Reinhold Niebuhr, (1892-1971), American Theologian, Historian Quotes

Faith is the final triumph over incongruity, the final assertion of the meaningfulness of existence.

If we survive danger, it steels our courage more than anything else.

And the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.

The whole art of politics consists in directing rationally the irrationalities of men.

Commemoration of Pandita Mary Ramabai, Translator of the Scriptures, 1922 Ultimate confidence in the goodness of life cannot rest upon confidence in the goodness of man. If that is where it rests, it is an optimism which will suffer ultimate disillusionment. Romanticism will be transmuted into cynicism, as it has always been in the world's history. The faith of a Christian is something quite different from this optimism. It is trust in God, in a good God who created a good world, though the world is not now good; in a good God, powerful and good enough finally to destroy the evil that men do and redeem them of their sins. This kind of faith is not optimism. It does not, in fact, arise until optimism breaks down and men cease to trust in themselves that they are righteous.

God give me the serenity to accept things which cannot be changed;Give me courage to change things which must be changed;And the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.

All men who live with any degree of serenity live by some assurance of grace.

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that can be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other.

Humor is a prelude to faith and Laughter is the beginning of prayer.

Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope.