Failure
When it went wrong, and what came of it.
“Tell me about a failure that shaped you. What did it cost, and what did it give you?”
Facets
The angles failure keeps showing up at, across thousands of years.
Harm we bring upon ourselves
Wrong action, passion, and ignorance destroy the one who indulges them, not just their targets.
28 passages · 5 traditions
Whatever a hater may do to a hater, or an enemy to an enemy, a wrongly-directed mind will do us greater mischief.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 3.v.42, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Ensnared / In nooses of a hundred idle hopes, / Slaves to their passion and their wrath, they buy / Wealth with base deeds, to glut hot appetites.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 15.XVI, middle, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
Be quick in performing a minor commandment as in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression; For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 4.4:2, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗
Bad deeds, and deeds hurtful to ourselves, are easy to do; what is beneficial and good, that is very difficult to do.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 12.v.163, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
By oneself the evil is done, by oneself one suffers; by oneself evil is left undone, by oneself one is purified. Purity and impurity belong to oneself, no one can purify another.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 12.v.165, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
There is no fire like passion, there is no shark like hatred, there is no snare like folly, there is no torrent like greed.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 18.v.251, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
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All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 1.v.1, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
As a tree, even though it has been cut down, is firm so long as its root is safe, and grows again, thus, unless the feeders of thirst are destroyed, the pain (of life) will return again and again.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 24.v.338, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
They comprehend not, the Unheavenly, / How Souls go forth from Me; nor how they come / Back unto Me: nor is there Truth in these, / Nor purity, nor rule of Life. "This world / Hath not a Law, nor Order, nor a Lord," / So say they... / And, this thing thinking, all those ruined ones-- / Of little wit, dark-minded--give themselves / To evil deeds, the curses of their kind.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 15.XVI, middle, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
If ye do well, to your own behoof will ye do well: and if ye do evil, against yourselves will ye do it.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 17.17:7, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
He who, by causing pain to others, wishes to obtain pleasure for himself, he, entangled in the bonds of hatred, will never be free from hatred.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 21.v.291, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
For its own works lieth every soul in pledge.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 74.74:38, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
He that sinneth, sinneth unto himself. He that is unjust, hurts himself, in that he makes himself worse than he was before. Not he only that committeth, but he also that omitteth something, is oftentimes unjust.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 9.IV, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
If a man looks after the faults of others, and is always inclined to be offended, his own passions will grow, and he is far from the destruction of passions.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 18.v.253, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
He who does not rouse himself when it is time to rise, who, though young and strong, is full of sloth, whose will and thought are weak, that lazy and idle man will never find the way to knowledge.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 20.v.280, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
For Light brings light, and Passion ache to have; And gloom, bewilderments, and ignorance Grow forth from Ignorance.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 13.XIII.12, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
They will say, 'We were not of those who prayed, And we were not of those who fed the poor, And we plunged into vain disputes with vain disputers, And we rejected as a lie, the day of reckoning, Till the certainty came upon us'—And intercession of the interceders shall not avail them.
Whoso followeth my guidance shall not err, and shall not be wretched: But whoso turneth away from my monition, his truly shall be a life of misery.
An evil eye, the evil inclination, and hatred for humankind put a person out of the world.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 2.2:11, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗
If one Ponders on objects of the sense, there springs Attraction; from attraction grows desire, Desire flames to fierce passion, passion breeds Recklessness; then the memory--all betrayed-- Lets noble purpose go, and saps the mind, Till purpose, mind, and man are all undone.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 1.Chapter II, the chain from desire to ruin, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
Let no man think lightly of evil, saying in his heart, It will not come nigh unto me. Even by the falling of water-drops a water-pot is filled; the fool becomes full of evil, even if he gather it little by little.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 9.v.121, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
As smoke blots the white fire, as clinging rust Mars the bright mirror, as the womb surrounds The babe unborn, so is the world of things Foiled, soiled, enclosed in this desire of flesh. The wise fall, caught in it; the unresting foe It is of wisdom, wearing countless forms, Fair but deceitful, subtle as a flame.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 2.Chapter III, near end, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
But as to him who is covetous and bent on riches, And calleth the Good a lie, To him will we make easy the path to misery: And what shall his wealth avail him when he goeth down?
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 107-92.92:8-11, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Pleasures destroy the foolish, if they look not for the other shore; the foolish by his thirst for pleasures destroys himself, as if he were his own enemy.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 24.v.355, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Men who have not observed proper discipline, and have not gained treasure in their youth, lie, like broken bows, sighing after the past.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 11.v.156, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
As rain breaks through an ill-thatched house, passion will break through an unreflecting mind.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 1.v.13, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Yes; but their own works have got the mastery over their hearts.
The Doors of Hell / Are threefold, whereby men to ruin pass,-- / The door of Lust, the door of Wrath, the door / Of Avarice. Let a man shun those three! / He who shall turn aside from entering / All those three gates of Narak, wendeth straight / To find his peace, and comes to Swarga's gate.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 15.XVI, closing, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
Facing one's own faults first
The consistent call to examine and correct oneself before judging or blaming others.
21 passages · 5 traditions
Yea, a man shall be the eye witness against himself.
Let each man direct himself first to what is proper, then let him teach others; thus a wise man will not suffer.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 12.v.158, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
If anybody shall reprove me, and shall make it apparent unto me, that in any either opinion or action of mine I do err, I will most gladly retract. For it is the truth that I seek after, by which I am sure that never any man was hurt; and as sure, that he is hurt that continueth in any error, or ignorance whatsoever.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 6.XX, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, 1 John.1 John 1:8, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs.Proverbs 28:13, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
By oneself the evil is done, by oneself one suffers; by oneself evil is left undone, by oneself one is purified. Purity and impurity belong to oneself, no one can purify another.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 12.v.165, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
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The fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself is difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 18.v.252, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
If a man looks after the faults of others, and is always inclined to be offended, his own passions will grow, and he is far from the destruction of passions.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 18.v.253, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 4.v.50, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
If a minister make his own conduct correct, what difficulty will he have in assisting in government? If he cannot rectify himself, what has he to do with rectifying others?
— Confucianism · Analects, 13.13, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
The faults of the superior man are like the eclipses of the sun and moon. He has his faults, and all men see them; he changes again, and all men look up to him.
— Confucianism · Analects, 19.21, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
— Confucianism · Analects, 1.8, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
He did not transfer his anger; he did not repeat a fault.
— Confucianism · Analects, 6.2, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles. Have no friends not equal to yourself. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.
— Confucianism · Analects, 9.24, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
If doing what is to be done be made the first business, and success a secondary consideration;-- is not this the way to exalt virtue? To assail one's own wickedness and not assail that of others;-- is not this the way to correct cherished evil?
— Confucianism · Analects, 12.21, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Be not thoughtless, watch your thoughts! Draw yourself out of the evil way, like an elephant sunk in mud.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 23.v.327, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Matthew.Matthew 7:3-5, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke.Luke 15:17-19, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
To have faults and not to reform them,-- this, indeed, should be pronounced having faults.
— Confucianism · Analects, 15.29, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
When we see men of worth, we should think of equalling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.
— Confucianism · Analects, 4.17, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
I will not be concerned at men's not knowing me; I will be concerned at my own want of ability.
— Confucianism · Analects, 14.32, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Reckoning and consequences arrive
Failure is not random: deeds accumulate and their fruits return to the doer, in this life or the next.
15 passages · 4 traditions
Every soul shall taste of death: and for trial will we prove you with evil and with good; and unto Us shall ye be brought back.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 21.21:35, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Everything is foreseen yet freedom of choice is granted, And the world is judged with goodness; And everything is in accordance with the preponderance of works.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 3.3:15, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗
Blessed now is he who hath kept it pure, and undone is he who hath corrupted it!
For his own good only shall the guided yield to guidance, and to his own loss only shall the erring err; and the heavy laden shall not be laden with another's load.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 17.17:15, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
When death overtaketh one of the wicked, he saith, 'Lord, send me back again, That I may do the good which I have left undone.' 'By no means.' These are the very words which he shall speak.
Verily, man's lot is cast amid destruction, Save those who believe and do the things which be right, and enjoin truth and enjoin stedfastness on each other.
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But he who shall have his book given into his left hand, will say, 'O that my book had never been given me! And that I had never known my reckoning! O that death had made an end of me! My wealth hath not profited me! My power hath perished from me!'
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 83-69.69:25-29, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
For its own works lieth every soul in pledge.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 74.74:38, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
That no burdened soul shall bear the burdens of another, And that nothing shall be reckoned to a man but that for which he hath made efforts: And that his efforts shall at last be seen in their true light: That then he shall be recompensed with a most exact recompense.
Whoever causes the multitudes to be righteous, sin will not occur on his account; And whoever causes the multitudes to sin, they do not give him the ability to repent.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 5.5:18, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗
If a man offend a harmless, pure, and innocent person, the evil falls back upon that fool, like light dust thrown up against the wind.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 9.v.125, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Because you drowned others, they drowned you. And in the end, they that drowned you will be drowned.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 2.2:6, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗
When the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them.
For it is not we who have treated them unjustly, but it was they who were unjust to themselves.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 43.43:76, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Yes; but their own works have got the mastery over their hearts.
Overreach and the fall that follows
Straining too hard — for glory, power, or excess — breaks what it sought to build.
17 passages · 5 traditions
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
— Confucianism · Analects, 14.21, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
It is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full. If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.
And walk not proudly on the earth, for thou canst not cleave the earth, neither shalt thou reach to the mountains in height.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 17.17:37, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (easily). (So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-conceited has no superiority allowed to him.
Now-a-days they give up gentleness and are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost;--(of all which the end is) death.
People in their conduct of affairs are constantly ruining them when they are on the eve of success. If they were careful at the end, as (they should be) at the beginning, they would not so ruin them.
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Who is content needs fear no shame. Who knows to stop incurs no blame. From danger free long live shall he.
If any one should wish to get the kingdom for himself, and to effect this by what he does, I see that he will not succeed. The kingdom is a spirit-like thing, and cannot be got by active doing. He who would so win it destroys it; he who would hold it in his grasp loses it.
There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.
He who lightly promises is sure to keep but little faith; he who is continually thinking things easy is sure to find them difficult. Therefore the sage sees difficulty even in what seems easy, and so never has any difficulties.
They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth;--such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!
The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways.
What was in front is now behind; what warmed anon we freezing find. Strength is of weakness oft the spoil; the store in ruins mocks our toil. Hence the sage puts away excessive effort, extravagance, and easy indulgence.
one who makes his name great causes his name to be destroyed; one who does not add [to his knowledge] causes [it] to cease; one who does not study [the Torah] deserves death; one who makes [unworthy] use of the crown [of learning] shall pass away.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 1.1:13, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗
Hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces does not conquer; and a tree which is strong will fill the out-stretched arms, (and thereby invites the feller.) Therefore the place of what is firm and strong is below, and that of what is soft and weak is above.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs.Proverbs 16:18, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
There is always One who presides over the infliction of death. He who would inflict death in the room of him who so presides over it may be described as hewing wood instead of a great carpenter. Seldom is it that he who undertakes the hewing, instead of the great carpenter, does not cut his own hands!
Trouble as teacher, not verdict
Suffering and setback are part of life's fabric and can instruct rather than merely punish.
17 passages · 5 traditions
Every soul shall taste of death: and for trial will we prove you with evil and with good; and unto Us shall ye be brought back.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 21.21:35, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs.Proverbs 13:12, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Oh, wretched I, to whom this mischance is happened! nay, happy I, to whom this thing being happened, I can continue without grief; neither wounded by that which is present, nor in fear of that which is to come. Now to conclude; upon all occasion of sorrow remember henceforth to make use of this dogma, that whatsoever it is that hath happened unto thee, is in very deed no such thing of itself, as a misfortune; but that to bear it generously, is certainly great happiness.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 4.XLI, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
Whensoever by some present hard occurrences thou art constrained to be in some sort troubled and vexed, return unto thyself as soon as may be, and be not out of tune longer than thou must needs. For so shalt thou be the better able to keep thy part another time, and to maintain the harmony, if thou dost use thyself to this continually; once out, presently to have recourse unto it, and to begin again.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 6.IX, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, James.James 1:2-4, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
As we say commonly, The physician hath prescribed unto this man, riding; unto another, cold baths; unto a third, to go barefoot: so it is alike to say, The nature of the universe hath prescribed unto this man sickness, or blindness, or some loss, or damage or some such thing... These therefore let us accept of in like manner, as we do those that are prescribed unto us our physicians. For them also in themselves shall we find to contain many harsh things, but we nevertheless, in hope of health, and recovery, accept of them.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 5.VIII, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
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Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Job.Job 5:7, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Ecclesiastes.Ecclesiastes 9:11, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
As to man, when his Lord trieth him and honoureth him and is bounteous to him, Then saith he, 'My Lord honoureth me:' But when he proveth him and limiteth his gifts to him, He saith, 'My Lord despiseth me.'
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 78-75.89:15-16, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
And remember Job: When he cried to his Lord, "Truly evil hath touched me: but thou art the most merciful of those who shew mercy." So we heard him, and lightened the burden of his woe.
Then verily along with trouble cometh ease. Verily along with trouble cometh ease. But when thou art set at liberty, then prosecute thy toil. And seek thy Lord with fervour.
Now know We that thy heart is distressed at what they say: But do thou celebrate the praise of thy Lord, and be of those who bow down in worship; And serve thy Lord till the certainty o'ertake thee.
What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Job.Job 2:10, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
And surely the Future shall be better for thee than the Past, And in the end shall thy Lord be bounteous to thee and thou be satisfied.
Misery!--happiness is to be found by its side! Happiness!--misery lurks beneath it! Who knows what either will come to in the end?
The end of birth is death; the end of death Is birth: this is ordained! and mournest thou, Chief of the stalwart arm! for what befalls Which could not otherwise befall?
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 1.Chapter II, birth and death ordained, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Job.Job 5:17-18, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Return and restoration after falling
The fallen, penitent, or discouraged can be received back, renewed, and set on course again.
21 passages · 4 traditions
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Psalms.Psalms 51:10, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Psalms.Psalms 139:23-24, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Most justly have these things happened unto thee: why dost not thou amend? O but thou hadst rather become good to-morrow, than to be so to-day.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 8.XXI, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, 1 John.1 John 1:9, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Proverbs.Proverbs 24:16, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Remember, that to change thy mind upon occasion, and to follow him that is able to rectify thee, is equally ingenuous, as to find out at the first, what is right and just, without help.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 8.XIV, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
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And Dhoulnoun; when he went on his way in anger, and thought that we had no power over him. But in the darkness he cried "There is no God but thou: Glory be unto Thee! Verily, I have been one of the evil doers:" So we heard him and rescued him from misery: for thus rescue we the faithful.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke.Luke 15:24, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Save those who shall repent and believe and do righteous works—for them God will change their evil things into good things, for God is Gracious, Merciful.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 25.25:70, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
Moreover, Son of Pandu! wert thou worst Of all wrong-doers, this fair ship of Truth Should bear thee safe and dry across the sea Of thy transgressions.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 3.Chapter IV, later section, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Psalms.Psalms 27:13, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
He is not lost, thou Son of Pritha! No! Nor earth, nor heaven is forfeit, even for him, Because no heart that holds one right desire Treadeth the road of loss!
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 5.Chapter 5, Arjuna and Krishna's dialogue, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Psalms.Psalms 51:17, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke.Luke 15:17-19, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Be not discontented, be not disheartened, be not out of hope, if often it succeed not so well with thee punctually and precisely to do all things according to the right dogmata, but being once cast off, return unto them again.
— Stoicism · Meditations, 5.IX, tr. George Long, 1862 ↗
"And who," said he, "despaireth of the mercy of his Lord, but they who err?"
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 15.15:56, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
But, if in this Thy faint heart fails, bring Me thy failure! find Refuge in Me! let fruits of labour go, Renouncing hope for Me, with lowliest heart, So shalt thou come.
— Hinduism · Bhagavad Gita, 11.Chapter 12, middle, tr. Edwin Arnold, 1885 ↗
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke.Luke 15:7, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke.Luke 15:31-32, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Surely however will I forgive him who turneth to God and believeth, and worketh righteousness, and then yieldeth to guidance.
— Qur’an · Qur'an, 20.20:82, tr. J. M. Rodwell, 1861 ↗
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Luke.Luke 15:20, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
Words that outrun deeds
Promises, boasts, and learning that are not matched by action are a recognized form of failure.
14 passages · 4 traditions
He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.
— Confucianism · Analects, 14.21, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Can men refuse to assent to the words of strict admonition? But it is reforming the conduct because of them which is valuable. Can men refuse to be pleased with words of gentle advice? But it is unfolding their aim which is valuable. If a man be pleased with these words, but does not unfold their aim, and assents to those, but does not reform his conduct, I can really do nothing with him.
— Confucianism · Analects, 9.23, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.
— Confucianism · Analects, 2.24, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Though a man may be able to recite the three hundred odes, yet if, when intrusted with a governmental charge, he knows not how to act, or if, when sent to any quarter on a mission, he cannot give his replies unassisted, notwithstanding the extent of his learning, of what practical use is it?
— Confucianism · Analects, 13.5, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
all my days I grew up among the sages, and I have found nothing better for a person than silence. Study is not the most important thing, but actions; whoever indulges in too many words brings about sin.
— Rabbinic Judaism · Pirkei Avot, 1.1:17, tr. Sefaria (CC-BY), 2024 ↗
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, Job.Job 13:5, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
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The prosecution of learning may be compared to what may happen in raising a mound. If there want but one basket of earth to complete the work, and I stop, the stopping is my own work. It may be compared to throwing down the earth on the level ground. Though but one basketful is thrown at a time, the advancing with it is my own going forward.
— Confucianism · Analects, 9.18, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.
— Confucianism · Analects, 2.15, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Like a beautiful flower, full of colour, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly.
— Buddhism · Dhammapada, 4.v.51, tr. F. Max Müller, 1881 ↗
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
— Hebrew & Christian Bible · Bible, James.James 4:17, tr. King James Version (1611/1769), 1611 ↗
The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.
— Confucianism · Analects, 14.3, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Those whose strength is insufficient give over in the middle of the way but now you limit yourself.
— Confucianism · Analects, 6.10, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
The reason why the ancients did not readily give utterance to their words, was that they feared lest their actions should not come up to them.
— Confucianism · Analects, 4.22, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗
Faithfully admonish your friend, and skillfully lead him on. If you find him impracticable, stop. Do not disgrace yourself.
— Confucianism · Analects, 12.23, tr. James Legge, 1893 ↗