Faith consists in being vitally concerned with that ultimate reality to which I give the symbolical name of God. Whoever reflects earnestly on the meaning of life is on the verge of an act of faith.
Paul TillichRead
The citizens of a city are not guilty of the crimes committed in their city; but they are guilty as participants in the destiny of [humanity] as a whole and in the destiny of their city in particular; for their acts in which freedom was united with destiny have contributed to the destiny in which they participate. They are guilty, not of committing the crimes of which their group is accused, but of contributing to the destiny in which these crimes happened.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Citizens share responsibility for the circumstances in their city, even if they aren't directly guilty of its crimes.
Paul Tillich's quote expresses the idea that individuals living within a society or city contribute to the collective destiny and moral fabric of that community. While they may not be directly responsible for the crimes committed, their passive participation and inaction in shaping their environment implicate them in the broader consequences of their society's actions. Thus, this highlights an ethical responsibility to engage with and improve the collective conditions in which we live.
Themes
ResponsibilitySocietyDestinyFreedomParticipation
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a community meeting discussing the importance of civic engagement.
More from Paul Tillich
All quotes →Cruelty towards others is always also cruelty towards ourselves.
Paul TillichRead
He who risks and fails can be forgiven. He who never risks and never fails is a failure in his whole being.
Paul TillichRead
The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable.
Paul TillichRead
Wine is like the incarnation--it is both divine and human
Paul TillichRead
Man is able to decide for or against reason, he is able to create beyond reason or to destroy below reason
Paul TillichRead
Similar quotes
Whoever seeks God as a means toward desired ends will not find God. The mighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, will not be one of many treasures, not even the chief of all treasures. He will be all in all or He will be nothing. God will not be used.
Aiden Wilson TozerRead
At this point in history when all things which concern man and the structure and elements of history itself are suddenly revealed to us in a new light, it behooves us in our scientific thinking to become masters of the situation, for it is not inconceivable that sooner than we suspect, as has often been the case before in history, this vision may disappear, the opportunity may be lost, and the world will once again present a static, uniform, and inflexible countenance.
Karl MannheimRead
Shiloh isn’t haunted – men are haunted. Shiloh doesn’t care.
Thomas HarrisRead
I do not play chess – I fight at chess. Therefore, I willingly combine the tactical with the strategic, the fantastic with the scientific, the combinative with the positional, and I aim to respond to the demands of each given position.
Alexander AlekhineRead
The beautiful souls are they that are universal, open, and ready for all things.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Some tell me Preach the pure gospel! This reminds me that the Communist secret police also told me to preach Christ, but not to mention communism. Is it really so, that those who are for what is called a pure gospel are inspired by the same spirit as those of the Communist secret police?
Richard WurmbrandRead