proverb · Words worth keeping
Crosses are ladders that lead to heaven.
Crosses are ladders that lead to heaven.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying presents crosses as ladders leading to heaven. It gives burdens a hopeful direction within a religious interpretation of suffering.
Example
A person uses the image for encouragement while friends help reduce the burdens that can be relieved.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Lead to makes the hardships appear to offer a route rather than an endpoint. A responsible reading describes the devotional perspective without turning it into a universal requirement to suffer. Someone may draw strength from this image and still seek change, comfort or protection. The metaphor itself supplies no evidence about an individual’s spiritual standing.
When to use it
Use it to discuss hope expressed through a religious hardship metaphor.
Keep in mind
No particular suffering or spiritual outcome is independently verified by the metaphor.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English