There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
Any religion is forever in danger of petrifaction into mere ritual and habit, though ritual and habit be essential to religion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Religions can become stagnant if they focus solely on rituals and habits, despite their importance.
T. S. Eliot's quote highlights the paradox of religion being both vital and potentially stagnant. While rituals and established practices are essential for the sustenance of faith, they can also lead to a rigid adherence that undermines the dynamic and transformative nature of spiritual belief. The warning here is to remain vigilant against allowing the essence of spirituality to be overshadowed by mere ceremonial repetition.
Themes
ReligionRitualHabitSpiritualityDynamism
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of adapting traditions, one could reference Eliot's insight on ritual.
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.
T. S. EliotRead
I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
T. S. EliotRead
If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
T. S. EliotRead
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.
T. S. EliotRead
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
T. S. EliotRead
Similar quotes
Forbid a man to think for himself or to act for himself and you may add the joy of piracy and the zest of smuggling to his life.
Elbert HubbardRead
2 p.m. beer nothing matters but flopping on a mattress with cheap dreams and a beer as the leaves die and the horses die and the landladies stare in the halls; brisk the music of pulled shades, a last man's cave in an eternity of swarm and explosion; nothing but the dripping sink, the empty bottle, euphoria, youth fenced in, stabbed and shaven, taught words propped up to die.
Charles BukowskiRead
One cannot use an evil action with reference to a good intention.
Thomas AquinasRead
America didnβt bypass or escape civilization. It did something far more profound, far cleverer: it simply changed what civilization could be.
A. A. GillRead
I show you doubt, to prove that faith exists.
Robert BrowningRead
Peace is the inner nature of humankind. If you find it within yourself, you will then find it everywhere.
Ramana MaharshiRead