To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin.
What's the meaning of this quote?
Quote Meaning: The quote is quite profound in its implications about personal resilience and social responsibility. When someone wrongs us and we respond with patience and forgiveness, it speaks to our strength of character and emotional maturity. It means we've risen above the pettiness of revenge and the cycle of harm, choosing instead to navigate the situation with grace. However, the second part of the quote emphasizes that this virtue doesn't apply when the wrongs are done to others. Standing by passively while someone else is treated unjustly isn't a sign of patience or virtue, but rather a lack of courage or empathy. In other words, it's crucial to differentiate between personal resilience and bystander apathy. This quote is a call to action against injustice. It's not enough to merely avoid doing harm ourselves; we must also stand up for those who are being wronged, advocating for justice and fairness in all our interactions. In this sense, the quote speaks to the dual responsibility we have in life: to cultivate inner resilience and to stand up for justice in the world around us.
Who said the quote?
The quote "To bear with patience wrongs done to oneself is a mark of perfection, but to bear with patience wrongs done to someone else is a mark of imperfection and even of actual sin." was said by Thomas Aquinas (Bio / Quotes). Thomas Aquinas was a medieval Italian philosopher and theologian who is best known for his work "Summa Theologica.
Is there a historical example that illustrates the message of the quote?
One historical example that illustrates the message of this quote is the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor and theologian during the Nazi regime. Bonhoeffer was a devout Christian who believed in the principles of peace, humility, and forgiveness. He personally endured much suffering, including imprisonment, for his opposition to the Nazis, yet he bore these wrongs with patience, seeing them as part of his moral and spiritual journey.
However, when it came to the wrongs done to others, particularly the Jewish people under Nazi persecution, Bonhoeffer saw the necessity of action rather than mere patience. He understood that enduring personal suffering was one thing, but tolerating the suffering inflicted upon others without taking action was morally wrong. This realization led him to become involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler, a drastic departure from his earlier pacifism. Bonhoeffer recognized that to passively accept the injustices being done to others would not only be a sign of imperfection but a sin, as it would be a failure to uphold the moral duty to protect the innocent.
Bonhoeffer's eventual execution by the Nazis is a testament to his commitment to this belief. He bore his own suffering with grace, but he refused to bear the suffering of others with passive patience. His life and actions underscore the quote's message that while enduring wrongs against oneself with patience can be noble, allowing others to suffer without intervention is a moral failing.
How can the quote be applied in a real-life scenario?
In a real-life scenario, this quote can be applied to situations where one witnesses injustice or harm being done to others. For instance, imagine a workplace where a colleague is being bullied or unfairly treated by a superior. If you, as a bystander, choose to do nothing and simply endure the discomfort of witnessing this wrong, you might convince yourself that you are being patient or wise by not getting involved. However, this passivity could be seen as a moral failure because it allows the wrong to continue unchecked.
Applying the message of the quote means recognizing that patience in the face of personal wrongs might be a virtue, but it becomes a vice when it leads to inaction in the face of others' suffering. In this scenario, the morally correct action would be to speak up, offer support to the victim, or report the behavior to higher authorities. By doing so, you would be refusing to tolerate injustice against another, thus avoiding the "imperfection and actual sin" that the quote warns against.
This application is particularly relevant in today's world, where issues like discrimination, harassment, and injustice are prevalent. The quote encourages us not just to endure our own difficulties with patience but to take an active stand against the wrongs done to others. It challenges us to move beyond self-centered morality and to consider our responsibility toward those who are vulnerable or oppressed.
Chief Editor
Tal Gur is an author, founder, and impact-driven entrepreneur at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own daring design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 major life goals around the globe. His journey and most recent book, The Art of Fully Living, has led him to found Elevate Society.
