Fight the Good Fight Meaning
Definition: Do your best; do what is morally right.
To fight the good fight is to do the right thing and to try to get others to do the same. It comes from the Christian religion, so it is deeply rooted in morality and evangelism.
Someone who is fighting the good fight is working tirelessly to try and make good choices and help others. This person wants to improve the world around him.
The phrase is not meant to be taken literally, however, as there is no actual fighting taking place. Rather, fighting the good fight is working hard to accomplish one’s goal of bettering humanity.
Origin of Fight the Good Fight
The King James Bible includes the first instance of the phrase fight the good fight.
In it, the apostle Paul writes to Timothy:
- Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
The phrase has also become a Christian hymn, written by John Samuel Bewley Monsell in 1863. The hymn gives advices about how to have a good Christian way of life.
Someone who tries to spread the Christian faith can be said to be fighting the good fight, but the phrase has also taken on a more general meaning in recent years. It is now common to referr to anyone who is doing good works in the world as fighting the good fight.
Examples of Fight the Good Fight
Here is an example conversation where Belle uses the phrase.
John: I’m going to see if I can raise money for the church picnic by going door-to-door with brochures to talk about Jesus.
Belle: Good luck. Keep fighting the good fight!
Here is another example dialogue between two coworkers at a hospital.
Sarah: Working late nights in the pediatric wing can be exhausting and emotionally draining, but I just have to remember that I’m fighting the good fight. I can keep going through anything!
Steven: It is difficult, but think of all of the children you are helping.
More Examples
- It wasn’t the safe choice; Romney and Ryan might lose — but they’ll fight the good fight, and that ain’t a bad thing. –New York Post
- She could have easily made her salary many times over in the private sector, but she chose to fight the good fight. –Washington Post
Summary
The phrase fight the good fight refers to doing something righteous and keeping at it.
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