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STRIVE The concept of “STRIVE” in religious, spiritual, and philosophical contexts refers to the earnest and persistent effort to pursue higher ideals, moral integrity, or spiritual fulfillment, frequently amid challenges or adversity. In Christianity, striving is described as an active engagement in the pursuit of holiness, righteousness, and faithfulness—often likened to an athlete competing for a prize, combining steadfast determination with reliance on divine grace. More broadly, striving encompasses the struggle to overcome inner obstacles, maintain ethical conduct, and seek alignment with transcendent purposes, blending human responsibility with hope and perseverance on the spiritual journey. PerplexityAI |
Christianity
In Christianity, "strive" refers to an active, faith-fueled pursuit of spiritual growth and alignment with God's will, blending human effort with divine grace rather than self-reliant anxiety or toiling. It involves dynamically engaging in prayer, obedience, and moral living, as seen in biblical calls to "strive to enter through the narrow door" (Luke 13:24), where believers exert themselves in holiness empowered by the Holy Spirit, leading to transformation and rest in Christ rather than burnout from independent striving.
Islam
In Islam, "strive" is encapsulated in jihad, meaning "struggle" or "striving" with praiseworthy intent, primarily the greater jihad of inner spiritual effort against ego, sin, and doubt to submit to Allah's will. This encompasses self-purification, ethical living, and communal harmony, as the Quran states, "Strive in the cause of Allah with a true striving" (22:78), promising guidance and reward for those who persevere with faith, viewing it as a path to psychological and spiritual resilience amid life's tensions.
Judaism
In Judaism, "strive" aligns with avodah, denoting worship, service, and the laborious "stretching" of one's character to overcome self-serving instincts through Torah study, prayer, and mitzvot (commandments). It transforms enslavement's legacy into joyful divine service, as in Deuteronomy 10:12 urging wholehearted effort to love and obey God, fostering trust (bitachon), ethical action, and communal harmony as a sacred work of heart and soul.
Hinduism
In Hinduism, "strive" manifests as tapas, ascetic discipline and austerity generating inner "spiritual heat" to purify the mind, burn karma, and attain self-realization or moksha. Through practices like meditation, fasting, and ethical vows performed selflessly, it embodies yama and niyama in yoga, as the Bhagavad Gita advises steadfast effort in dharma, leading to enlightenment, integrity, and harmony with the divine without expectation of reward.
Buddhism
In Buddhism, "strive" is viriya, the paramita (perfection) of energetic effort and perseverance to cultivate wholesome states and abandon unwholesome ones, integral to the Noble Eightfold Path's right effort. It counters laziness and doubt, propelling practitioners toward awakening by overcoming suffering's obstacles with skillful, non-attached diligence, as in the Dhammapada's emphasis on vigilant striving for virtue and liberation.
Sikhism
In Sikhism, "strive" involves diligent spiritual effort to purify the mind, conquer the five evils (lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego), and recognize the divine light in all creation through meditation, selfless service (seva), and ethical living. Guided by the Guru Granth Sahib, it progresses through stages of devotion and reason, transforming the self to serve humanity and attain union with Waheguru, emphasizing control over senses for inner peace and communal upliftment.
Taoism
In Taoism, "strive" paradoxically inverts through wu wei, "non-action" or effortless striving in harmony with the Tao's natural flow, avoiding forceful exertion to achieve spontaneity and balance. Rather than aggressive pursuit, it cultivates yielding like water—persistent yet soft—aligning actions with cosmic rhythm for true effectiveness, as Lao Tzu teaches in the Tao Te Ching, fostering simplicity, inner stillness, and unforced accomplishment amid life's currents.
Confucianism
In Confucianism, "strive" centers on self-cultivation (xiushen), a lifelong moral transformation through education, ritual propriety (li), and benevolent relationships to realize the Way (dao) and harmonize society. Confucius emphasized reflective effort in the Analects to refine virtues like ren (humaneness), viewing personal discipline as foundational for ethical governance and communal flourishing, yielding wisdom, reduced inner conflict, and meaningful achievement.
Stoicism
In Stoicism, "strive" means resolute effort toward arete (virtue)—wisdom, justice, courage, temperance—as the sole good, pursued through rational duties (kathekonta) regardless of outcomes, accepting fate while actively shaping character. Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius urged persistent practice of philosophy to build resilience and eudaimonia, seeing striving not in external success but in moral excellence amid adversity, aligning with nature's rational order.
Secular Philosophers
Among secular philosophers, "strive" signifies purposeful effort toward human flourishing (eudaimonia), as Aristotle outlined in the Nicomachean Ethics, where deliberate cultivation of virtues through habit and reason perfects the self for a meaningful life. Martha Nussbaum extends this with capabilities for dignified living beyond material wealth, while William James championed optimistic striving as active engagement in a hopeful universe, emphasizing resilience, ethical action, and personal growth without supernatural ends to foster societal progress and individual fulfillment. Grol4f
In Christianity, "strive" refers to an active, faith-fueled pursuit of spiritual growth and alignment with God's will, blending human effort with divine grace rather than self-reliant anxiety or toiling. It involves dynamically engaging in prayer, obedience, and moral living, as seen in biblical calls to "strive to enter through the narrow door" (Luke 13:24), where believers exert themselves in holiness empowered by the Holy Spirit, leading to transformation and rest in Christ rather than burnout from independent striving.
Islam
In Islam, "strive" is encapsulated in jihad, meaning "struggle" or "striving" with praiseworthy intent, primarily the greater jihad of inner spiritual effort against ego, sin, and doubt to submit to Allah's will. This encompasses self-purification, ethical living, and communal harmony, as the Quran states, "Strive in the cause of Allah with a true striving" (22:78), promising guidance and reward for those who persevere with faith, viewing it as a path to psychological and spiritual resilience amid life's tensions.
Judaism
In Judaism, "strive" aligns with avodah, denoting worship, service, and the laborious "stretching" of one's character to overcome self-serving instincts through Torah study, prayer, and mitzvot (commandments). It transforms enslavement's legacy into joyful divine service, as in Deuteronomy 10:12 urging wholehearted effort to love and obey God, fostering trust (bitachon), ethical action, and communal harmony as a sacred work of heart and soul.
Hinduism
In Hinduism, "strive" manifests as tapas, ascetic discipline and austerity generating inner "spiritual heat" to purify the mind, burn karma, and attain self-realization or moksha. Through practices like meditation, fasting, and ethical vows performed selflessly, it embodies yama and niyama in yoga, as the Bhagavad Gita advises steadfast effort in dharma, leading to enlightenment, integrity, and harmony with the divine without expectation of reward.
Buddhism
In Buddhism, "strive" is viriya, the paramita (perfection) of energetic effort and perseverance to cultivate wholesome states and abandon unwholesome ones, integral to the Noble Eightfold Path's right effort. It counters laziness and doubt, propelling practitioners toward awakening by overcoming suffering's obstacles with skillful, non-attached diligence, as in the Dhammapada's emphasis on vigilant striving for virtue and liberation.
Sikhism
In Sikhism, "strive" involves diligent spiritual effort to purify the mind, conquer the five evils (lust, anger, greed, attachment, ego), and recognize the divine light in all creation through meditation, selfless service (seva), and ethical living. Guided by the Guru Granth Sahib, it progresses through stages of devotion and reason, transforming the self to serve humanity and attain union with Waheguru, emphasizing control over senses for inner peace and communal upliftment.
Taoism
In Taoism, "strive" paradoxically inverts through wu wei, "non-action" or effortless striving in harmony with the Tao's natural flow, avoiding forceful exertion to achieve spontaneity and balance. Rather than aggressive pursuit, it cultivates yielding like water—persistent yet soft—aligning actions with cosmic rhythm for true effectiveness, as Lao Tzu teaches in the Tao Te Ching, fostering simplicity, inner stillness, and unforced accomplishment amid life's currents.
Confucianism
In Confucianism, "strive" centers on self-cultivation (xiushen), a lifelong moral transformation through education, ritual propriety (li), and benevolent relationships to realize the Way (dao) and harmonize society. Confucius emphasized reflective effort in the Analects to refine virtues like ren (humaneness), viewing personal discipline as foundational for ethical governance and communal flourishing, yielding wisdom, reduced inner conflict, and meaningful achievement.
Stoicism
In Stoicism, "strive" means resolute effort toward arete (virtue)—wisdom, justice, courage, temperance—as the sole good, pursued through rational duties (kathekonta) regardless of outcomes, accepting fate while actively shaping character. Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius urged persistent practice of philosophy to build resilience and eudaimonia, seeing striving not in external success but in moral excellence amid adversity, aligning with nature's rational order.
Secular Philosophers
Among secular philosophers, "strive" signifies purposeful effort toward human flourishing (eudaimonia), as Aristotle outlined in the Nicomachean Ethics, where deliberate cultivation of virtues through habit and reason perfects the self for a meaningful life. Martha Nussbaum extends this with capabilities for dignified living beyond material wealth, while William James championed optimistic striving as active engagement in a hopeful universe, emphasizing resilience, ethical action, and personal growth without supernatural ends to foster societal progress and individual fulfillment. Grol4f
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” — Luke 13:24
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” — Philippians 3:12
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” — Hebrews 12:14
“Let us strive, therefore, to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” — Hebrews 4:11
“And whoever strives, strives only for himself. Indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.” — Qur’an 29:6
“Strive in the way of God with your wealth and your lives.” — Qur’an 9:41
“The wise man strives to be at one with the Tao; that is his greatest joy.” — Tao Te Ching
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
“In all things, strive to be noble.” — Confucius
“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” — Pablo Picasso
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Nelson Mandela
“Strive to realize this great liberation: let there be no slacking.” — Buddhist scripture
“Striving together for the faith of the gospel.” — Philippians 1:27
“Let your striving be after wisdom, not after riches.” — Jewish proverb
“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
“Strive for the good, not for the reward.” — Stoic maxim
“Life is not about being the best. It is about being better than you were yesterday.” — anonymous philosophical saying
“Striving ceases when we fully trust in grace.” — spiritual reflection
“Let us strive to improve ourselves, for we cannot remain stationary.”
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson PerplexityAI
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” — Philippians 3:12
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” — Hebrews 12:14
“Let us strive, therefore, to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” — Hebrews 4:11
“And whoever strives, strives only for himself. Indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.” — Qur’an 29:6
“Strive in the way of God with your wealth and your lives.” — Qur’an 9:41
“The wise man strives to be at one with the Tao; that is his greatest joy.” — Tao Te Ching
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” — Albert Einstein
“In all things, strive to be noble.” — Confucius
“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” — Pablo Picasso
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Nelson Mandela
“Strive to realize this great liberation: let there be no slacking.” — Buddhist scripture
“Striving together for the faith of the gospel.” — Philippians 1:27
“Let your striving be after wisdom, not after riches.” — Jewish proverb
“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
“Strive for the good, not for the reward.” — Stoic maxim
“Life is not about being the best. It is about being better than you were yesterday.” — anonymous philosophical saying
“Striving ceases when we fully trust in grace.” — spiritual reflection
“Let us strive to improve ourselves, for we cannot remain stationary.”
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson PerplexityAI
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” — Luke 13:24
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:14
“Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.” — 1 Timothy 6:12
“Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” — Romans 15:30
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.” — James 1:12
“As for those who strive in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Our paths. Indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” — Qur’an 29:69
“And strive hard in Allah’s cause with the striving due to Him.” — Qur’an 22:78
“O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with great exertion and will meet Him.” — Qur’an 84:6
“Seek peace and pursue it.” — Psalm 34:14
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8
“Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached.” — Katha Upanishad 1.3.14
“Let a man raise himself by his own self; let him not degrade himself.” — Bhagavad Gita 6:5
“By effort and heedfulness, discipline and self-mastery, let the wise one make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.” — Dhammapada 25
“Strive on with diligence.” — The Buddha, final words in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta
“Without selfless service, one cannot reach the highest goal.” — Guru Granth Sahib, p. 4
“In the midst of actions, remain unattached and strive for perfection through devotion.” — Bhagavad Gita 5:7
“He who conquers himself is greater than he who conquers a thousand men in battle.” — Dhammapada 103
“The noble-minded strive to perfect their moral character.” — Confucius, Analects 4:16
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” — Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra ChatGPT5
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:14
“Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold on eternal life.” — 1 Timothy 6:12
“Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” — Romans 15:30
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life.” — James 1:12
“As for those who strive in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Our paths. Indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” — Qur’an 29:69
“And strive hard in Allah’s cause with the striving due to Him.” — Qur’an 22:78
“O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with great exertion and will meet Him.” — Qur’an 84:6
“Seek peace and pursue it.” — Psalm 34:14
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8
“Arise! Awake! And stop not until the goal is reached.” — Katha Upanishad 1.3.14
“Let a man raise himself by his own self; let him not degrade himself.” — Bhagavad Gita 6:5
“By effort and heedfulness, discipline and self-mastery, let the wise one make for himself an island which no flood can overwhelm.” — Dhammapada 25
“Strive on with diligence.” — The Buddha, final words in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta
“Without selfless service, one cannot reach the highest goal.” — Guru Granth Sahib, p. 4
“In the midst of actions, remain unattached and strive for perfection through devotion.” — Bhagavad Gita 5:7
“He who conquers himself is greater than he who conquers a thousand men in battle.” — Dhammapada 103
“The noble-minded strive to perfect their moral character.” — Confucius, Analects 4:16
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” — Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra ChatGPT5