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Christian Quotes About Faith, Hope, and Everyday Life

Christian quotes on faith, hope, love, prayer, and grace, from Augustine to G. K. Chesterton. Start with the section that fits your day.

Christian quotes about faith

Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee.
Augustine of HippoConfessions, Book I, chapter 1trans. Edward Bouverie Pusey, 1838
The heart has its reasons, which reason does not know.
Blaise PascalPensées, fragment 277trans. W. F. Trotter, 1910
I would sooner walk in the dark, and hold hard to a promise of my God, than trust in the light of the brightest day that ever dawned.
Charles SpurgeonDictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, “Trust in God”1895

Encouraging Christian quotes for hope in hard times

For times of waiting, when comfort feels far away.

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
Julian of NorwichRevelations of Divine Love, chapter XXVIItrans. Grace Warrack, 1901
Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all.
G. K. ChestertonHeretics, chapter XII, “Paganism and Mr. Lowes Dickinson”1905
Never be discouraged because good things get on so slowly here, and never fail daily to do that good which lies next to your hand.
George MacDonaldDictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, “Christian Service”1895

Christian quotes about love

Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh every heavy burden light, and equaliseth every inequality.
Thomas à KempisThe Imitation of Christ, Book III, chapter V, §3trans. William Benham, 1874
Love was His meaning. Who shewed it thee? Love. What shewed He thee? Love. Wherefore shewed it He? For Love.
Julian of NorwichRevelations of Divine Love, chapter LXXXVItrans. Grace Warrack, 1901

Julian sums up what her visions meant.

Forgiveness can never be indifference. Forgiveness is love towards the unlovely.
George MacDonaldUnspoken Sermons, First Series, “It Shall Not Be Forgiven”1867

Christian quotes about prayer

If you tell your troubles to God, you put them into the grave; they will never rise again when you have committed them to Him.
Charles SpurgeonDictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, “Trust in God”1895
What if the main object in God's idea of prayer be the supplying of our great, our endless need—the need of himself?
George MacDonaldUnspoken Sermons, Second Series, “The Word of Jesus on Prayer”1885
God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He hath long time denied; He sometimes giveth at the end what at the beginning of prayer He hath deferred to give.
Thomas à KempisThe Imitation of Christ, Book IV, chapter XV, §1trans. William Benham, 1874

Christian quotes about life and gratitude

Angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly.
G. K. ChestertonOrthodoxy, chapter VII, “The Eternal Revolution”1908
The test of all happiness is gratitude; and I felt grateful, though I hardly knew to whom.
G. K. ChestertonOrthodoxy, chapter IV, “The Ethics of Elfland”1908

Chesterton is remembering the years before he believed.

He doth much who loveth much. He doth much who doth well.
Thomas à KempisThe Imitation of Christ, Book I, chapter XV, §2trans. William Benham, 1874

Inspirational Christian quotes about grace

Too late loved I Thee, O Thou Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new! too late I loved Thee!
Augustine of HippoConfessions, Book X, chapter 27trans. Edward Bouverie Pusey, 1838
My trust is not that I am holy, but that, being unholy, Christ died for me.
Charles SpurgeonDictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, “Trust in Christ”1895
But if we do as we can, and ask, in truth, for mercy and grace, all that faileth us we shall find in Him.
Julian of NorwichRevelations of Divine Love, chapter XLIItrans. Grace Warrack, 1901

Often misattributed

These lines are often credited to the wrong person.

“Preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary.”

Usually credited to St. Francis of Assisi. The Archdiocese of Baltimore notes that no early biography of Francis records it. Source

Questions

What are some encouraging Christian quotes for hard times?

Start with Julian of Norwich's “all shall be well” and G. K. Chesterton on hoping when things are hopeless. Both are in the hope section above.

Are Christian quotes the same as Bible verses?

No. Christian quotes come from Christian writers, and Bible verses come from Scripture. The quotes and Bible verses guide puts the two side by side.

Who are the Christian writers in this collection?

Augustine of Hippo, Thomas à Kempis, Julian of Norwich, Blaise Pascal, George MacDonald, Charles Spurgeon, and G. K. Chesterton. They wrote centuries apart, from different Christian traditions.

Can Well Said show only Christian quotes or Bible verses?

No. You can choose Faith & spirituality in For You and turn on Bible verses, but they come mixed with other quotes. There is no Bible-only or Christian-only mode.

Translations are by Edward Bouverie Pusey, W. F. Trotter, Grace Warrack, and William Benham, and are in the public domain.