People cannot accept their own evil if they do not at the same time feel loved, respected and trusted. Jean Vanier More Quotes by Jean Vanier More Quotes From Jean Vanier So many in our world today are suffering from isolation, war and oppression. So much money is spent on the construction of armaments. Many, many young people are in despair because of the danger. Jean Vanier our-worldwarpeople When we judge, we are pushing people away; we are creating a wall, a barrier. When we forgive we are destroying barriers, we come closer to others. Jean Vanier forgivenesscreatingwall I remember that throughout history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it always...whenever you are in doubt that that is God's way - the way the world is meant to be. Think of that and then try to do His way. Jean Vanier truthfallthinking Every human being is a mixture of light and darkness, trust and fear, love and hate. Jean Vanier hatelightdarkness We can be seduced...by powerful political groups that promise more wealth and lower taxes. Those with power can use clever, psychological tricks and play upon our weaknesses and brokenness in order to attract us to their way of thinking. We can be manipulated into illusion. Jean Vanier powerfulcleverthinking But let us not put our sights too high. We do not have to be saviours of the world! We are simply human beings, enfolded in weakness and in hope, called together to change our world one heart at a time. (163) Jean Vanier our-worldsightheart Peace is the fruit of love, a love that is also justice. But to grow in love requires work -- hard work. And it can bring pain because it implies loss -- loss of the certitudes, comforts, and hurts that shelter and define us. Jean Vanier painhurtpeace We discover that we are at the same time very insignificant and very important, because each of our actions is preparing the humanity of tomorrow; it is a tiny contribution to the construction of the huge and glorious final humanity Jean Vanier finalsimportanthumanity The people with the best sense of what is essential to a community, of what gives and maintains its spirit, are often doing very humble, manual tasks. It is often the poorest person - the one who has a handica[p, is] ill or old - who is the most prophetic. People who carry responsibility must be close to them and know what they think, because it is often they who are free enough to see with the greatest clarity the needs, beauty and pain of the community. Jean Vanier painresponsibilityhumble Power always has a direction. It is always downward, towards the weak but power is often confused with what is right Jean Vanier confusedweak Machines help us do things more quickly and efficiently, but they can also destroy some community activities. Machines can also throw the weakest people out of work and this would be sad, because their small contribution to the housework or cooking is their way of giving something to the community. People who are capable of doing things very quickly with the help of machines become tremendously busy, always active, in charge of everyone - a bit like machines themselves. Jean Vanier communitygivingpeople I have discovered the value of psychology and psychiatry, that their teachings can undo knots in us and permit life to flow again and aid us in becoming more truly human. Jean Vanier psychologyflowteaching [...] We have to realize that this wound [of loneliness] is inherent in the human condition and that what we have to do is walk with it instead of fleeing from it. We cannot accept it until we discover that we are loved by God just as we are, and that the Holy Spirit in a mysterious way is living at the centre of the wound. Jean Vanier fleeinglonelinessway A growing community must integrate three elements: a life of silent prayer, a life of service and above all of listening to the poor, and a community life through which all its members can grow in their own gift. Jean Vanier communityprayerlistening The friend of time doesn't spend all day saying: 'I haven't got time.' He doesn't fight with time. He accepts it and cherishes it. Jean Vanier cherishacceptingfighting When children are loved, they live off trust; their bides and hearts open up to those who respect and love them, who understand and listen to them. Jean Vanier and-loveheartchildren The belly laugh is the best way to evacuate anguish. Jean Vanier belly-laughslaughingway The strong need the weak as much as the weak need the strong Jean Vanier strongweakneeds Envy comes from people's ignorance of, or lack of belief in, their own gifts. Jean Vanier envyignorancepeople I believe every act of violence is also a message that needs to be understood. Violence should not be answered just by greater violence but by real understanding. We must ask: 'Where is the violence coming from? What is its meaning? Jean Vanier understandingrealbelieve
