You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose that you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it? ... Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Belief is only tested when it faces real risk; comfortable faith is easy, but true trust is revealed under pressure.
- In plain terms
- You only know what you really believe when your life depends on it.
- What can you take from it?
- Real belief is proven through risk, not just theory.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What belief would you risk your life for?
- Have you ever been tested like this?
Another view
Not all important beliefs involve life-or-death stakes.
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