Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage.
Sri AurobindoRead
The anarchic is the true divine state of man in the end as in the beginning; but in between it would lead us straight to the devil and his kingdom.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The natural state of humanity is one of freedom, but without structure, it can lead to chaos.
Sri Aurobindo expresses that at both the beginning and the end of human existence, there exists a natural state of anarchic freedom, which is divine. However, in the process of life, this unstructured freedom can lead to chaos and moral decay, representing a descent into disorder, akin to the realm of malevolent forces.
Themes
FreedomAnarchyDivineChaosHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a philosophy class to discuss the nature of freedom and morality.
More from Sri Aurobindo
All quotes →To listen to some devout people, one would imagine that God never laughs.
Sri AurobindoRead
Indian religion has always felt that since the minds, the temperaments and the intellectual affinities of men are unlimited in their variety, a perfect liberty of thought and of worship must be allowed to the individual in his approach to the Infinite.
Sri AurobindoRead
Be conscious first of thyself within, then think and act. All living thought is a world in preparation; all real act is a thought manifested. The material world exists because an idea began to play in divine self–consciousness.
Sri AurobindoRead
Evolution is not finished; reason is not the last word nor the reasoning animal the supreme figure of Nature. As man emerged out of the animal, so out of man the superman emerges.
Sri AurobindoRead
Impossibility is only a sum of greater unrealised possibles. It veils an advanced stage and a yet unaccomplished journey.
Sri AurobindoRead
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