Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
I would say about individuals, A Individual dies when they cease to to be surprised. I am surprised every morning when I see the sunshine again. When I see an act of evil I don't accomodate, I don't accomodate myself to the violence that goes on everywhere. I am still so surprised! That is why I am against it. We must learn to be surprised.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being surprised keeps us alive and aware, allowing us to engage meaningfully with life.
Abraham Joshua Heschel emphasizes the importance of remaining open to wonder and surprise in our daily lives. By experiencing surprise, we maintain a sense of vitality and engagement with the world, rather than becoming numb to the negativity around us. Heschel suggests that this sense of wonder not only enriches our lives but also compels us to stand against injustice, as it reminds us of the inherent value of goodness.
Themes
SurpriseWonderAwarenessGoodnessInjustice
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about cultivating curiosity in daily life.
More from Abraham Joshua Heschel
All quotes →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.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
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.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
The worship of reason is arrogance and betrays a lack of intelligence. The rejection of reason is cowardice and betrays a lack of faith.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
We worship God through our questions.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
When religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the voice of compassion, its message becomes meaningless.
Abraham Joshua HeschelRead
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