spirit of Love”, p.52, Paulist Press

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• The first lesson in Christ's school is self-denial.

  Matthew Henry

  Christian, School, Self

  "Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers" by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, p. 535, 1895.

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• Any objection to the carryings on of our present gold-calf Christianity is met with the triumphant reply, ‘But we are winning them!’ Winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To hard self-discipline ? To love for God? To total committal to Christ? Of course the answer to all these questions is...No.

  Aiden Wilson Tozer

  Winning, Self, Discipline

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• If any man would come after me, let him deny himself." The disciple must say to himself the same words Peter said of Christ when he denied him: "I know not this man." Self-denial is never just a series of isolated acts of mortification or asceticism. It is not suicide, for there is an element of self-will even in that. To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. Once more, all that self denial can say is: "He leads the way, keep close to him.

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

  Suicide, Men, Self

  Dietrich Bonhoeffer (2012). “The Cost of Discipleship”, p.88, Simon and Schuster

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• Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.

  Vince Lombardi

  Sports, Respect, Football

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• Carrying the cross does mean following in Jesus' footsteps. And in His footsteps are rejection, brokenheartedness, persecution and death. There are not two Christs - an easy going one for easy going Christians, and a suffering one for exceptional believers. There is only one Christ. Are we willing to follow His lead?

  Hudson Taylor

  Christian, Jesus, Mean

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• Those who have attained things worth having in this world have worked while others idled, have persevered while others gave up in despair, have practiced ...the valuable habits of self-denial, industry, and singleness of purpose.

  Grenville Kleiser

  Inspirational, Success, Singleness Of Purpose

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• There are ministers who never speak of repentance or self-denial. Naturally they are popular, but they are false prophets.

  J. I. Packer

  Self, Denial, Speak

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• Do not the angels differs from us in this respect, that they do not want so many things as we do? Therefore the less we need, the more we are on our way to them; the more we need, the more we sink down to this perishable life.

  Saint John Chrysostom

  Angel, Needs, Denial

  Saint John Chrysostom, Charles Marriott (1852). “The Homilies of S. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, on the Gospel of St. John: Hom. xlii-lxxxviii”, p.711

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• Self-denial is indispensable to a strong character, and the highest kind comes from a religious stock.

  Theodore Parker

  Religious, Strong, Business

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• Self-denial is the best riches.

  Seneca the Younger

  Self, Denial, Riches

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• Self-denial is the shining sore on the leprous body of Christianity.

  Oscar Wilde

  Fear, Self, Shining

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