Honor
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4.Honor, conscience and the judgment of God
4a.Glory belongs to God alone
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 177–178Poseidon complains that mortals, even his own kin the Phaeacians, hold him in no regard; Zeus assures him his worship is not dishonoured.read · scan
Paul, The First Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 492–493No flesh should glory before God; let him that glories glory in the Lord.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 526–527He who glories should glory in the Lord; self-commendation does not win approval.read · scan
- p. 527–528Paul rejects boasting in others' labors and self-commendation; only the one the Lord commends is approved.read · scan
Chapters from the KoranVol. 45
- p. 981–982Honor belongs altogether to God, not to misbelievers whose patronage is sought.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 270–272It is great honour and glory to serve God.read · scan
- p. 304–305Vain glory and human praise are an evil plague; true glory lies in God alone, and worldly honour is vanity.read · scan
- p. 305–306Contempt is justly due to the sinner, praise and glory to God alone.read · scan
- p. 323–324Nature receives honour willingly, Grace ascribes all glory to God and rejoices in shame.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 134–135Chosen knights think themselves more blessed and worshipful than if they had won half the world.read · scan
Martin Luther, The Ninety-Five ThesesVol. 36
- p. 255–256Loss of the fear of God through pardons makes them harmful.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 260–263Prays that men seek not their own glory but God's alone.read · scan
- p. 296–297Compares honour given the Pope with God's honour; flattery has made an idol of him.read · scan
Martin Luther, Concerning Christian LibertyVol. 36
- p. 350–351Faith honours God by holding him truthful; disbelief insults him with falsehood.read · scan
Sir Francis Drake, Sir Francis Drake RevivedVol. 33
- p. 128The author declines to praise Drake and avoids vainglory, ascribing all praise to God.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 286Honour is an adjunct in the honourer, so God made creatures to give him homage.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise RegainedVol. 4
- p. 384Christ argues man should not seek glory that belongs to God aloneread · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 163–164What pleases men differs from what pleases God, as in St. Theresa's greatness.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 296–297Men seek honor of one another, a spirit to be redeemed from.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 392Mertoun says the honourable world may cast them out, though they are good enough for God.read · scan
4b.Humility, contempt and the desire to be despised
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 225–226Psalmist suffers shame, reproach and becomes a byword for his devotion.read · scan
Paul, The First Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 494–495Apostles are despised, made a spectacle and off-scouring, while the Corinthians are puffed up and glory in men.read · scan
Paul, The Second Epistle of Paul to the CorinthiansVol. 45
- p. 530He refuses to glory in revelations, lest he be accounted above what he seems; glories only in weakness.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 380Disciples dispute who is greatest; Jesus sets a child beside him: the least among you is great.read · scan
- p. 392–393Take the lowest seat; he who exalts himself will be humbled and the humble exalted.read · scan
Luke, The Acts of the ApostlesVol. 44
- p. 433They rejoice to suffer dishonor for the Name, and Gamaliel is honored by all the people.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 120His statue in the Forum, a worldly honour, is set against submitting to the reproach of the Cross.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 223Adrian rebukes Dante's reverence, since he is a fellow-servant of one Sovran Power.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 221Contemptible in the world's eyes yet precious to God; seemed of no reputation to themselves.read · scan
- p. 255–256The faithful should fly from honours and bear reproaches meekly, desiring to be despised.read · scan
- p. 256–257Glory and the rejoicing of saints await one worthy to suffer for Jesus' name.read · scan
- p. 267–268The humble man rejoices to be despised rather than honoured, seeking only God's honour.read · scan
- p. 285–286Contentment to be of no name or reputation rather than greater in the world.read · scan
- p. 316Others are great in report of men while you are unnoticed and judged useless.read · scan
Martin Luther, Concerning Christian LibertyVol. 36
- p. 366Christ made himself of no reputation, humbling himself rather than exalting himself.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 171–172We owe a debt to those who point out faults, mortifying us and preparing correction.read · scan
- p. 274Christ had the greatest renown and greatest ignominy: thirty hidden years, rejection, betrayal and abandonment; his renown served us, not him.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 75–76Discontent calls the Valley of Humility dishonorable; Faithful answers that humility comes before honour and a haughty spirit before a fall.read · scan
- p. 77–79Shame promotes fools while the wise inherit glory, says Solomon.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 244–245He is content to appear weak or a fool for the Lord's sake.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 481His humility wins admiration and respect from those he wronged, which protects him.read · scan
- p. 481–482Public veneration for the penitent shields him; slighting him would seem sacrilege; he takes the lowest place in church.read · scan
- p. 483–484He who would have been trampled if fallen is reverenced and spared for spontaneous humility.read · scan
4c.Self-approval against the opinion of others
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 172Acting rightly for oneself and God, not for lookers-on or reputation.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 261Pliny finds inward approval of conscience and reputation for honourable conduct rewarded by Curianus's legacy as approbation.read · scan
Marcus Aurelius, The Meditations of Marcus AureliusVol. 2
- p. 196Looked to what ought to be done, not to the reputation gained by acts.read · scan
- p. 201Seeking felicity in others' souls forfeits honouring oneself.read · scan
- p. 290No wrongful act of another brings shame on you.read · scan
- p. 295We care more what neighbours think of us than what we think.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 244–245Human glory is brief and sad; the good find glory in conscience and God, indifferent to praise or reproach.read · scan
- p. 292True peace and glory lie in God, not in men's praise or blame; do not depend on reputation.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 313–315Honourable deeds bring glory, but Anselmo's trial yields only disgrace known to himself; shame afflicts even unseen.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 329Loves his own soul for refusing actions that would brand him a villain.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 204Abdiel is praised for enduring universal reproach to stand approved in God's sightread · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 164Steps of moral growth: blamed and praised for deeds, then neither praised nor blamed.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 234Restores regard for himself and self-esteem.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 357Tellheim says honour is not conscience nor others' testimony, and without his honour righted he cannot marry Minna.read · scan
- p. 368–370Both refuse to become contemptible in their own eyes; Tellheim thinks accepting tardy justice indecorous.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 202–204Let honour's laws be your border, regardless of consequences, more than fear of hellread · scan
- p. 540–543Chloris has conscious honour's self-approving glow and the mind's comforts as nobler wealth.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 655–656He does not stoop for wealth or honours; seeks Heaven's applause over fame.read · scan
Frank Aretas Haskell, The Battle of GettysburgVol. 43
- p. 378–381Doing duty means results cannot dishonor them.read · scan
4d.The temptation of vainglory in the religious life
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 386They love the chief seats and public salutations.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 191Third temptation: wishing to be feared and loved by men for the empty joy of it, taking pleasure in praise rather than in God's gift.read · scan
- p. 193–194Love of praise is a dangerous temptation; even contempt of vainglory becomes a source of vainglory.read · scan
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of ChristVol. 7
- p. 310Fly human approval and praise; virtue made known too hastily is injured; do not fear being despised.read · scan
Sir Thomas Malory, The Holy GrailVol. 35
- p. 128The recluse hails Galahad as best knight of the world, and he flees to avoid being known.read · scan
- p. 131–132He fought to win worship and be better beloved rather than for God.read · scan
- p. 150The vision condemns vain glory and worldly pleasure in warfare.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 275–276Pope should avoid appearance of evil and worldly show, leaving the crown of pride to antichrist.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 320–321He takes no pride in acquisitions and reputed perfections that elevate other men's conceits.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 61–62Apollyon charges Christian with secret desire of vain-glory in his talk and deeds.read · scan
- p. 69–70Christian vain-gloriously smiles at overrunning Faithful, then stumbles and needs his help.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 357–358The good man is not vain of his good works and seeks no praise.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 235–236Wonders whether supporting his reputation as a religious man motivates attendance.read · scan
- p. 263He suspects himself of desiring reputation for perseverance or fearing disgrace if he turned back.read · scan
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