Vance Havner Quotes

I must not permit the evil capabilities of human nature to sour my faith in the tremendous good that is possible despite the frailty of that nature.

It is very hard for evil to take hold of the unconsenting soul.

Even in decline, a virtuous man increases the beauty of his behavior. A burning stick, though turned to the ground, has its flame drawn upwards.

The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.

If I put my mind to something, it happens. I do know that's not necessarily psychic. But I always feel like there's something around me protecting me.

There are those who believe Black people possess the secret of joy and that it is this that will sustain them through any spiritual or moral or physical devastation.

Character is formed in the stormy billows of the world.

Prosperity is a more refined and severer test of character than adversity as one hour of summer sunshine produces greater corruption than the longest winter day.

Only the noble of heart are called to difficulty.

I do not permit affection or lack thereof to influence my actions. There is good, and there is evil. The good must be protected, the evil eradicated. I have shown you the triumph of evil as a caution.

You were true to her, even if she was not to you. Never repent of your own goodness, child. To stay true in the face of evil is a feat of great strength.” “Strength,” she said with a little laugh. “I gave her strength, and look what she did with it.

Truly, spiritual courage is on the endangered character-quality list.

If he must be alone, he would make solitude his armor.

The sun, though it passes through dirty places, yet remains as pure as before.

I refuse to let the standards of evil people chip away at my capacity for integrity.

Thou canst not force my soul to wish thee ill, That is the only evil that can kill.

We are defined by our dignity to rise above debasement. We are certainly better people for doing so.

Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.

The assault of our enemies is not part of our life; it is only part of our experience; we throw it off and guard ourselves against it as against frost, storm, rain, hail, or any other of the external evils which may be expected to happen.

Whatever any one does or says, I must be good; just as if the emerald were always saying this: "Whatever any one does or says, I must still be emerald, and keep my color.

The chaste mind, like a polished plane, may admit foul thoughts, without receiving their tincture.

The wise man makes an island of himself that no flood can overwhelm.

Brimstone once told me that to stay true in the face of evil is a feat of strength.

All one can do for one's character in times like these, is to prove that one does not belong to these times.