Let no Christian therefore, whether philosopher or theologian, embrace eagerly and lightly whatever novelty happens to be thought up from day to day, but rather let him weigh it with painstaking care and a balanced judgment, lest he lose or corrupt the truth he already has, with grave danger and damage to his faith.
Interpretation
One should critically evaluate new ideas instead of accepting them blindly to protect one's existing beliefs.
Pope Pius XII emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and careful consideration when encountering new ideas or trends, especially in matters of faith. The quote suggests that one should not just accept novelty for novelty's sake but should ensure that their understanding and belief system remain intact and grounded in truth to avoid potential harm to their faith.
In practice
In a seminar about balancing faith and modern science, this quote can serve as a reminder to evaluate new scientific claims critically.
If a worker is deprived of hope to acquire some personal property, what other natural stimulus can be offered him that will inspire him to hard work, labor, saving and sobriety today, when so many nations and men have lost everything and all they have left is their capacity for work?
To live without risk is to risk not living.
It might be said that society speaks through the clothing it wears. Through its clothing it reveals its secret aspirations and uses it, at least in part, to build or destroy its future.
The faith of the Church is this: That one and identical is the Word of God and the Son of Mary Who suffered on the Cross, Who is present in the Eucharist, and Who rules in Heaven
True science discovers God in an ever-increasing degree — as though God were waiting behind every door opened by science.
You lose nothing through peace. You can lose everything through war.
There is no peace more wonderful than the peace we enjoy when faith shows us God in all created things.
The international community should support a system of laws to regularize international relations and maintain the peace in the same manner that law governs national order.
One of the hardest challenges posed by the modern world is how to deal with abundance. It's even harder to confront because admitting that it's a problem seems spoiled.
What's fascinating to me is the way that multiple stories go into creating any world - a fictional world, but certainly the world that we live in as well. Of course, I cannot control that world. I can just control the fictional world.
No member of a crew is praised for the rugged individuality of his rowing.
A very popular error: having the courage of one's convictions; rather it is a matter of having the courage for an attack on one's convictions.
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