"He that hath no cross, let him follow Christ not."
This quote by Robert Southwell suggests that a true follower of Christ should be prepared to bear hardships and face challenges, symbolized by the cross. In other words, if one leads a life devoid of difficulties or struggles, they may not be genuinely following the path set by Jesus Christ, who endured great suffering for our salvation. The "cross" here represents sacrificial love, selflessness, and the willingness to overcome adversity in order to follow Christ's teachings.
"The greater part of miseries of mankind proceed from two causes: want of foresight in the beginning, and carelessness in the end."
This quote suggests that many human struggles and hardships stem from a lack of careful planning at the outset (lack of foresight) and insufficient attention or concern (carelessness) towards matters as they progress. In essence, it highlights the importance of making thoughtful decisions initially and being diligent in maintaining those decisions over time to avoid unnecessary suffering.
"Love is a fire, yet love is cold as ice; it burneth high, yet freezeth low; 'tis cruel and it's gentle, wild and it's tame; it maketh happy, yet it breaketh hearts; it healeth, yet it slayeth; it buildeth up, yet it destroyeth."
Robert Southwell's quote metaphorically illustrates the complex and paradoxical nature of love. Love is likened to a fire that burns intensely but can also be as cold as ice, representing its ability to both nurture and destroy. The burning high yet freezing low symbolizes its capacity to inspire passion and excitement while simultaneously causing pain and anguish. The cruelty and gentleness, wildness and tameness represent the duality of love: it can be harsh and untamed, or gentle and controlled. Lastly, the healing and slaying, building up and destroying suggest that love has immense power to bring joy and sorrow, life and death, harmony and chaos in equal measure.
"He that will not reason is a bigot, he that cannot is a simpleton."
This quote emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and rational thinking in understanding the world. It suggests that one who refuses to consider different perspectives is closed-minded or dogmatic (a bigot), while one who lacks the ability to reason is naive or simple-minded. Essentially, Southwell is urging us to engage our minds critically and be receptive to diverse ideas in order to grow intellectually and socially.
"No man can truly love anything but what he understandeth: and no man may ever perfectly understand anything but what he loveth."
This quote by Robert Southwell suggests that deep understanding and love are intrinsically linked. One cannot fully appreciate or comprehend something unless they have a genuine affection for it, and conversely, one cannot truly love something without also deeply understanding it. This idea emphasizes the importance of empathy and engagement in our pursuit of knowledge and relationships, as both require an investment of time, emotion, and intellect to develop a fuller, more meaningful connection.
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