Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
Never once in my life did I ask God for success or wisdom or power or fame. I asked for wonder, and he gave it to me.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of seeking wonder and appreciation in life rather than conventional achievements.
Abraham Joshua Heschel's quote reflects a philosophical perspective on what truly matters in life. Rather than chasing after success, wisdom, or recognition, he advocates for the pursuit of wonderβa deep appreciation for the beauty and mystery of existence. This suggests that a fulfilling life comes not from external accolades but from an intrinsic sense of awe and connection to the world around us.
In practice
In a graduation speech, a speaker might use this quote to inspire students to value curiosity over traditional success.
Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
Normal consciousness is a state of stupor, in which the sensibility to the wholly real and responsiveness to the stimuli of the spirit are reduced. The mystics, knowing that man is involved in a hidden history of the cosmos, endeavor to awake from the drowsiness and apathy and to regain the state of wakefulness for their enchanted souls.
Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, or mend a broken bridge, or rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart, and rebuild a weakened will.
The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith.
We worship God through our questions.
When religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion, its message becomes meaningless.
Meditation is a means to discover all the glories of the ocean of mind
I have not much patience with a certain class of Christians nowadays who will hear anybody preach so long as they can say, 'He is very clever, a fine preacher, a man of genius, a born orator.' Is cleverness to make false doctrine palatable? Why, sirs, to me the ability of a man who preaches error is my sorrow rather than my admiration.
Fools!" said the man, stamping his foot with rage. "That is the sort of talk that brought me here, and I'd better have been drowned or never born. Do you hear what I say? This is where dreams β dreams, do you understand β come to life, come real. Not daydreams: dreams.
We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us.
A mistake is only an error, it becomes a mistake when you fail to correct it
Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass, the mere materials with which wisdom builds, till smoothed and squared and fitted to its place, does but encumber whom it seems to enrich. Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
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