Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quotes

The Christian does not hurt even his enemy.

Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it.

The most complete revenge is not to imitate the aggressor.

Good Christians should never avenge injuries.

It takes quite a spine to turn the other cheek. It takes phenomenal fortitude to love your enemy. It takes firm resolve to pray for those who persecute you. (with reference to Matthew 5)

The Law found more than it lost when Christ said, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven’ (Matthew 5:44-45). This most important commandment summarizes in a word the universal discipline of patience, since it does not allow us to do evil even to people who deserve it.

I do believe that we are to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute you. I believe that there is power and strength in that.

If somebody mistreats you, treat 'em good. That kills 'em.

Jesus never mistreated anyone just because they mistreated Him. He confronted them in a spirit of gentleness and then continued to love them.

Some may seek revenge, but this is not our policy.

You must recognize that the way to get the good out of your brother and your sister is not to return evil for evil.

I did once seriously think of embracing the Christian faith. The gentle figure of Christ, so full of forgiveness that he taught his followers not to retaliate when abused or struck, but to turn the other cheek - I thought it was a beautiful example of the perfect man.

The offender needs pity, not wrath; those who must needs be corrected, should be treated with tact and gentleness; and one must be always ready to learn better. 'The best kind of revenge is, not to become like unto them.'

If you take the 'love your enemy' out of Christianity, you've 'unChristianed' the Christian faith.

A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil that good may come of it. We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by love and information. And yet we could hurt no man that we believe loves us. Let us, then, try what love will do: for if men do once see that we love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but love gains; and he that forgives first, wins the laurel.

Loving your enemy is a radical concept.

The most revolutionary statement in history is "Love thine enemy

Grace is when you should be totally punished but are blessed for no reason.

So when Jesus says "Love your enemies," he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition.

Christianity commands us to pass by injuries; policy, to let them pass by us.

One ought not to return injustice, nor do evil to anybody in the world, no matter what one may have suffered from them.

Can you be compassionate even to those who have no compassion? If so, there is no finer karma that you can create.

The antidote to hatred in the heart, the source of violence, is tolerance. Tolerance is an important virtue of bodhisattvas [enlightened heroes and heroines] - it enables you to refrain from reacting angrily to the harm inflicted on you by others. You could call this practice "inner disarmament," in that a well-developed tolerance makes you free from the compulsion to counterattack. For the same reason, we also call tolerance the "best armor," since it protects you from being conquered by hatred itself.

Even when people act nastily to you, don't condemn them or retaliate.

Other-cheekism is not only a way of purifying the soul, it is also part of every weak person's survival kit.