The Greatest Thing in the World

Consider this story that opens up The Greatest Thing in the World by Henry Drummond:

D.L. Moody had been preaching in England in 1884 when someone asked in a home setting for him to teach.  He replied:

“No, you’ve been hearing me for eight months, and I’m quite exhausted.  Here’s Drummond.  He will give you a Bible reading.”

He would later write:

“It seemed to me that I had never heard anything so beautiful, and I determined not to rest until I brought Henry Drummond to Northfield to deliver that address.”

Book Overview

Based on 1 Corinthians 13, this well-loved classic provides life-changing insight into the nine components of love: patience, kindness, humility, generosity, courtesy, unselfishness, good temper, guilelessness, and sincerity. The simple beauty and positive truths of this dynamic message will encourage readers to practice the power and blessing of love in every area of life.

Favorite Quotes

  1. We have all felt the brazenness of words without emotion – the hollowness and unaccountable unpersuasiveness of eloquence when there is no love behind it, nothing to give it force and power (11).
  2. This is the normal attitude of love – love passive, love waiting to begin, not in a hurry, calm, ready to do its work when the summons comes, but meantime wearing the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit (17).
  3. There is a difference between trying to please and giving pleasure (18).
  4. I repeat – there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only igniting (21).
  5. Willpower does not change people.  Time does not change people.  Christ does (24).
  6. If you do not exercise your body you cannot develop strong muscles, and if you do not exercise your soul, you acquire no muscle in your soul, no strength of character, no vigor of moral fiber, no beauty of spiritual growth (27).
  7. Never offer people a thimbleful of gospel (35).