I believe in the equality of man; and I believe that religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy, and endeavoring to make our fellow-creatures happy.
Thomas PaineRead
Being holy . . . does not mean being perfect but being whole; it does not mean being exceptionally religious or being religious at all; it means being liberated from religiosity and religious pietism of any sort; it does not mean being morally better, it meas being exemplary; it does not mean being godly, but rather being truly human.
Interpretation
What this quote means
To be holy is to be whole and truly human, rather than to strive for perfection or adhere strictly to religious dogma.
William Stringfellow emphasizes that holiness is not about perfection or strict adherence to religious practices; instead, it reflects a state of being whole and authentic. True holiness encompasses liberation from superficial religiosity, moral superiority, and a focus on genuinely human qualities that connect us to ourselves and others.
Themes
HolinessAuthenticityHumanityLiberationReligion
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal growth, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of being true to oneself.
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