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 →Half 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.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
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If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
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For I have known them all already, known them all— Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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