Quotes from John Henry Newman
With Christians, a poetical view of things is a duty. We are bid to color all things with hues of faith, to see a divine meaning in every event.
- John Henry Newman
Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home - Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene, - one step enough for me.
- John Henry Newman
The night is dark, and I am far from home.
- John Henry Newman
It is as absurd to argue men, as to torture them, into believing.
- John Henry Newman
Nothing is more common than for men to think that because they are familiar with words they understand the ideas they stand for.
- John Henry Newman
We should ever conduct ourselves towards our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend.
- John Henry Newman
Virtue is its own reward, and brings with it the truest and highest pleasure; but if we cultivate it only for pleasure's sake, we are selfish, not religious, and will never gain the pleasure, because we can never have the virtue.
- John Henry Newman
God has created me to do some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work.
- John Henry Newman
Living movements do not come of committees, nor are great ideas worked out through the post, even though it had been the penny post.
- John Henry Newman
The world then is the enemy of our souls; first, because, however innocent its pleasures, and praiseworthy its pursuits may be, they are likely to engross us, unless we are on our guard: and secondly, because in all its best pleasures, and noblest pursuits, the seeds of sin have been sown; an enemy hath done this; so that it is most difficult to enjoy the good without partaking of the evil also.
- John Henry Newman
It is beautiful in a picture to wash the disciples' feet; but the sands of the real desert have no lustre in them to compensate for the servile nature of the occupation.
- John Henry Newman
And this one thing at least is certain; whatever history teaches, whatever it omits, whatever it exaggerates or extenuates, whatever it says and unsays, at least the Christianity of history is not Protestantism. If ever there were a safe truth, it is this.
- John Henry Newman