IllustrateTruth
← Back to browse
Quote★★★

All the means of action—the shapeless masses, the materials—lie everywhere about us; what we need is the celestial fire to change the flint into transparent crystal, bright and clear.

— Longfellow

Also attributed to: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The point

A quote from Longfellow emphasizing that while means and materials are everywhere, what is needed is divine fire to transform them into something precious.

Scripture
Audience
AdultsYouth
Occasions
Pentecost · Graduation · Commissioning
Tone
Inspiring · Hopeful
To tell aloud
under a minute · 20 words
Subjects
Divine PowerMeansTransformationActionInspiration

Community

Sign in to review or suggest

Loading discussion...

AI tools

More like this

From Flint to Crystal★★★★

All the means of action - the shapeless masses, the materials - lie everywhere about us; what we need is the celestial f…

— Longfellow

A Call to Action★★★★

Think not of rest; though dreams be sweet, Start up and ply your heavenward feet: Is not God's oath upon your head, Ne'e…

— Keble

The Boy and Inspiration★★★★

but whose personality served as a morale booster for the whole team. Coach Little was fond of the boy. He liked the prou…

Pray devoutly, but hammer stoutly.…★★★★

Pray devoutly, but hammer stoutly.

— Theodore Roosevelt

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also d…★★★★

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.

— Anatole France

The only difference between success and failure is the abili…★★★★

The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.

— Alexander Graham Bell

Find more illustrations →

The Means of Action