Little hearts, little souls give little lusts big power. Big
Little hearts, little souls give little lusts big power. Big hearts give little lusts little power.
Hearken, children of the ages, to the piercing words of John Piper, who proclaimed: “Little hearts, little souls give little lusts big power. Big hearts give little lusts little power.” In these words lies the eternal truth of virtue, self-mastery, and the governance of desire. The strength of the soul dictates the sway of passions: a narrow, fragile heart allows even trivial impulses to dominate, while a generous, expansive spirit tempers desire, granting dominion over fleeting temptations.
Piper teaches that inner magnitude governs outer influence. It is not the size of desire or the allure of vice that determines its hold, but the capacity of the heart to contain, direct, and subdue. Small-hearted men and women, consumed by self-interest, envy, or fleeting appetites, grant power to minor lusts that should otherwise be inconsequential. Yet the magnanimous, whose hearts are vast and rooted in principle, allow desires and appetites to be measured, disciplined, and rendered powerless.
Consider the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who in renunciation demonstrated the triumph of vast inner cultivation over fleeting lusts. While others were enslaved by desire, attachment, and craving, his expansive heart and disciplined spirit rendered temptation impotent, allowing him to attain enlightenment. Here, Piper’s wisdom is embodied: the breadth of the soul governs the strength of passions, and mastery comes not through suppression alone, but through the cultivation of magnitude and perspective.
The ancients themselves revered this principle. Stoic philosophers, from Epictetus to Seneca, taught that the wise man enlarges the soul, mastering desires and appetites, while the small-hearted are ensnared by trivialities and vanities. Piper’s reflection echoes this timeless truth: virtue and magnanimity empower, while narrowness renders the soul captive to the least of impulses.
Thus, his counsel is both warning and exhortation: cultivate a heart of breadth, a soul of depth, and you shall diminish the power of petty lusts, vices, and impulses. Let your passions serve your purpose, not dominate your being. The measure of freedom and wisdom lies not in external circumstance, but in the vastness and strength of the inner life.
Carry this teaching, children of generations yet unborn: expand your heart, fortify your soul, and confront desire with discernment and courage. In the cultivation of greatness of spirit, the small and fleeting temptations of life are rendered powerless, and the soul rises in virtue, clarity, and enduring strength across the ages.
MTMy Tra
I really like the simplicity of this truth—it’s almost like an equation for inner peace. The more expansive our heart becomes through compassion and purpose, the less space we leave for destructive urges. But it also raises a question: can people consciously ‘enlarge’ their hearts, or is that something only life experience and grace can accomplish? It makes me think that moral strength might be less about control and more about transformation.
NPNhu Phan
This line challenges me to think about what gives power to temptation in the first place. It’s not just the strength of the desire, but the emptiness within that feeds it. That’s a sobering idea—our weaknesses often grow from what we neglect spiritually or emotionally. I wonder if Piper means that fulfillment through love or purpose naturally weakens temptation, rather than moral willpower alone being the solution.
NHnguyen ngoc ha
There’s something profound and almost poetic here. It makes me think about how much our values shape our behavior. People who live for something greater—family, faith, community—seem less driven by selfish impulses. But I also question whether it’s always so simple. Even those with ‘big hearts’ can be tempted by pride or passion. Maybe wisdom lies in continually expanding the heart so there’s less room for destructive desires to grow.
DTTran Dinh Trung
I find this statement deeply introspective. It feels like Piper is contrasting selfishness with selflessness. The smaller one’s inner world, the more consuming small desires become. But I wonder—can anyone ever completely shrink their lusts or impulses? Maybe the real point is perspective: when your heart is filled with higher loves or bigger purposes, petty cravings lose their hold. It’s a surprisingly psychological insight for a spiritual message.
THNguyen thi thu huong
This quote makes me reflect on the connection between spiritual strength and temptation. It seems to suggest that the size of one’s heart—or capacity for love, compassion, and purpose—determines how much control desires have over us. But what does it mean to have a ‘big heart’ in this context? Is it moral maturity, emotional depth, or faith? I like how it reframes weakness not as the presence of desire but the absence of growth.