There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
Those who talk of the bible as a monument of English prose are merely admiring it as a monument over the grave of Christianity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that appreciating the Bible as literature overlooks its spiritual significance and impact.
T. S. Eliot's quote reflects on the tendency to treat the Bible merely as a literary achievement, representing a loss of its original spiritual context and meaning. By referring to it as a 'monument over the grave of Christianity,' Eliot warns against the danger of valuing the book solely for its prose while ignoring its religious and cultural importance, indicating a broader critique of how modern society perceives and engages with religious texts.
Themes
BibleLiteratureSpiritualityReligionChristianity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the relevance of literature in understanding religious texts.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes βHalf of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
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If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
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For I have known them all already, known them allβ Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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