Edwin Louis Cole Quotes

Powerful Edwin Louis Cole for Daily Growth

About Edwin Louis Cole

Edwin Louis Cole (1934-1997), an influential American pastor, teacher, and author, was born on August 6, 1934, in Los Angeles, California. Growing up in a mixed-race family during the era of racial segregation, Cole faced numerous challenges but used his experiences to develop a unique perspective on life and faith. After serving in the United States Air Force, Cole completed his education at Southern California Bible College (now The Master's University). He later attended Fuller Theological Seminary and earned a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University. Cole's spiritual journey led him to found and pastor multiple churches throughout his life, including the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California. His teachings focused on practical Christian living, personal growth, and racial reconciliation. In 1972, Cole co-founded Kingdom Resources International (KRI), an organization dedicated to equipping people with biblical insights for daily living. Throughout his career, Cole authored over 40 books, including "The Power of a Praying Husband," "The Power of a Praying Wife," and "The Power of Your Words." These best-selling books have impacted millions worldwide, addressing topics such as marriage, family, prayer, and personal development. Edwin Louis Cole's influence extended beyond his written works, as he was also a popular speaker at seminars, conferences, and churches worldwide. His teachings continue to inspire people around the globe through KRI and its affiliated organizations. Cole's life and work served as a testament to overcoming adversity, embracing diversity, and living a life grounded in faith. He passed away on November 16, 1997, but his legacy endures as a beacon of hope, inspiration, and practical Christian wisdom.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Dreams are birthed in quiet seclusion and nurtured in solitude; they blossom in time under the sun's persistence."

This quote emphasizes that dreams, aspirations, or innovative ideas are often conceived in a peaceful, introspective environment, away from the noise and distractions of the outside world. The nurturing process requires solitude, time, and consistent effort, symbolized by the "sun's persistence." In other words, cultivating dreams requires patience, focus, and commitment to one's inner thoughts and aspirations over time, eventually leading to their realization.


"You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true, though often it appears impossible."

This quote emphasizes that every individual is endowed with both a dream (aspiration or goal) and the inherent abilities and resources necessary to achieve it, even if it seems improbable or impossible at first glance. It encourages us to persist in pursuing our dreams, reminding us that we are capable of turning them into reality through determination, hard work, and belief in ourselves.


"Learn to be still before you can learn to move with grace."

This quote by Edwin Louis Cole emphasizes the importance of reflection, introspection, and inner peace as a foundation for smooth, graceful action in one's life. It suggests that before taking swift and purposeful steps, it is essential to cultivate calmness, self-awareness, and an understanding of one's own values and goals. By developing stillness within, individuals can move with greater ease, elegance, and efficiency in their personal and professional pursuits.


"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend."

This quote suggests that fostering friendship or alliance with one's adversary can be a powerful strategy for neutralizing conflict and achieving long-term peace. Instead of resorting to confrontation or destruction, building understanding and trust can lead to a more harmonious relationship where both parties benefit. This approach encourages cooperation rather than conflict, promoting unity, mutual respect, and sustained success.


"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well."

This quote by Edwin Louis Cole emphasizes the importance of using one's life for a higher purpose beyond personal happiness or satisfaction. Instead, he encourages living a meaningful life through being useful, honorable, compassionate, and making a positive impact on others. The ultimate goal is not to simply exist but to contribute to the greater good of society and leave a lasting legacy that shows one has lived well.


Obedience is an act of faith; disobedience is the result of unbelief.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Obedience, Result, Act, Faith

Our Lord never condemned the fig tree because it brought forth so much fruit that some fell to the ground and spoiled. He only cursed it when it was barren.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Some, Brought, Cursed, Fig

Faith is the ticket to the feast, not the feast.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Faith, Ticket, Feast

There are no small churches, just small people.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Small, Just, Small People, Churches

Life is lived on levels and arrived at in stages.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Life, Lived, Arrived, Stages

You can tell the nature of the man by the words he chooses.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Nature, Words, Tell, Chooses

When the pressure comes, preferences give way while convictions hold firm.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Give, Firm, Preferences, Convictions

Fear attracts attack.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Fear, Attack, Attracts

Illusions of grandeur are not the same as visions of greatness.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Greatness, Same, Grandeur, Visions

Marriage may be the closest thing to Heaven or Hell any of us will know on this earth.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Marriage, Will, May, Closest

You seek the heights of manhood when you seek the depths of God.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Heights, Seek, Depths, Manhood

God authors desires in your heart, then fulfills His Will by enabling you to realize those desires.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Will, Desires, Enabling, Fulfills

Confidentiality is a virtue of the loyal, as loyalty is the virtue of faithfulness.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Loyalty, Faithfulness, Loyal, Confidentiality

Successful people recognize crisis as a time for change - from lesser to greater, smaller to bigger.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Bigger, Crisis, Smaller, Lesser

The pattern of the prodigal is: rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Rebellion, Pattern, Prodigal, Reconciliation

Inconsistencies in men are generally testimony to their immaturity.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Men, Immaturity, Generally, Testimony

Prayer in private results in boldness in public.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Prayer, Private, Public, Boldness

Reasonable men adapt to the world around them; unreasonable men make the world adapt to them. The world is changed by unreasonable men.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Men, World, Reasonable, Changed

Conscience allows us to do two things: Pass judgment on ourselves; approve or condemn our own conduct.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Own, Conscience, Pass, Approve

God will finish what He authors, but He is not obligated to finish what He has not authored.

- Edwin Louis Cole

God, Finish, Will, Authors

The more you build your life on principle and less on personality - yours or others - the straighter will be your course.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Will, More, Principle, Yours

Men cannot make Scripture conform to their lifestyle; they must make their lifestyle conform to Scripture.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Men, Cannot, Must, Conform

The man who seeks to please God is the man who people are pleased with. The man who seeks to please others won't satisfy anyone.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Satisfy, Anyone, Pleased, Seeks

A fast is not a hunger strike. Fasting submits to God's commands. A hunger strike makes God submit to our demands.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Fast, Submit, Strike, Commands

Men and women have strengths that complement each other.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Relationship, Men, Other, Complement

Boundaries are to protect life, not to limit pleasures.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Boundaries, Limit, Pleasures, Protect

The discipline of daily devotion to God undergirds decisions.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Daily, Discipline, Devotion, Decisions

You don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Water, Falling, Staying, Drown

The Ten Commandments have never been replaced as the moral basis upon which society rests.

- Edwin Louis Cole

Never, Which, Commandments, Rests

Knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution.

- Edwin Louis Cole

God, Deception, Persecution, Accusation

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