Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
John DonneRead
Commemoration of John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631 He was the Word that spake it; He took the bread and brake it; And what that Word did make it I do believe, and take it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the significance of faith and belief in the divine presence in the act of communion.
John Donne's quote presents a profound meditation on the concept of the Word, which refers to Christ, and the physical act of breaking bread during communion. It emphasizes the transformative power of faith and the belief that through this sacred ritual, one partakes in a deeper spiritual reality, acknowledging both the material and immaterial aspects of existence.
Themes
FaithBeliefCommunionSpiritualitySacred
In practice
Example use cases
During a church service, a pastor might reference this quote while explaining the importance of the Eucharist.
More from John Donne
All quotes →Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right, By these we reach divinity
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All occasions invite His mercies, and all times are His seasons.
John DonneRead
If poisonous minerals, and if that tree, Whose fruit threw death on else immortal us, If lecherous goats, if serpents envious Cannot be damned; alas; why should I be?
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Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John DonneRead
I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually keeping it: for then it is a most inhumane vice. - But I call that Virginity a virtue which is willing and desirous to yield it self upon honest and lawfull terms, when just reason requireth; and until then, is kept with a modest chastity of body and mind.
John DonneRead
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