Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker turned hero of the resistance, a Holocaust survivor, and a woman of deep Christian faith whose life story continues to inspire people around the world. Best known for her work hiding Jews during World War II and for her remarkable testimony of forgiveness after surviving the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, Corrie’s words echo with truth, grace, and courage.
Her legacy lives not only in her actions but in her words—simple, profound truths that speak directly to the heart. Here are 20 of Corrie ten Boom’s most powerful quotes, reminders of hope, trust, and the power of forgiveness.
1. “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Corrie’s unwavering trust in God helped her face unimaginable darkness. Her faith was her compass, even in Ravensbrück, the notorious concentration camp where she lost her sister Betsie.
2. “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”
A timeless reminder that worry robs us of the present. Corrie learned to live one day at a time, trusting God for daily provision—even in the bleakest of places.
3. “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”
She famously forgave one of her former Nazi captors, a powerful act that stunned the world. Corrie’s forgiveness was not based on emotion, but obedience to God’s command.
4. “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”
These words, spoken by her sister Betsie, became a foundational truth for Corrie. Even in despair, love was there.
5. “The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.”
Corrie gave her life in service to others—before, during, and after the war.
6. “Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear.”
She calls it what it is: ineffective and driven by fear.
7. “Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to faultfinding.”
Rather than judging others, Corrie encourages us to pray for them.
8. “In darkness God’s truth shines most clear.”
In the deepest night, she found the brightest light.
9. “If God has shown us bad times ahead, it’s enough for me that He knows about them.”
Trusting God’s foreknowledge gave her peace, even in uncertainty.
10. “When we are powerless to do a thing, it is a great joy that we can come and step inside the ability of Jesus.”
Her strength came not from herself, but from her Savior.
The Hiding Place: More Than a House
Corrie’s book, The Hiding Place, chronicles her family’s decision to hide Jews in their Haarlem home during Nazi occupation. The secret room built behind a wall in her bedroom became a literal hiding place—and a symbol of God’s protection and sovereignty.
11. “God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”
Every word of God, Corrie believed, could be trusted.
12. “Let God’s promises shine on your problems.”
Perspective is everything.
13. “Worry is like a rocking chair: it keeps you moving but doesn’t get you anywhere.”
Both humorous and true—Corrie never lost her sense of clarity or simplicity.
14. “We are not called to be successful, but to be faithful.”
Faithfulness, not fame or recognition, was her goal.
15. “Don’t wrestle, just nestle.”
Nestle into the arms of Jesus. Let Him carry the burden.
A Life Redeemed and Repurposed
After the war, Corrie traveled the world for over three decades, speaking about God’s forgiveness, healing, and the importance of reconciliation.
16. “Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work.”
Her life was a living example of surrender to God’s strength.
17. “It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.”
Corrie knew that availability mattered more than ability.
18. “Wounded by the same enemy, we are healed by the same Lord.”
She believed in unity and healing, no matter the past.
19. “God’s viewpoint is sometimes different from ours—so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things.”
Scripture was her lens, her grounding truth.
20. “What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.”
Prayer was her lifeline in the hardest seasons.
Final Thoughts
Corrie ten Boom’s life was not marked by ease, but by extraordinary resilience, compassion, and conviction. Her words continue to breathe courage into weary hearts and light into dark corners of our world. In every trial she faced, she pointed people not to her own strength, but to the enduring hope found in Jesus Christ.
If Corrie could speak to us today, it might sound like this: Don’t be afraid. Love deeply. Forgive often. Trust God completely.
