It should not be expected that what is spiritual can be brought before the eyes, before the senses. It must be experienced inwardly and spiritually.
Rudolf SteinerRead
Man only becomes independent of this physical world when he learns to consider the objects around him as symbols. He must, for this reason, seek to acquire a moral relationship to them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of seeing physical objects as symbols that carry deeper meanings, leading to a more independent and moral existence.
Rudolf Steiner suggests that true independence from the material world requires a shift in perspective. By viewing physical objects not just as mere items but as symbols representing deeper truths and values, individuals can cultivate a moral relationship with their surroundings. This understanding allows for a more profound connection with the world, fostering spiritual growth and a sense of autonomy in one's life.
Themes
IndependenceSymbolsMoralRelationshipPhysical World
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal growth, one might say, 'As Rudolf Steiner pointed out, we must learn to see the objects around us as symbols to truly understand our independence.'
More from Rudolf Steiner
All quotes →In ancient, prehistoric times, the temples of the spirit were outwardly visible, but today, when our life has become so unspiritual, they no longer exist where we can see them with our physical eyes. Yet spiritually they are still present everywhere, and whoever seeks can find them.
Rudolf SteinerRead
Only a person who has passed through the gate of humility can ascend to the heights of the spirit.
Rudolf SteinerRead
Most actions derive not from your own initiative but from your family circumstances, your education, your calling, and so on. You must therefore give up a little time to performing actions which derive from yourself alone. They need not be important; quite insignificant actions fulfill the same purpose.
Rudolf SteinerRead
Love is higher than opinion. If people love one another the most varied opinions can be reconciled - thus one of the most important tasks for humankind today and in the future is that we should learn to live together and understand one another. If this human fellowship is not achieved, all talk of development is empty.
Rudolf SteinerRead
We will not find the inner strength to evolve to a higher level if we do not inwardly develop this profound feeling that there is something higher than ourselves.
Rudolf SteinerRead
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Not to be born surpasses thought and speech. The second best is to have seen the light and then go back quickly whence we came
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