Civilization is first of all a moral thing. Without truth, respect for duty, love of neighbor, and virtue, everything is destroyed. The morality of a society is alone the basis of civilization.
Henri Frederic AmielRead
There is no repose for the mind except in the absolute; for feeling, except in the infinite; for the soul, except in the divine.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the need for ultimate truths and profound experiences to find peace in our intellect and emotions.
Henri Frederic Amiel suggests that the mind seeks rest only in the pursuit of absolute truths, while feelings can only find comfort in the notion of infinity, and the soul can only find solace in the divine. This profound observation reflects the human quest for deeper meaning and understanding in a complex world, highlighting that true peace often comes from engaging with concepts much larger than our individual experiences.
Themes
PeaceMindSoulAbsoluteInfiniteDivineTruth
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal growth, one might say: 'As Henri Frederic Amiel wisely noted, there is no repose for the mind except in the absolute.'
More from Henri Frederic Amiel
All quotes βMan never knows what he wants; he aspires to penetrate mysteries and as soon as he has, wants to re-establish them. Ignorance irritates him and knowledge cloys.
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Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence.
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Any landscape is a condition of the spirit.
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True love is that which ennobles the personality, fortifies the heart, and sanctifies the existence.
Henri Frederic AmielRead
It is by teaching that we teach ourselves, by relating that we observe, by affirming that we examine, by showing that we look, by writing that we think, by pumping that we draw water into the well.
Henri Frederic AmielRead
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