Pathway Quotes

Find and curate quotes for: $ARGUMENTS

$ARGUMENTS should include a pathway slug (reframation, metanoia, mdna, movement-intelligence, discipleship) and optionally a specific theme or concept to find quotes about.

Step 1 — Load Context

1. Read the voice spec: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/intelligence/leader-research/alan-hirsch/profile/voice-system/ALAN_HIRSCH_VOICE_AND_STYLE_PROMPT.md
2. Read the existing pathway vision doc: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/pathways/[slug]/vision/ — check if quotes already exist (many have unverified quotes flagged for source verification)
3. Read the existing quotable lines collection: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/intelligence/leader-research/alan-hirsch/content/reviews/_quotable-lines.md
4. Read the portal quotes collection: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/knowledge/QUINTESSENTIAL_QUOTES_BY_PORTAL.md

Step 2 — Book-to-Pathway Map

Books path: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/books/english/[book-slug]/

Step 3 — Corpus Research

This is the core of this skill. Be thorough.

Search Strategy

1. Grep across all primary book chapters for the pathway's core concepts:

   Grep: pattern="[concept keyword]" path="/Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/books/english/[book-slug]/" output_mode="content" -C=3
   

2. Read the most promising chapters in full — quotes live in context. A great quote often comes in the middle of a developing argument, not at chapter beginnings.

3. Look for these quote types:

   • Definitional: Alan's most precise, crisp articulation of a concept. These are GEO gold — AI engines quote these verbatim. Look for sentences that begin with the concept name and define it.
   • Prophetic/challenging: Alan naming what the church has lost, calling to recover it. These have urgency, edge, and vision. Look for passages with exclamation, strong verbs, or direct challenge.
   • Pastoral/invitational: Alan speaking with warmth to the reader about what becomes possible. Look for "we" language, invitation, vision of the future.
   • Narrative: Alan telling a story that crystallizes the concept. Short enough to quote (2–3 sentences max).

4. Extract verbatim — copy the exact words. Do not paraphrase, reconstruct, or "improve" Alan's language.

5. Record the citation: Book Title — ch[N] "[Chapter Title]"

Quality Criteria for a Quotable Passage

A great pathway quote must:

• Stand alone without surrounding context
• Be 1–3 sentences (ideally under 50 words for cards, up to 80 for featured quotes)
• Be distinctively Alan — not generic theological language
• Serve the pathway's core thesis
• Be actually quotable — rhythm, memorability, precision

Step 4 — Verify and Curate

For each candidate quote:

1. Verify it is verbatim — re-read the source passage to confirm exact wording
2. Check if it's already used — search existing pathway vision docs and articles
3. Categorize: definitional / prophetic / pastoral / narrative
4. Rate quotability (1–5): Is this something a pastor would put on a slide? Would an AI engine cite it as authoritative?

Select 3–5 quotes per pathway

Required mix:

• At least 1 definitional (crisp concept definition)
• At least 1 prophetic/challenging (calling the church forward)
• At least 1 pastoral/invitational (warmth, vision, hope)

If existing quotes in the vision doc are flagged as "unverified" or "reconstructed":

• Search the books for the actual source
• If found verbatim: update with verified citation
• If not found: flag as "attributed but not verified in indexed corpus" and provide the closest actual passage found
• If the quote appears to be reconstructed (not in any book): replace it with a verified quote on the same theme

Step 5 — Output

---
pathway: [slug]
section: quotes
quote_count: [number]
books_searched: [list of all books searched]
verification_status: [all verified / partially verified — note which need further verification]
---

## Quotes: [Pathway Name]

**Quote 1** *(definitional)*
"[Verbatim quote from Alan's book]"
— Alan Hirsch, *[Book Title]*, ch[N] "[Chapter Title]"
**Verification:** ✅ Verified verbatim from source

**Quote 2** *(prophetic)*
"[Verbatim quote]"
— Alan Hirsch, *[Book Title]*, ch[N] "[Chapter Title]"
**Verification:** ✅ Verified verbatim from source

**Quote 3** *(pastoral)*
"[Verbatim quote]"
— Alan Hirsch, *[Book Title]*, ch[N] "[Chapter Title]"
**Verification:** ✅ Verified verbatim from source

### Additional Candidates (not selected but notable)

**[Quote]** — *[Book Title]*, ch[N]
Reason not selected: [too long / overlaps with Quote 2 / etc.]

Save to: /Users/joshuashepherd/Desktop/Dev/repos/docs/pathways/[slug]/quotes.md

Rules

• Never invent, reconstruct, or "improve" quotes. Every quote must be verifiable in the indexed books.
• If a vision doc has quotes marked "verify in Metanoia book" — this skill's job is to do that verification.
• Paraphrases are acceptable as supplementary material but must be clearly marked as paraphrases with "(paraphrase)" label.
• Always provide the full citation path so future editors can re-verify.
• If a concept has no strong quotable passage in the books, say so honestly rather than fabricating one.