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Who really said it

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength

Earlier in Maclaren; later collected by Spurgeon Alexander Maclaren 1826–1910 · Scottish Baptist minister
Disputed Free to reuse

Quote Investigator traces the idea to Alexander Maclaren’s 1859 Anxious Care sermon. Spurgeon’s 1889 Salt-Cellars introduces his streamlined form with “It has been well said,” signaling borrowed words. The popular display is close to Spurgeon’s collected version; it should not be credited to him as an original invention.

Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?

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Disputed credit — copy with the correction

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength” Streamlined version of Alexander Maclaren’s 1859 teaching; later collected by Charles Haddon Spurgeon with an explicit borrowed-saying introduction. · Verbatim: “It does not empty to-morrow, brother, of its sorrows; but, ah! it empties to-day of its strength.”

The slide-ready mistake: crediting this to Charles Spurgeon. Use the credit shown above instead.

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In context

Evoking the world of Alexander Maclaren — Scottish Baptist minister. Theme: "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

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Minimalist editorial slide for the quote "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength". Clean background, a single muted accent color, generous negative space, subtle paper or linen texture, no literal illustration — let the words carry it. Reserve clear space for a serif quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.

Provenance

The source

Evidence
Sermons Preached in Union Chapel, Manchester, Anxious Care
Status
Read the source limits below

It does not empty to-morrow, brother, of its sorrows; but, ah! it empties to-day of its strength.

Quote Investigator chronology

How we verified this

  • Quote Investigator traces the idea to Alexander Maclaren’s 1859 Anxious Care sermon. Spurgeon’s 1889 Salt-Cellars introduces his streamlined form with “It has been well said,” signaling borrowed words. The popular display is close to Spurgeon’s collected version; it should not be credited to him as an original invention. Quote Investigator chronology ↗
  • Independently explains Maclaren’s priority and Spurgeon’s collected form. Spurgeon Library correction ↗
Public domain

The documented 1859 sermon and 1889 collected version both predate 1931. Rights classification concerns those historical texts.

Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.

Fact-check

Often misattributed

Spurgeon used and streamlined a saying already documented in Maclaren’s sermon; his use remains genuine.

Charles Spurgeon

Quote Investigator traces the idea to Alexander Maclaren’s 1859 Anxious Care sermon. Spurgeon’s 1889 Salt-Cellars introduces his streamlined form with “It has been well said,” signaling borrowed words. The popular display is close to Spurgeon’s collected version; it should not be credited to him as an original invention. Quote Investigator chronology ↗

Spurgeon used and streamlined a saying already documented in Maclaren’s sermon; his use remains genuine. Quote Investigator chronology ↗

Context

The setting behind the words

Maclaren’s Anxious Care sermon distinguishes meeting real sorrow from anticipating it. Spurgeon’s later compressed version retains the contrast between tomorrow’s burdens and today’s strength. His borrowed-saying introduction is essential evidence about originality. Quote Investigator chronology ↗

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Trusted places to keep pulling the thread — primary archives, fact-checks, and scholarship. We show how we used each one before you leave.

Quote Investigator chronologyquoteinvestigator.com

Transcribes Maclaren 1859 and Spurgeon 1889; concludes Maclaren deserves credit for the adage.
Spurgeon Library correctionwww.spurgeon.org

Independently explains Maclaren’s priority and Spurgeon’s collected form.
Maclaren backgrounden.wikipedia.org

Life dates and Baptist preaching career.
Spurgeon backgrounden.wikipedia.org

Background on the later collector.

The author

About Alexander Maclaren

Alexander Maclaren

1826–1910 · Scottish Baptist minister

Alexander Maclaren was a Scottish Baptist minister known for expository preaching. He served in Manchester, and collections of his sermons became widely read biblical commentaries. His Anxious Care sermon is the documented earlier source for the contrast between tomorrow’s sorrows and today’s strength.

For writers & researchers

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Source consulted

Alexander Maclaren. Sermons Preached in Union Chapel, Manchester, Anxious Care. 1859. Source and limits described above.

This verification page

Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/anxiety-does-not-empty-tomorrow-of-its-sorrows-but-only/

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